1996–97 Miami Heat season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the ninth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] During the off-season, the Heat signed free agents, All-Star guard and three-point specialist Dan Majerle ,[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] P.J. Brown ,[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] and Isaac Austin .[ 9] [ 10] The team also signed All-Star forward Juwan Howard to a 7-year $100 million contract, but was voided by the league claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap;[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] Howard then quickly re-signed with the Washington Bullets .[ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20] At mid-season, the team traded second-year guard Sasha Danilovic , and second-year forward Kurt Thomas to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jamal Mashburn .[ 21] [ 22] [ 23] [ 24]
After a 5–4 start to the season, the Heat went on a nine-game winning streak, then won eleven straight games between January and February, held a 36–12 record at the All-Star break,[ 25] and won eight straight in March, as they won their first Division title by finishing in first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 61 wins and 21 losses, which stood as the franchise mark until the 2012–13 season .[ 26] The team also posted the league's best road record at 32–9, while posting a 29–12 record at home. Head coach Pat Riley was named Coach of the Year for the third time.[ 27] [ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31] The Heat had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.[ 32]
Tim Hardaway had a career season with the Heat, as he led the team with 20.3 points, 8.6 assists, 1.9 steals per game and 203 three-point field goals, while Alonzo Mourning averaged 19.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game;[ 33] Hardaway and Mourning were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio ,[ 34] [ 35] [ 36] [ 37] [ 38] although Mourning did not play due to a foot injury, where he missed 16 games this season.[ 39] [ 40] [ 41] [ 42] Hardaway was named to the All-NBA First Team, and finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Karl Malone , Michael Jordan and Grant Hill .[ 43] [ 44] [ 45]
On the defensive side, Mourning and Brown both provided leadership, while on the offensive side, Mashburn gave the team a spark. In addition, second-year guard Voshon Lenard showed improvement becoming the team's starting shooting guard midway through the season, averaging 12.3 points per game and finishing second on the team with 183 three-point field goals, as Majerle only played just 36 games due to a back injury.[ 46] [ 47] Majerle contributed 10.8 points per game, while Brown provided the team with 9.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Off the bench, Austin, who played as backup center, averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and Keith Askins contributed 4.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.[ 33] Austin was honored with the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award,[ 48] [ 49] [ 50] [ 38] while Lenard finished in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting.[ 45]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Heat won their first ever playoff series by defeating their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic in five games.[ 51] [ 52] [ 53] [ 54] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they faced the New York Knicks , the previous team that Riley had served as head coach.[ 55] [ 56] [ 57] Game 5 of that series featured a brawl, which involved Brown throwing Knicks guard Charlie Ward off the court, and with several Knicks players coming off the bench during the altercation, receiving automatic one-game suspensions while Brown was suspended for two games.[ 58] [ 59] [ 60] [ 61] [ 62] Overtuning a 3–1 series deficit, the Heat managed to defeat the Knicks in seven games.[ 63] [ 64] [ 65] [ 66]
In their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat lost in five games to the defending champion Chicago Bulls .[ 67] [ 68] [ 69] [ 70] It was also the fifth playoff matchup between Riley and Bulls head coach Phil Jackson that decade, with the first three meetings from 1992 to 1994 when Riley coached the Knicks, and in last year's playoffs.[ 71] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals , winning their fifth championship in seven years.[ 72] [ 73] [ 74] [ 75] [ 76]
Off-season
NBA draft
The Heat did not have any draft picks in 1996.
Roster
1996–97 Miami Heat roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
35
Anderson, Willie
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1967–01–08
Georgia
F
2
Askins, Keith
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
197 lb (89 kg)
1967–12–15
Alabama
C
8
Austin, Isaac
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
1969–08–18
Arizona State
F
3
Bowen, Bruce
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1971–06–14
Cal State Fullerton
F/C
42
Brown, P. J.
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1969–10–14
Louisiana Tech
G
11
Crotty, John
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1969–07–15
Virginia
G
23
Grant, Gary
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1965–04–21
Michigan
G
10
Hardaway, Tim
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1966–09–01
UTEP
G
21
Lenard, Voshon
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1973–05–14
Minnesota
G/F
9
Majerle, Dan
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1965–09–09
Central Michigan
F
24
Mashburn, Jamal
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1972–11–29
Kentucky
C
33
Mourning, Alonzo
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1970–02–08
Georgetown
F
54
Pinckney, Ed
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1963–03–27
Villanova
F
30
Strickland, Mark
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1970–07–14
Temple
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 25, 1997
Regular season
Season standings
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
—
Schedule
Game
Date
Opponent
Result
Heat points
Opponents
Record
Streak
Notes
1
Playoffs
In the first round of the playoffs , the Heat confronted their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic . The Heat won the first two games. In Orlando, the Magic defeated the Heat to force a fifth game. The Heat won the decisive Game 5 at home, 91–83. Winning their first ever playoff series.[ 38]
In the following round, the Heat were matched up against Pat Riley's former team, the New York Knicks . After the first four games, the Knicks had a 3–1 series lead. The Heat won Game 5 although the game was remembered for P. J. Brown fighting with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward .[ 38] Some Knicks players came off the bench and earned automatic suspensions, and Brown was suspended for the rest of the series. The Heat players stayed on the bench and gained an advantage for the rest of the series. The Heat eliminated the undermanned Knicks in seven games and one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA was born.[ 38] In the Eastern Conference finals, the Heat were defeated by the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls in five games.
1997 playoff game log
First round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Conference finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
1997 schedule
Player statistics
Ragular season
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Isaac Austin
C
82
17
1,881
478
101
45
43
792
22.9
5.8
1.2
.5
.5
9.7
Tim Hardaway
PG
81
81
3,136
277
695
151
9
1,644
38.7
3.4
8.6
1.9
.1
20.3
P. J. Brown
PF
80
71
2,592
670
92
85
98
761
32.4
8.4
1.2
1.1
1.2
9.5
Keith Askins
SF
78
30
1,773
271
75
53
19
384
22.7
3.5
1.0
.7
.2
4.9
Voshon Lenard
SG
73
47
2,111
217
161
50
18
897
28.9
3.0
2.2
.7
.2
12.3
Alonzo Mourning
C
66
65
2,320
656
104
56
189
1,310
35.2
9.9
1.6
.8
2.9
19.8
John Crotty
PG
48
0
659
47
102
18
0
232
13.7
1.0
2.1
.4
.0
4.8
Predrag Danilović †
SG
43
33
1,351
102
77
39
8
486
31.4
2.4
1.8
.9
.2
11.3
Dan Majerle
SF
36
26
1,264
162
116
54
14
390
35.1
4.5
3.2
1.5
.4
10.8
Jamal Mashburn †
SF
32
30
1,189
179
111
43
7
428
37.2
5.6
3.5
1.3
.2
13.4
Mark Strickland
PF
31
0
153
37
1
4
10
62
4.9
1.2
.0
.1
.3
2.0
Willie Anderson
SG
28
1
303
42
34
14
4
83
10.8
1.5
1.2
.5
.1
3.0
Gary Grant
PG
28
0
365
38
45
16
0
110
13.0
1.4
1.6
.6
.0
3.9
Ed Pinckney
PF
27
0
273
65
6
8
9
66
10.1
2.4
.2
.3
.3
2.4
Kurt Thomas
PF
18
9
374
107
9
12
9
113
20.8
5.9
.5
.7
.5
6.3
Martin Müürsepp †
PF
10
0
27
5
3
0
1
17
2.7
.5
.3
.0
.1
1.7
James Scott
SF
8
0
32
6
3
2
0
1
4.0
.8
.4
.3
.0
.1
Bruce Bowen
SF
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1.0
.0
.0
.0
1.0
.0
Matt Fish †
C
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Heat only.
Playoffs
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Tim Hardaway
PG
17
17
701
69
119
27
1
318
41.2
4.1
7.0
1.6
.1
18.7
Alonzo Mourning
C
17
17
630
173
18
11
46
303
37.1
10.2
1.1
.6
2.7
17.8
Jamal Mashburn
SF
17
17
554
84
35
17
2
178
32.6
4.9
2.1
1.0
.1
10.5
Voshon Lenard
SG
17
17
548
50
36
11
3
194
32.2
2.9
2.1
.6
.2
11.4
Dan Majerle
SF
17
2
496
72
43
21
4
136
29.2
4.2
2.5
1.2
.2
8.0
P. J. Brown
PF
15
15
451
129
10
9
20
122
30.1
8.6
.7
.6
1.3
8.1
Isaac Austin
C
15
0
287
66
6
6
7
98
19.1
4.4
.4
.4
.5
6.5
John Crotty
PG
15
0
125
11
11
4
0
37
8.3
.7
.7
.3
.0
2.5
Keith Askins
SF
12
0
146
28
7
3
2
30
12.2
2.3
.6
.3
.2
2.5
Willie Anderson
SG
9
0
120
17
5
4
2
33
13.3
1.9
.6
.4
.2
3.7
Mark Strickland
PF
4
0
16
3
1
1
0
8
4.0
.8
.3
.3
.0
2.0
Ed Pinckney
PF
2
0
6
0
1
0
0
4
3.0
.0
.5
.0
.0
2.0
Awards
Transactions
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(July 2021 )
References
^ 1996-97 Miami Heat
^ "Majerle Seems Headed to the Heat" . The New York Times . Associated Press. August 14, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ "Majerle to Sign with Heat" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Services. August 22, 1996. Retrieved July 10, 2022 .
^ "Once More, Majerle to Miami" . Tampa Bay Times . August 22, 1996. Retrieved October 5, 2022 .
^ Heeren, Dave (August 23, 1996). "Majerle Makes It Official with Heat" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Brown Leaves Nets for the Heat" . The New York Times . July 19, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "Even a P.J. Brown Can Strike It Rich" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. July 19, 1996. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Heat Add Brown, Keep Hardaway" . SFGate . July 19, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ Patton, Robes (October 11, 1996). "Riley's Camp Has Little Use for Games" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved December 15, 2022 .
^ Patton, Robes (October 25, 1996). "Austin Fits as Smaller Big Man" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved December 15, 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 March 14, 2017 .
^ Brown, Clifton (August 6, 1996). "Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 12, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ Lester, Will (February 14, 1997). "Heat Gets Mavericks' Mashburn for Three Players" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ Brown, Clifton (February 15, 1997). "Miami Acquires Mashburn from Dallas to Bolster Its Firepower" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 16, 2022 .
^ "Heat Acquires Mashburn from Mavericks" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 15, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "A Move Forward: Mashburn" . Sun Sentinel . February 15, 1997. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022 .
^ "1996–97 Miami Heat Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (May 9, 1997). "Riley Coach of Year for the Third Time" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 24, 2017 .
^ "Trail Blazers Fire Too-Slow Carlesimo" . Chicago Tribune . Tribune News Services. May 9, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "Riley Coach of Year; Sloan 3rd" . Deseret News . May 9, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "Bird Will Cut Coaching Teeth at Highest Level" . The Spokesman-Review . Associated Press. May 9, 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2023 .
^ "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ "Teams Defense" . NBA.com . Retrieved April 17, 2021 .
^ a b "1996–97 Miami Heat Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ "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 .
^ a b c d e Miami Heat (1988-Present)
^ Patton, Robes (February 6, 1997). "Mourning Has Sore Heel, May Skip All-Star Game" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ "Mourning Latest All-Star Casualty; Dumars on Team" . Chicago Tribune . Tribune News Services. February 7, 1997. Retrieved January 28, 2023 .
^ "Mourning Hurts Foot and May Miss Six Weeks" . The New York Times . Associated Press. February 22, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ "Heat Loses Mourning to Foot Injury" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 22, 1997. Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ Facer, Dirk (May 1, 1997). "It's MVP Malone" . Deseret News . Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^ Kawakami, Tim (May 19, 1997). "MVP: Malone, the Standout Jazz Forward Known as Mailman, Edges Jordan in the Voting to Earn Stamp of Greatness" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ a b "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 24, 2021 .
^ Winderman, Ira (December 22, 1996). "Heat Get Back on the Road to Winning" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ Winderman, Ira (April 2, 1997). "Heat Gets Majerle Back" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "Austin "Most Improved" " . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 4, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ "Sports Briefly" . Deseret News . May 4, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023 .
^ "NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ Wine, Steven (May 4, 1997). "Heat 91, Magic 83" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 3, 2022 .
^ Brown, Clifton (May 5, 1997). "The Other Hardaway Insures a Heat-Knicks Series" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 12, 2022 .
^ "Heat 91, Magic 83" . Chicago Tribune . Sun Sentinel. May 5, 1997. Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^ "1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Magic vs. Heat" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023 .
^ Vecsey, George (May 13, 1997). "Quiet No More: Starks Comes Out Shooting" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ Heisler, Mark (May 13, 1997). "Heat Feeling Some After Knicks Roll" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 20, 2023 .
^ Lupica, Mike (May 14, 1997). "Riley's Heat Almost Toast" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved October 10, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (May 15, 1997). "Not for the Faint-Hearted: Knicks-Heat Turns Nasty" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ Adande, J.A. (May 15, 1997). "Miami's Fighting Spirit Is Too Much for Knicks" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 11, 2022 .
^ Winderman, Ira (May 15, 1997). "Heat Fights Back" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (May 16, 1997). "5 Knicks Barred for Melee; 3 to Miss Game 6" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 10, 2023 .
^ Smith, Sam (May 16, 1997). "N.Y.-Miami Fracas Results in Harshest Penalties Ever" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved June 17, 2021 .
^ Brown, Clifton (May 19, 1997). "Next Stop, Chicago: Riley Adjusts Rearview Mirror to See Knicks" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 28, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (May 19, 1997). "Knicks Can't Take the Heat" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^ Adande, J.A. (May 19, 1997). "Hardaway Applies the Heat as Miami Ousts Knicks" . The Washington Post . Retrieved May 30, 2022 .
^ "1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Heat" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023 .
^ Wise, Mike (May 29, 1997). "A Redeemed Jordan Sends Heat Packing" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 12, 2022 .
^ Adande, J.A. (May 29, 1997). "Bulls Get Cooking, Turn Off the Heat" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^ Armour, Terry (May 29, 1997). "Hot Stuff! Heat Stuffed" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved May 30, 2022 .
^ "1997 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Heat vs. Bulls" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023 .
^ "Collision Course: Riley and Jackson through the years" . ESPN.com . December 22, 2005. Retrieved May 23, 2024 .
^ 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 .
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