1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers season


The 1997–98 NBA season was the 28th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Blazers signed free agent Brian Grant and fired head coach P.J. Carlesimo, who was replaced with former Milwaukee Bucks general manager and head coach Mike Dunleavy; Carlesimo was hired by the Golden State Warriors. Midway through the season, Kenny Anderson was traded along with Gary Trent, and rookie Alvin Williams to the Toronto Raptors for Damon Stoudamire and Walt Williams. The Blazers finished 46–36, fourth in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference, making their sixteenth straight trip to the postseason and 21st in 22 years. Isaiah Rider led the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game.
For the second straight season, the Blazers were pitted against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and the result was identical to that of the previous year, as Portland fell one game to three. It was also the sixth consecutive year that the Blazers lost in the opening round of the playoffs.
The Blazers also set an ignominious record during a game against the Indiana Pacers. The teams’ February 27, 1998, game ended with a Pacer win by the embarrassing score of 124–59, the only time in NBA history where a team has had their score doubled.

NBA Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
248Alvin WilliamsSGVillanova

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

West First Round

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Last Playoff Meeting: 1997 Western Conference First Round

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs