A Final Note

A look back at the 96-97 season

Despite the disappointing loss to the Utah Jazz in the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers still managed to have a great year, finishing 56-26, one game out of first place in the Pacific Division. The record was a three game improvement from the previous season and an eight game improvement from the 94-95 season. Here's a look at the year the players had.

96-97 Stats

Corie Blount - 43

Tied his career high for points in a game (17)
Tied his career high for rebounds in a game (15)
Tied his career high for blocks in a game (3)
Set a career high for minutes in a game (39) vs. Golden State, 3/12/97
Set a career high in games started (18)
Set a career high in minutes per game (17.4)
Set a career high in Field Goal percentage (.514)
Set a career high in Free Throw percentage (.675)
Set a career high in Rebounds per game (4.8)
Set a career high in Points per game (4.2)
Scored his first career playoff points

Kobe Bryant - 8

Kobe had a spectacular rookie season, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game. He won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest and also scored 31 points in the Schick Rookie Game, a record in that event. At the end of the season he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Despite ending the playoffs on a sour note (Lakers fans know what I mean), he still gave Lake Show fans a peek into the future of what is surely to become a great career.

Elden Campbell - 41

Ranked 18th in the NBA in Blocks per Game (1.52)
Set a career high for points in a game (40) vs. New York, 2/23/97
Set a career high for minutes in a game (47) vs. Chicago, 2/5/97
Hit his first career NBA three-pointer vs. New York, 2/23/97
Set a career high in Rebounds per game (8.0)
Set a career high in Points per game (14.9)
Has increased his scoring average every year of his seven year career

Derek Fisher - 2

Derek had a great rookie season playing the backup point guard role. He started his rookie year by scoring 12 points and handing out 5 assists in a win over the Phoenix Suns. He was picked to play in the Schick Rookie Game, where he scored 16 points and handed out 6 assists. Derek has proven he can be a valuable role player and a reliable backup to Nick Van Exel.

Robert Horry - 5

Set an NBA Playoffs record with 7 consecutive 3-pointers without a miss vs. Utah

Eddie Jones - 6

Ranked 4th in the NBA in Steals per Game (2.36)
Ranked 19th in the NBA in 3-pointers made (152)
Set a career high for points in a game (34) vs. New Jersey, 3/9/97
Set a career high for rebounds in a game (13) vs. New Jersey, 3/9/97
Set a career high for steals in a game (8) vs. Philadelphia, 11/26/96
Set a career high for minutes in a game (51) vs. New York, 2/23/97
Set a career high in Games played (80)
Set a career high in Games started (80)
Set a career high in Minutes per Game (37.5)
Set a career high in 3-Point Percentage (.391)
Set a career high in Free Throw Percentage (.819)
Set a career high in Rebounds per Game (4.1)
Set a career high in Steals (189)
Set a career high in Blocks (49)
Set a career high in Points per Game (17.2)
Selected to play in his first NBA All-Star Game (scoring 10 points)

Jerome Kersey - 12

Ranked 20th in the NBA in Steals per Game (1.70)
Played in his 100th career playoff game
Tied his career high for steals in a game (6)
Scored the 11,000th point of his career in a win over Seattle, 4/1/97

Travis Knight - 40

After Travis was renounced by Chicago after the 1996, he signed with the Lakers to be their third-string backup. It didn't take long for him to win the backup role over Sean Rooks, who was signed in the offseason to be the backup. He was selected to play in the Schick Rookie Game along with Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, making the Lakers the best represented team in the game. At the end of the year, Travis was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and is set to become a hot commodity on the free agent market.

George McCloud - 24

Set a career high in 3-Point Percentage (.390)

Shaquille O'Neal- 34

Ranked 4th in the NBA in Field Goal Percentage (.557)
Ranked 3rd in the NBA in Blocks per Game (2.88)
Selected as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players
Hit the first game-winning basket of his career vs. Utah, 4/13/97
Tied his career high for assist in a game (8)
Tied his career high for steals in a game (5)
Set a career high in Assists per Game (3.1)
Set a career high for points in a playoff game (46)
Named NBA Player of the Week (for the week ending 12/15/96)
Named NBA Player of the Month (December 1996)
Selected to play in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game (DNP-injured)
Selected to the 96-97 All-NBA Third Team

Sean Rooks - 45

Set a career high for minutes in a game (44) vs. Dallas, 4/6/97

Byron Scott - 4

Played in his 1,000 career NBA game, 11/10/96 vs. Atlanta
Scored the 15,000th point of his career in a win over Denver, 3/17/97
Extended his Lakers all-time record of career three-pointers made (522) and attempted (1,407)

Nick Van Exel - 9

Ranked 8th in the NBA in Assist per Game (8.5)
Ranked 8th in the NBA in 3-pointers made (177)
Ranked 7th in the NBA in Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (3.17)
Set a career high for assists in a game (23) vs. Vancouver, 1/5/97
Tied a career high for steals in a game (5)
Set a career high in Minutes per Game (37.2)
Set a career high in 3-Point Percentage (.378)
Set a career high in Free Throw Percentage (.825)
Tied his career high in Rebounds per Game (2.9)
Set a career high in Assists per Game (8.5)
Tied his career high in Blocks (10)