1997–98 Vancouver Grizzlies season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Grizzlies' third season in the National Basketball Association. After finishing with the worst record in their first two seasons, the Grizzlies selected Antonio Daniels out of Bowling Green State University with the fourth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. In the off-season, the team hired Brian Hill as their new head coach; Hill previously coached the Orlando Magic, and led them to the 1995 NBA Finals, where they lost in four straight games to the Houston Rockets. The team also acquired Otis Thorpe from the Detroit Pistons, acquired three-point specialist Sam Mack from the Houston Rockets, and acquired Tony Massenburg from the Boston Celtics.
| 1997–98 Vancouver Grizzlies season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Brian Hill |
| General manager | Stu Jackson |
| Owners | John McCaw, Jr. |
| Arena | General Motors Place |
| Results | |
| Record | 19–63 (.232) |
| Place | Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 11th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | CHEK-TV Showcase |
| Radio | CKNW |
The Grizzlies played around .500 early into the season with a 6–7 start, but then struggled again posting a 13-game losing streak between December and January, and held a 13–36 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, Thorpe was traded back to his former team, the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Michael Smith and Bobby Hurley, while Anthony Peeler was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Doug West. The Grizzlies finally escaped last place by finishing sixth in the Midwest Division with a 19–63 record.
Leading the way in scoring again was second-year star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who averaged 22.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while Bryant Reeves averaged 16.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, Mack and sixth man Blue Edwards both contributed 10.8 points per game each, and Daniels provided the team with 7.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. In addition, George Lynch provided with 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and Lee Mayberry contributed 4.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, after replacing Daniels as the team's starting point guard midway through the season. Following the season, Daniels was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, while Edwards signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat during the next season, Lynch signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Hurley was released to free agency.
For the season, the Grizzlies added new black alternate road uniforms with turquoise side panels, which would become their primary road jerseys for the 2000–01 season.