1996–97 Washington Bullets season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Bullets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Bullets acquired Rod Strickland and former Bullets forward Harvey Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers, and signed free agents Tracy Murray, Jaren Jackson and Lorenzo Williams. Despite a stellar season last year, Juwan Howard signed a 7-year $100 million contract with the Miami Heat. However, the deal was voided claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap; the Bullets quickly re-signed Howard, but would lose their first-round draft pick next year.

After 46 games into the season, the Bullets fired head coach Jim Lynam, then after playing one game under assistant Bob Staak, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break, they hired former Bullets assistant Bernie Bickerstaff as their new coach. Under Bickerstaff, the Bullets finished the season winning 16 of their final 21 games. On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Bullets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 85–81 at the Gund Arena to capture the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record, ending an eight-year playoff drought, and making the playoffs for the first time since 1988.

Chris Webber averaged 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio, which was his first ever All-Star appearance. In addition, Howard averaged 19.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Strickland provided the team with 17.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Meanwhile, Calbert Cheaney and last season's Most Improved Player, Gheorghe Mureșan both contributed 10.6 points per game each, while Mureșan provided with 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Murray contributed 10.0 points per game off the bench.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bullets were swept by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls in three straight games, losing Game 3 at home by one point, 96–95 after taking a 14–2 lead early in the first quarter. This would be their final playoff appearance until 2005. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship in seven years. Following the season, Jackson signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.

For Washington, Game 3 of that series at US Airways Arena was officially their final game as the "Bullets". In 1995, Bullets owner Abe Pollin decided to change the team's name due to gun violence in Washington D.C., and after the assassination of his friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. On May 15, 1997, the team officially changed its name to the "Wizards", and became known as the "Washington Wizards" the following season. However, the Bullets were held up by a copyright lawsuit filed by the Harlem Wizards, a traveling comedy basketball team with the same name. Still, the Bullets won the trademark infringement case, as a court ruling allowed them to change their name to the "Wizards".

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	55	Ronnie Henderson		United States	LSU

Roster

1996–97 Washington Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB	From
F	50	Amaya, Ashraf	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	1971–11–23	Southern Illinois
G	40	Cheaney, Calbert	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	209 lb (95 kg)	1971–07–17	Indiana
C	22	Fish, Matt	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	1969–11–18	UNC Wilmington
F	44	Grant, Harvey	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1965–07–04	Oklahoma
F	5	Howard, Juwan	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	1973–02–07	Michigan
G	32	Jackson, Jaren	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1967–10–27	Georgetown
G	23	Legler, Tim	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1966–12–26	La Salle
C	77	Mureșan, Gheorghe	7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)	303 lb (137 kg)	1971–02–14	Romania
F	35	Murray, Tracy	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	1971–07–25	UCLA
G	1	Strickland, Rod	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1966–07–11	DePaul
F	30	Wallace, Ben	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	1974–09–10	Virginia Union
F	4	Webber, Chris	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	1973–03–01	Michigan
G	12	Whitney, Chris	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	168 lb (76 kg)	1971–10–05	Clemson
C	43	Williams, Lorenzo	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1969–07–15	Stetson

Head coach

Assistant coach(es)

Buzz Braman

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 16, 1997

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Miami Heat	61	21	.744	–	29–12	32–9	16–8
x-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	4	31–10	26–15	19–6
x-Orlando Magic	45	37	.549	16	26–15	19–22	13–11
x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	17	25–16	19–22	14–10
New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	35	16–25	10–31	11–13
Philadelphia 76ers	22	60	.268	39	11–30	11–30	11–14
Boston Celtics	15	67	.183	46	11–30	4–37	1–23

1996–97 NBA East standings
#	Eastern Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Chicago Bulls	69	13	.841	–
2	y-Miami Heat	61	21	.744	8
3	x-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	12
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	56	26	.683	13
5	x-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	15
6	x-Charlotte Hornets	54	28	.659	15
7	x-Orlando Magic	45	37	.549	24
8	x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	25

9	Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	27
10	Indiana Pacers	39	43	.476	30
11	Milwaukee Bucks	33	49	.402	36
12	Toronto Raptors	30	52	.366	39
13	New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	43
14	Philadelphia 76ers	22	60	.268	47
15	Boston Celtics	15	67	.183	54

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996–97 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Boston	1–3	–	0–4	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–4
Charlotte	3–1	4–0	–	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Chicago	3–1	4–0	4–0	–	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1
Cleveland	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	3–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	–	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1
Detroit	3–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	1–3	4–0	0–4	2–0	0–4	3–1	0–2
Houston	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	–	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0
Indiana	1–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	–	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0
Miami	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Milwaukee	0–4	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	–	0–2	2–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
New Jersey	1–3	4–0	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
Orlando	1–3	4–0	2–1	0–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3
Philadelphia	0–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–3	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	–	2–2	4–0	1–3	0–2	2–2	4–0	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	–	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Toronto	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	3–0	0–3	0–4	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	–	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–4	–	1–1
Washington	1–2	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1996–97 game log
Total: 44–38 (home: 25–16; road: 19–22)

November: 7–8 (home: 4–5; road: 3–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
1	November 1, 1996	@ Orlando	W 96–92	Orlando Arena	1–0
2	November 2, 1996	Cleveland	L 96–98 (OT)	US Airways Arena	1–1
3	November 6, 1996	San Antonio	W 96–86	US Airways Arena	2–1
4	November 8, 1996	Charlotte	L 87–102	US Airways Arena	2–2
5	November 9, 1996	@ Indiana	L 100–103 (OT)	Market Square Arena	2–3
6	November 12, 1996	Detroit	L 79–92	US Airways Arena	2–4
7	November 13, 1996	@ New Jersey	W 106–91	Continental Airlines Arena	3–4
8	November 15, 1996	@ Detroit	L 84–95	The Palace of Auburn Hills	3–5
9	November 16, 1996	Boston	W 106–92	US Airways Arena	4–5
10	November 20, 1996	Seattle	L 110–115 (2OT)	US Airways Arena	4–6
11	November 22, 1996	Philadelphia	W 88–76	US Airways Arena	5–6
12	November 23, 1996	@ Milwaukee	W 95–90	Bradley Center	6–6
13	November 25, 1996	Minnesota	W 105–98	US Airways Arena	7–6
14	November 29, 1996	@ Atlanta	L 81–110	The Omni	7–7
15	November 30, 1996	Houston	L 99–103	US Airways Arena	7–8

December: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
16	December 5, 1996	@ Toronto	L 80–82	SkyDome	7–9
17	December 7, 1996	Milwaukee	L 118–126	US Airways Arena	7–10
18	December 10, 1996	@ New York	L 73–85	Madison Square Garden	7–11
19	December 11, 1996	Cleveland	W 106–95	US Airways Arena	8–11
20	December 13, 1996	Denver	W 108–104	US Airways Arena	9–11
21	December 15, 1996	@ Golden State	W 110–102	San Jose Arena	10–11
22	December 16, 1996	@ Sacramento	W 97–89	ARCO Arena	11–11
23	December 18, 1996	@ Phoenix	L 107–114	America West Arena	11–12
24	December 19, 1996	@ L.A. Clippers	W 102–93	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena	12–12
25	December 22, 1996	@ Vancouver	L 87–91	General Motors Place	12–13
26	December 23, 1996	@ Portland	W 106–84	Rose Garden Arena	13–13
27	December 27, 1996	Toronto	W 100–82	US Airways Arena	14–13
28	December 28, 1996	Atlanta (at Baltimore, MD)	W 97–86	Baltimore Arena	15–13
29	December 30, 1996	Charlotte	L 92–101	US Airways Arena	15–14

January: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
30	January 2, 1997	New York	L 80–92	US Airways Arena	15–15
31	January 4, 1997	@ Charlotte	W 104–93	Charlotte Coliseum	16–15
32	January 8, 1997	Phoenix	W 115–113 (OT)	US Airways Arena	17–15
33	January 10, 1997	L.A. Clippers	W 102–98	US Airways Arena	18–15
34	January 11, 1997	@ Cleveland	W 98–85	Gund Arena	19–15
35	January 13, 1997	@ Miami	L 95–93	Miami Arena	19–16
36	January 14, 1997	@ Chicago	L 107–108	United Center	19–17
37	January 17, 1997	Miami (at Baltimore, MD)	L 92–103	Baltimore Arena	19–18
38	January 18, 1997	@ Boston	W 112–106	FleetCenter	20–18
39	January 20, 1997	@ New York	L 79–95	Madison Square Garden	20–19
40	January 21, 1997	@ Orlando	L 88–93	Orlando Arena	20–20
41	January 24, 1997	@ Atlanta	L 105–117 (OT)	The Omni	20–21
42	January 25, 1997	Sacramento	W 113–105	US Airways Arena	21–21
43	January 28, 1997	Orlando	W 102–82	US Airways Arena	22–21
44	January 31, 1997	@ Seattle	L 95–97	KeyArena	22–22

February: 3–9 (home: 3–4; road: 0–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
45	February 2, 1997	@ L.A. Lakers	L 99–129	Great Western Forum	22–23
46	February 3, 1997	@ Utah	L 89–111	Delta Center	22–24
47	February 5, 1997	@ Denver	L 104–106	McNichols Sports Arena	22–25
All-Star Break
48	February 11, 1997	New York	L 92–97	US Airways Arena	22–26
49	February 14, 1997	New Jersey (at Baltimore, MD)	W 125–107	Baltimore Arena	23–26
50	February 15, 1997	@ New Jersey	L 86–107	Continental Airlines Arena	23–27
51	February 17, 1997	Milwaukee	W 95–93	US Airways Arena	24–27
52	February 19, 1997	@ Detroit	L 85–100	The Palace of Auburn Hills	24–28
53	February 21, 1997	Chicago	L 99–103	US Airways Arena	24–29
54	February 23, 1997	Detroit	L 79–85	US Airways Arena	24–30
55	February 25, 1997	Indiana	W 108–87	US Airways Arena	25–30
56	February 27, 1997	L.A. Lakers	L 107–122	US Airways Arena	25–31

March: 11–4 (home: 6–3; road: 5–1)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
57	March 1, 1997	Golden State	W 118–108	US Airways Arena	26–31
58	March 4, 1997	@ Philadelphia	W 107–106	CoreStates Center	27–31
59	March 6, 1997	@ Miami	W 99–95	Miami Arena	28–31
60	March 7, 1997	Miami	L 105–108 (OT)	US Airways Arena	28–32
61	March 9, 1997	Philadelphia	L 93–99	US Airways Arena	28–33
62	March 12, 1997	Vancouver	W 104–82	US Airways Arena	29–33
63	March 14, 1997	@ Milwaukee	W 105–96	Bradley Center	30–33
64	March 15, 1997	Utah	L 93–100	US Airways Arena	30–34
65	March 17, 1997	@ San Antonio	W 109–85	Alamodome	31–34
66	March 18, 1997	@ Dallas	W 86–85	Reunion Arena	32–34
67	March 20, 1997	@ Houston	L 90–96	The Summit	32–35
68	March 22, 1997	Portland	W 108–104	US Airways Arena	33–35
69	March 26, 1997	Boston	W 105–92	US Airways Arena	34–35
70	March 28, 1997	Toronto	W 113–86	US Airways Arena	35–35
71	March 29, 1997	Dallas (at Baltimore, MD)	W 94–87	Baltimore Arena	36–35

April: 8–3 (home: 4–0; road: 4–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
72	April 1, 1997	@ Indiana	W 104–100	Market Square Arena	37–35
73	April 3, 1997	Chicago	W 110–102	US Airways Arena	38–35
74	April 4, 1997	@ Minnesota	L 95–97	Target Center	38–36
75	April 6, 1997	@ Boston	W 120–114	FleetCenter	39–36
76	April 8, 1997	@ Toronto	L 94–100	SkyDome	39–37
77	April 11, 1997	New Jersey	W 109–90	US Airways Arena	40–37
78	April 12, 1997	@ Charlotte	L 97–99	Charlotte Coliseum	40–38
79	April 14, 1997	@ Philadelphia	W 131–110	CoreStates Center	41–38
80	April 16, 1997	Indiana	W 103–90	US Airways Arena	42–38
81	April 18, 1997	Orlando	W 104–93	US Airways Arena	43–38
82	April 20, 1997	@ Cleveland	W 85–81	Gund Arena	44–38

1996–97 schedule

Playoffs

1997 playoff game log

First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Series
1	April 25, 1997	@ Chicago	L 86–98	Juwan Howard (21)	Rod Strickland (10)	Rod Strickland (8)	United Center 24,122	0–1
2	April 27, 1997	@ Chicago	L 104–109	Calbert Cheaney (26)	Chris Webber (12)	Rod Strickland (8)	United Center 24,267	0–2
3	April 30, 1997	Chicago	L 95–96	Rod Strickland (24)	Chris Webber (8)	Rod Strickland (9)	US Airways Arena 18,756	0–3

1997 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

Washington Bullets statistics
Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Ashraf Amaya	31	0	4.6	.300	1.000	.536	1.7	.1	.2	.1	1.3
Calbert Cheaney	79	79	30.5	.505	.133	.693	3.4	1.4	1.0	.2	10.6
Matt Fish	5	0	1.4	.333			1.0	.0	.0	.0	.4
Harvey Grant	78	25	20.6	.411	.315	.769	3.3	.9	.6	.6	4.1
Juwan Howard	82	82	40.5	.486	.000	.756	8.0	3.8	1.1	.3	19.1
Jaren Jackson	75	0	15.1	.407	.335	.768	1.8	.9	.6	.2	5.0
Tim Legler	15	0	12.1	.313	.276	.857	1.4	.5	.2	.3	2.9
Gheorghe Mureșan	73	69	25.3	.604		.618	6.6	.4	.6	1.3	10.6
Tracy Murray	82	1	22.1	.425	.353	.839	3.1	1.0	.8	.2	10.0
Gaylon Nickerson	1	0	6.0	.333	.000		1.0	.0	1.0	.0	2.0
Rod Strickland	82	81	36.5	.466	.169	.738	4.1	8.9	1.7	.2	17.2
Ben Wallace	34	0	5.8	.348		.300	1.7	.1	.2	.3	1.1
Chris Webber	72	72	39.0	.518	.397	.565	10.3	4.6	1.7	1.9	20.1
Chris Whitney	82	1	13.6	.421	.356	.832	1.3	2.2	.6	.0	5.2
Lorenzo Williams	19	0	13.9	.645		.714	3.6	.2	.3	.4	2.4

Playoffs

Washington Bullets statistics
Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Calbert Cheaney	3	3	40.0	.439	.000	.750	3.7	1.3	1.0	.7	15.0
Harvey Grant	3	0	9.7	.000	.000		1.3	.0	.0	.7	.0
Juwan Howard	3	3	43.0	.465		.889	6.0	1.7	.7	.7	18.7
Jaren Jackson	3	0	3.7			.000	.7	.3	.0	.0	.0
Tim Legler	3	0	6.3	.000	.000	.500	.3	.7	.0	.0	.3
Gheorghe Mureșan	3	3	23.3	.444		.875	6.0	.0	.0	1.3	5.0
Tracy Murray	3	0	29.0	.567	.500	.941	3.0	.7	1.3	.7	18.3
Rod Strickland	3	3	41.3	.423	.500	.737	6.0	8.3	1.0	.0	19.7
Chris Webber	3	3	35.3	.633	.455	.500	8.0	3.3	.7	2.3	15.7
Chris Whitney	3	0	6.7	.400	.500	1.000	.7	.7	.0	.0	2.3
Lorenzo Williams	2	0	2.5				.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Bullets only.

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

No Awards.

Transactions

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)

References

1996-97 Washington Bullets
Bembry, Jerry (July 16, 1996). "Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
Hall, Landon (July 16, 1996). "Blazers Send Strickland, Grant to Bullets for Wallace, Butler". Associated Press. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
"Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets". Tampa Bay Times. July 16, 1996. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
Asher, Mark (July 22, 1996). "Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
Adande, J.A. (October 7, 1996). "Bullets' Front Line a Bonus". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
Brown, Clifton (November 10, 1996). "Bullets Open Up Their Gifts and Run". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
Adande, J.A. (November 29, 1996). "Murray Takes a Shot at Getting on Track". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
Parks, Brad (July 27, 1996). "Bullets Sign Williams to Seven-Year Deal". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
Adande, J.A. (October 3, 1996). "Bullets Add C. Ray as Assistant". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
"NBA Blocks Howard's Contract". Associated Press. July 31, 1996. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
"N.B.A. Rejects Howard Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 1, 1996. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
Asher, Mark (August 1, 1996). "NBA Rejects Heat's Contract with Howard". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
"League Voids Howard's Contract with Heat". Tampa Bay Times. August 1, 1996. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
Brown, Clifton (August 13, 1996). "An Angry Pat Riley Insists the Heat Broke No Salary Cap Rules". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
Brown, Clifton (August 6, 1996). "Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
Asher, Mark (August 6, 1996). "Howard's End a Mystery Even with Bullet Signing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
Asher, Mark (August 6, 1996). "Juwan Howard Re-Signs with Bullets". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
Nakamura, David (August 6, 1996). "If You Can't Stand the Heat..." The Washington Post. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
Goldstein, Alan (August 6, 1996). "Bullets Sign Howard to Contract, too 7-Year, $98M Deal Sets Up Legal Showdown with Punished Heat; Miami Salary Cap at Issue; If Bullets Keep All-Star, They May Lose No. 1 Pick". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
Adande, J.A. (February 6, 1997). ""It Just Wasn't Happening," So Bullets Fire Lynam". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
Schmuck, Peter (February 6, 1997). "Lynam Fired as Bullets Coach; Unseld: "It Wasn't Happening"; Staak Will Serve as Fill-In". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
"NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
"Bullets Hire Bickerstaff". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 11, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
Frey, Jennifer (February 12, 1997). "For Bickerstaff, Time to Get a Job and a Haircut". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
Adande, J.A. (February 14, 1997). "Changing Times for Bullets". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
^ "1996–97 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
"Final Day: Charlotte Slips, Washington Soars, O'Neal Misses". The New York Times. April 21, 1997. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
Adande, J.A. (April 21, 1997). "Rebounding, with Much Emotion". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
Bembry, Jerry (April 21, 1997). "Last-Chance Bullets Hit Bull's Eye; Washington Rallies Past Cavaliers, 85-81, Gains Playoff Goal; Bulls Series Begins Friday; Longest Postseason Drought in NBA Ends". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
"Washington Bullets at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, April 20, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
"Washington Bullets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
Merida, Kevin (February 8, 1997). "In Hoop Outposts, They Hope for a Shot". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
"1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
"1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
^ "1996–97 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
Roberts, Selena (May 1, 1997). "Bulls Prevail, But Bullets Go Out Fighting". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
Adande, J.A. (May 1, 1997). "In Their Final Shot, Bullets Just Miss". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
Armour, Terry (May 1, 1997). "Sweating Bullets". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
"1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bullets vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
Wise, Mike (June 14, 1997). "A Fistful of Rings: Bulls Grab Fifth Title of 90's". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 14, 1997). "Bulls Get Fifth Element". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
Johnson, K.C. (June 16, 1997). "Bulls Got There, Because They'd Been There". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
Benson, Lee (June 14, 1997). "Chicago Heartbreaker". Deseret News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
"1997 NBA Finals: Jazz vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
Broussard, Chris (June 18, 1999). "N.B.A. FINALS; For Spurs' Jackson, Depth Is the Key". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
Justice, Richard (November 10, 1995). "Bullets Seek New Name". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
Denlinger, Ken (February 12, 1996). "In Name Game, Fans Prefer None of Above". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
"SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Bullets Will Be Wizards". The New York Times. February 23, 1996. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
Justice, Richard (February 23, 1996). "For Bullets, "Wizards" Casts Magic Spell". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
Adande, J.A. (May 16, 1997). "They're the Wizards of Ahhhhs". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
"Harlem Wizards Sue to Stop Name Change". United Press International. June 25, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
Heath, Thomas (November 6, 1996). "Bullets In a Battle for Name's Sake". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Adande, J.A. (December 31, 1996). "Washington's New Name Is Still No Name for Now". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Adande, J.A.; Heath, Thomas (January 10, 1997). "Bullets to Find Soon If They Can Change Into Wizards". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Heath, Thomas; Adande, J.A. (January 11, 1997). "Court Ruling Allows Bullets to Become Wizards". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2023.

Misplaced Pages