1996–97 Utah Jazz season

The 1996–97 Utah Jazz season was the 23rd season for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association, and their 18th season in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[1] Prior to the start of the season, the Jazz changed their primary logo that more closely reflects the state of Utah, featuring purple mountains and light blue in the script,^[2][3][4] plus adding new uniforms.^[5][6]

After a 2–2 start to the regular season, the Jazz posted a 15-game winning streak between November and December,^[7] and later on held a 33–14 record at the All-Star break.^[8] The team posted a 31–4 record for the remainder of the season, in which they posted a seven-game winning streak in February, posted another 15-game winning streak between March and April,^[9] and won 19 of their final 20 games. The Jazz finished in first place in the Midwest Division with a franchise-best 64–18 record, and earned the first seed in the Western Conference;^[10] the team made their 14th consecutive trip to the NBA playoffs.^[11] The Jazz also had the second-best home record in the league with a 38–3 record at the Delta Center.

Karl Malone averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year, finishing in first place ahead of Michael Jordan in Most Valuable Player voting,^[12][13][14] while being named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Jeff Hornacek averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while John Stockton provided the team with 14.4 points, 10.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Meanwhile, Bryon Russell showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 10.8 points and 1.4 steals per game, and leading the Jazz with 108 three-point field goals, while second-year center Greg Ostertag averaged 7.3 points and rebounds per game each, and led the team with 2.0 blocks per game. Off the bench, Antoine Carr contributed 7.4 points per game, while rookie shooting guard, and second-round draft pick Shandon Anderson contributed 5.9 points per game, and Howard Eisley provided with 4.5 points and 2.4 assists per game.^[15]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Malone and Stockton were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team.^[16][17][18] However, Malone was booed by the fans at the Gund Arena throughout the entire All-Star Game. Prior to the game, Malone stated that he would rather be at his home in Salt Lake City than play in the All-Star Game in Cleveland; he later on stated that he did not mean to disrespect the city of Cleveland, and that his comments were taken out of context.^[19][20][21] In addition, Stockton also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second time.^[16][22] Stockton finished in 15th place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[23] while head coach Jerry Sloan finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting;^[24][23] despite showing a lot of improvement over the previous season, Russell did not receive any votes in Most Improved Player voting.^[23]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Jazz faced off against the 8th–seeded Los Angeles Clippers, a team that featured Loy Vaught, Malik Sealy and Rodney Rogers. The Jazz won the first two games over the Clippers at home at the Delta Center, before winning Game 3 on the road, 104–92 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, to win the series in a three-game sweep.^[25][26][27]

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 4th–seeded Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by the trio of All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal, All-Star guard Eddie Jones, and Nick Van Exel. The Jazz won the first two games at the Delta Center, but then lost Game 3 to the Lakers on the road, 104–84 at the Great Western Forum. The Jazz managed to win Game 4 on the road, 110–95, and then won Game 5 over the Lakers at the Delta Center, 98–93 to win the series in five games.^[28][29][30]

In the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz then faced off against the 3rd–seeded Houston Rockets, who were led by the All-Star trio of Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler. The Jazz won the first two games at the Delta Center to take a 2–0 series lead.^[31][32][33] However, the Rockets managed to win the next two games to even the series, as Rockets forward Eddie Johnson hit a dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer to win Game 4, 95–92 at The Summit.^[34][35][36] After winning Game 5 at the Delta Center, 96–91,^[37][38][39] Game 6 at The Summit appeared to be heading into overtime, until Stockton hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, as the Jazz defeated the Rockets, 103–100 to win the series in six games, and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.^[40][41][42]

In the 1997 NBA Finals, the Jazz faced off against the top–seeded, and defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. The Jazz lost the first two games to the Bulls on the road at the United Center, but then won their next two home games to even the series at 2–2. In Game 5 at the Delta Center, which was known as "The Flu Game", Jordan scored 38 points in 44 minutes, as the Bulls defeated the Jazz, 90–88 to take a 3–2 series lead.^[43][44][45] The Jazz lost Game 6 to the Bulls at the United Center, 90–86, thus losing the series in six games, as the Bulls won their second consecutive NBA championship, and their fifth title in seven years.^[46][47][48]

The Jazz finished fourth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 811,439 at the Delta Center during the regular season.^[15][49] One notable highlight of the season occurred on November 27, 1996, in which the Jazz trailed 70–36 at halftime to the Denver Nuggets at the Delta Center, but came back from a 34-point deficit, outscoring the Nuggets 71–33 in the second half to win the game, 107–103.^[50][51][52]

The team's new primary logo, and new uniforms would both remain in use until 2004.