1998–99 Utah Jazz season

The 1998–99 Utah Jazz season was the 25th season for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association, and their 20th season in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[1] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.^[2] The Jazz entered the regular season once again as runners-up in the NBA Finals, having lost back-to-back NBA Finals to the Chicago Bulls, both in six games. However, with Michael Jordan retiring for a second time,^[3][4][5] Scottie Pippen being traded to the Houston Rockets,^[6] Dennis Rodman signing with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent,^[7] and Phil Jackson's contract expiring,^[8] the Bulls dynasty that headlined much of the 1990s was dramatically dismantled, and the Jazz hoped to make the NBA Finals for a third time. During the off-season, the team re-signed free agent, and former Jazz forward Thurl Bailey, who came out of his retirement; Bailey last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1993–94 season.^[9][10][11]

The Jazz got off to a 19–4 start to the regular season, and later on posted an 11-game winning streak in April. However, the team played around .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, but managed to finish in second place in the Midwest Division with a league-best 37–13 record, earning the third seed in the Western Conference;^[12] however, their record was tied with the San Antonio Spurs, who won the Midwest Division title by a tie-breaker. The Jazz qualified for the NBA playoffs for the 16th consecutive year.^[1]

Karl Malone averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year for the second time; he was also named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.^[13][14][15] In addition, Bryon Russell returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench the previous season, averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while Jeff Hornacek contributed 12.2 points and 4.0 assists per game, and John Stockton provided the team with 11.1 points, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Meanwhile, Greg Ostertag averaged 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, while off the bench, Shandon Anderson contributed 8.5 points per game, and Howard Eisley provided with 7.5 points and 3.7 assists per game.^[16] Russell and Ostertag both finished tied in tenth place in Most Improved Player voting,^[17] while Eisley finished in eighth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,^[17] and head coach Jerry Sloan finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.^[18][17]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1999 NBA playoffs, the Jazz faced off against the 6th–seeded Sacramento Kings, a team that featured All-Star forward Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and rookie point guard Jason Williams. With the series tied at 1–1, the Jazz struggled and faced elimination after losing Game 3 to the Kings on the road in overtime, 84–81 at the ARCO Arena II as the Kings took a 2–1 series lead.^[19][20][21] However, the Jazz managed to win Game 4 on the road, 90–89 to even the series,^[22][23][24] and then won Game 5 over the Kings at home in overtime, 99–92 at the Delta Center to win in a hard-fought five-game series.^[25][26][27]

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by Isaiah Rider, Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire. The Jazz had home-court advantage in the series since they finished with a better regular-season record than the Trail Blazers. Despite this, the Trail Blazers took a 3–1 series lead, but the Jazz managed to win Game 5 at home, 88–71 at the Delta Center.^[28] However, the Jazz lost Game 6 to the Trail Blazers on the road, 92–80 at the Rose Garden Arena, thus losing the series in six games.^[29][30][31]

The Jazz finished fourth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 493,120 at the Delta Center during the regular season.^[16][32] Following the season, Anderson signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets,^[33][34] while Greg Foster signed with the Seattle SuperSonics,^[35][36] and Bailey retired for the second time. For the season, the Jazz revealed new black alternate road uniforms, which featured copper side panels on their jerseys and shorts; these uniforms would remain in use until 2004.^[37]