The1997–98 Dallas Mavericks season was the 18th season for theDallas Mavericks in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Mavericks acquired three-point specialistDennis Scott from theOrlando Magic,^[2][3][4] and signed free agentHubert Davis.^[5][6][7] After winning their first three games of the regular season, the Mavericks struggled once again losing ten straight games in November. Head coachJim Cleamons was fired, and replaced with General ManagerDon Nelson after a 4–12 start.^[8][9][10] Along the way, forwardA.C. Green broke the NBA's "Iron Man" record of most consecutive games played, breakingRandy Smith's record, which was 906 consecutive games.^[11][12][13]

After winning their first game under Nelson, which was a 105–91 home victory over theNew York Knicks on December 4, 1997, the Mavericks traveled toMexico City, Mexico, where they lost to theHouston Rockets, 108–106 on December 6, which was the first NBA regular season game played in Mexico.^[14][15][16] The Mavericks posted a 15-game losing streak between December and January, which led to a dreadful 5–27 start, then later holding a 9–38 record at the All-Star break.^[17] Players likeShawn Bradley,Robert Pack,Kurt Thomas and second-year forwardSamaki Walker all missed large parts of the season with injuries.^[18]

At mid-season, the team traded Scott to thePhoenix Suns in exchange forCedric Ceballos,^[19][20][21] who only played just twelve games before sitting out the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.^[18][22] The team also signed free agentShawn Respert, who was previously released by theToronto Raptors.^[23] The Mavericks played .500 basketball posting an 8–8 record in March, but then lost eight of their final nine games of the season, finishing in fifth place in theMidwest Division with a 20–62 record, and missing theNBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.^[24]

Michael Finley averaged 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and finished tied in fourth place inMost Improved Player voting, and tied in eighteenth place inMost Valuable Player voting.^[25][26] while Bradley averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, and Davis contributed 11.1 points per game and led the Mavericks with 101 three-point field goals. In addition, Walker provided the team with 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in only just 41 games, whileKhalid Reeves contributed 8.7 points per game, second-year guardErick Strickland contributed 7.6 points per game, and Green provided with 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.^[27]

During theNBA All-Star weekend atMadison Square Garden inNew York City, New York, Davis participated in theNBA Three-Point Shootout for the second time; Davis lost in the final round toJeff Hornacek of theUtah Jazz.^[28][29][30] Following the season, Thomas signed as a free agent with theNew York Knicks,^[31][32][33] while second-year forwardMartin Muursepp, and second-round draft pickBubba Wells were both traded to thePhoenix Suns,^[34][35] and Respert was released to free agency.

One notable highlight of the regular season was a game against the 2-time defending NBA championChicago Bulls at theUnited Center on December 29, 1997, where Wells fouled out of the game in just three minutes, which was an NBA record for fouling out in the shortest amount of time; Nelson used a strategy for Wells to foul Bulls forward and rebound-specialistDennis Rodman, who is known as a poor free throw shooter. However, the plan backfired as Rodman shot 9–12 from the foul line, and the Bulls defeated the Mavericks, 111–105.^[36][37][38] The Bulls would go on to defeat theUtah Jazz in six games in the1998 NBA Finals for their third consecutive NBA championship, and sixth overall in eight years.^[39][40][41]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	15	Kelvin Cato	C	United States	Iowa State
2	34	Bubba Wells	SF/SG	United States	Austin Peay State

1997–98 Dallas Mavericks roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 11 Chris Anstey 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 249 lb (113 kg) 1975–01–01 Australia C 44 Shawn Bradley 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–03–22 BYU G/F 23 Cedric Ceballos  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969–08–02 Cal State Fullerton G 24 Hubert Davis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1970–05–17 North Carolina G/F 4 Michael Finley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1973–03–06 Wisconsin F 45 A.C. Green 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–10–04 Oregon State F 13 Martin Müürsepp 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–09–26 Estonia G 14 Robert Pack  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1969–02–03 USC G 6 Khalid Reeves 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 199 lb (90 kg) 1972–07–15 Arizona G 21 Shawn Respert 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1972–02–06 Michigan State C 50 Eric Riley 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–02 Michigan G 20 Erick Strickland 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–11–25 Nebraska F 40 Kurt Thomas  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–10–04 TCU F/C 52 Samaki Walker  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976–02–25 Louisville G/F 35 Bubba Wells 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–07–26 Austin Peay

Head coach Don Nelson Assistant(s) Sonny Allen Butch Beard Ron Ekker Donnie Nelson Charlie Parker Scott Roth Bob Salmi Kurt Thomas Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster Updated: March 27, 1998

• CenterShawn Bradley holds both American and German citizenship.
• Rookie power forwardAce Custis was on theinjured reserve list due to a preseason knee injury, and missed the entire regular season.^[42]

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

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• 1997-98 NBA season

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