# 1996–97 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Los Angeles Lakers' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 37th in the city of Los Angeles. This season was mostly remembered for the Lakers signing free agent All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $120 million deal, and acquiring high school basketball star Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets, who selected him with the thirteenth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft during the off-season.
The team also signed former Lakers guard Byron Scott from the "Showtime" era, signed free agents Jerome Kersey, and Sean Rooks, and acquired rookie center Travis Knight from the Chicago Bulls. In January, they traded Cedric Ceballos back to his former team, the Phoenix Suns, in exchange for Robert Horry, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets. The Lakers played strong basketball as they had the best record in the Western Conference at the All-Star break with a 35–13 record, but soon slipped out of first-place, by finishing in second place in the Pacific Division with a 56–26 record. The Lakers had the eighth best team defensive rating in the NBA.
O'Neal averaged 26.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, but only played 51 games due to a knee injury, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Eddie Jones averaged 17.2 points and 2.4 steals per game, and Nick Van Exel provided the team with 15.3 points and 8.5 assists per game, and led the Lakers with 177 three-point field goals. In addition, Elden Campbell provided 14.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while Kersey contributed 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Off the bench, Bryant contributed 7.6 points per game, and Knight averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game; Bryant and Knight were both named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
During the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio, O'Neal and Jones were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, but O'Neal did not play due to injury. and Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest. O'Neal also finished tied in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Jones finished tied in twelfth place in Most Improved Player voting.
In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in four games. However, in the Western Conference Semi-finals, they lost in five games to regular season MVP Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz would reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose to the defending champion Chicago Bulls in six games.
Following the season, Scott went overseas and signed with the Greek Basket League giants Panathinaikos for the 1997–98 season, while Kersey signed as a free agent with the Seattle SuperSonics, and Knight signed with the Boston Celtics.
One notable highlight of the season was the Lakers holding the Dallas Mavericks to just two points in the third quarter, in an 87–80 home win on April 6, 1997. It was the fewest points scored in a quarter of a game in NBA history.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 24 | Derek Fisher | Guard | United States | Arkansas–Little Rock |
Before he was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, the 17-year-old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West, who immediately foresaw potential in Bryant's basketball ability during pre-draft workouts. He went on to state that Bryant's workouts against former Lakers players and then assistant coaches Michael Cooper, and Larry Drew were the best he had ever seen. Immediately after the draft, Bryant expressed that he did not wish to play for the Hornets and wanted to play for the Lakers instead. Fifteen days later, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant.

## Regular season
### Kobe's rookie season

During his first season, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. Initially, he played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time. He earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan-favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. He averaged 7.6 points and 15.5 minutes per game in 71 games, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 31–10 | 26–15 | 16–8 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 1 | 31–10 | 25–16 | 18–6 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 8 | 29–12 | 20–21 | 15–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 | 25–16 | 15–26 | 13–11 |
| x-Los Angeles Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | 21–20 | 15–26 | 10–14 |
| Sacramento Kings | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 8–16 |
| Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 27 | 18–23 | 12–29 | 4–20 |
1996–97 NBA West standings :
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Utah Jazz | 64 | 18 | .780 | – |
| 2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 |
| 3 | x-Houston Rockets | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 8 |
| 5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 |
| 7 | x-Phoenix Suns | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 |
| 8 | x-Los Angeles Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 34 | 48 | .415 | 30 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 34 |
| 11 | Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 40 |
| 12 | Denver Nuggets | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43 |
| 13 | San Antonio Spurs | 20 | 62 | .244 | 44 |
| 14 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50 |

### 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 | — |

## Game log
### Pre-season

1996 preseason game log Total: 5–3 :
Preseason
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 10
Denver
W 111-101
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI) 10,225
1–0
2
October 12
Denver
W 105-96
Shaquille O'Neal (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Derek Fisher (4)
Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI) 10,225
2–0
3
October 16
Dallas
W 90-80
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Corie Blount (9)
3 players tied (3)
Selland Arena (Fresno, CA) 10,274
3–0
4
October 18
Philadelphia
W 113-92
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Jones & Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 14,149
4–0
5
October 19
Phoenix
W 100-87
Nick Van Exel (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (10)
Great Western Forum 15,054
5–0
6
October 22
Houston
L 114-116
Cedric Ceballos (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Nick Van Exel (9)
San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA) 13,481
5–1
7
October 23
Phoenix
L 100-109
Byron Scott (25)
Cedric Ceballos (9)
Cedric Ceballos (4)
McKale Center (Tucson, AZ) 14,162
5–2
8
October 25
Seattle
L 94–99
Byron Scott (16)
BSU Pavilion (Boise, ID)
5–3 :
1997 schedule :

### Regular season

1996–97 game log Total: 56-26 (home: 31-10; road: 25–16) :
November: 11–6 (home: 5–2; road: 6–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 1
Phoenix
W 96-82
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–0
2
November 3
Minnesota
W 91-85
Shaquille O'Neal (35)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 15,407
2–0
3
November 5
@ New York
W 98-92
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
3–0
4
November 6
@ Charlotte
L 78-88
Shaquille O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Charlotte Coliseum 24,042
3–1
5
November 8
@ Toronto
L 92-93
Jones & O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Campbell & Van Exel (4)
SkyDome 27,357
3–2
6
November 10
Atlanta
W 92-85
Jones & O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Nick Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 16,097
4–2
7
November 12
@ Houston
W 126-115 (2OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Nick Van Exel (14)
The Summit 16,285
5–2
8
November 13
@ San Antonio
L 83-95
Shaquille O'Neal (30)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Alamodome 26,002
5–3
9
November 15
L.A. Clippers
W 107-100
Eddie Jones (32)
Elden Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (15)
Great Western Forum 16,207
6–3
10
November 17
@ Phoenix
W 102-88
Eddie Jones (18)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Nick Van Exel (9)
American West Arena 19,023
7–3
11
November 19
@ Golden State
W 112-109
Nick Van Exel (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (12)
San Jose Arena 18,742
8–3
12
November 20
Utah
L 97-113
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 16,122
8–4
13
November 22
San Antonio
W 96-86
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Shaquille O'Neal (21)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
9–4
14
November 24
Houston
L 85-90
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Nick Van Exel (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
9–5
15
November 26
@ Philadelphia
W 100-88
Jones & O'Neal (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Jones & Van Exel (6)
CoreStates Center 20,652
10–5
16
November 27
@ Boston
L 94-110
Shaquille O'Neal (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Shaquille O'Neal (5)
Fleet Center 18,624
10–6
17
November 29
@ Detroit
W 84-76
Shaquille O'Neal (27)
Elden Campbell (12)
Nick Van Exel (10)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
11–6 :
December: 11–3 (home: 8–0; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 1
Denver
W 104-96
O'Neal & Van Exel (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Great Western Forum 15,684
12–6
19
December 3
Seattle
W 110-106
Shaquille O'Neal (32)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Eddie Jones (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
13–6
20
December 4
@ Utah
L 75-101
Shaquille O'Neal (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Derek Fisher (3)
Delta Center 19,911
13–7
21
December 6
Orlando
W 92-81
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
14–7
22
December 8
Minnesota
W 110-86
Nick Van Exel (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 15,212
15–7
23
December 10
@ Sacramento
W 92-90
Shaquille O'Neal (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Derek Fisher (6)
ARCO Arena 17,317
16–7
24
December 11
Indiana
W 79-76
Shaquille O'Neal (33)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,139
17–7
25
December 13
Portland
W 120-119 (OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (15)
Great Western Forum 16,315
18–7
26
December 17
@ Chicago
L 123-129 (OT)
Nick Van Exel (36)
Elden Campbell (14)
Nick Van Exel (6)
United Center 23,919
18–8
27
December 18
@ Milwaukee
W 111-105
Shaquille O'Neal (41)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Bradley Center 16,829
19–8
28
December 21
@ Minnesota
L 88-103
Nick Van Exel (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Target Center 18,127
19–9
29
December 25
@ Phoenix
W 108-87
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Nick Van Exel (12)
American West Arena 19,023
20–9
30
December 27
Boston
W 109-102
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Campbell & O'Neal (11)
Jones & Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 17,505
21–9
31
December 29
Philadelphia
W 115-102
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Travis Knight (10)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
22–9 :
January: 11–3 (home: 6–2; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 2
@ Sacramento
W 90-83
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Nick Van Exel (6)
ARCO Arena 17,317
23–9
33
January 3
Sacramento
W 100-93
Elden Campbell (22)
Elden Campbell (15)
Derek Fisher (6)
Great Western Forum 17,505
24–9
34
January 5
@ Vancouver
W 95-82
Shaquille O'Neal (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (23)
General Motors Place 19,193
25–9
35
January 6
@ Portland
L 84-88
Shaquille O'Neal (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Rose Garden 21,538
25–10
36
January 8
Charlotte
W 101-97
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Nick Van Exel (10)
Great Western Forum 16,980
26–10
37
January 10
Miami
W 94-85
Shaquille O'Neal (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (14)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
27–10
38
January 14
Vancouver
W 91-81
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
Knight & O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Great Western Forum 15,606
28–10
39
January 16
Portland
L 98-102
Shaquille O'Neal (33)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,432
28–11
40
January 18
Detroit
L 97-100 (2OT)
Kobe Bryant (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
28–12
41
January 20
Dallas
W 109-99
Nick Van Exel (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,959
29–12
42
January 24
Golden State
W 114-97
Shaquille O'Neal (33)
Travis Knight (15)
Nick Van Exel (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
30–12
43
January 26
@ Seattle
W 104-103
Nick Van Exel (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Nick Van Exel (6)
KeyArena 17,072
31–12
44
January 28
@ Dallas
W 102-83
Shaquille O'Neal (31)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Reunion Arena 18,042
32–12
45
January 29
@ San Antonio
W 99-92
Eddie Jones (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Nick Van Exel (12)
Alamodome 25,570
33–12 :
February: 6–6 (home: 3–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 2
Washington
W 129-99
Shaquille O'Neal (24)
Elden Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Great Western Forum 17,505
34–12
47
February 4
@ L.A. Clippers
L 86-108
Campbell & Van Exel (20)
Travis Knight (7)
Campbell & Van Exel (4)
Arrowhead Pond 18,462
34–13
48
February 5
Chicago
W 106-90
Elden Campbell (34)
Elden Campbell (14)
Nick Van Exel (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
35–13
All-Star Break
49
February 12
@ Minnesota
W 100-84
Elden Campbell (21)
Robert Horry (10)
Robert Horry (8)
Target Center 18,243
36–13
50
February 13
@ Denver
W 132-117
Nick Van Exel (30)
Kersey & Rooks (6)
Nick Van Exel (9)
McNichols Sports Arena 16,713
37–13
51
February 16
Seattle
L 91-102
Eddie Jones (26)
Elden Campbell (17)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
37–14
52
February 19
Cleveland
L 84-103
Elden Campbell (23)
Travis Knight (9)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 16,402
37–15
53
February 21
Vancouver
W 99-91
Campbell & Jones (23)
Elden Campbell (12)
Jones & Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 17,031
38–15
54
February 23
New York
L 121-127 (2OT)
Elden Campbell (40)
Travis Knight (13)
Nick Van Exel (16)
Great Western Forum 17,505
38–16
55
February 25
@ Houston
L 96-100
Elden Campbell (19)
Elden Campbell (9)
Nick Van Exel (11)
The Summit 16,285
38–17
56
February 27
@ Washington
W 122-107
Elden Campbell (38)
Eddie Jones (8)
Nick Van Exel (12)
US Airways Arena 18,756
39–17
57
February 28
@ Atlanta
L 75-86
Eddie Jones (17)
Elden Campbell (7)
Eddie Jones (5)
Omni Coliseum 16,378
39–18 :
March: 9–5 (home: 4–2; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
58
March 2
@ Indiana
L 85-101
Eddie Jones (28)
Corie Blount (10)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Market Square Arena 16,711
39–19
59
March 4
@ Dallas
W 102-92
Nick Van Exel (37)
Elden Campbell (10)
4 players tied (2)
Reunion Arena 15,809
40–19
60
March 7
Houston
L 90-111
Campbell & Jones (17)
Elden Campbell (7)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Great Western Forum 17,505
40–20
61
March 9
New Jersey
W 115-105
Eddie Jones (34)
Eddie Jones (13)
Fisher & Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 17,103
41–20
62
March 12
Golden State
W 109-101
Elden Campbell (26)
Corie Blount (15)
Nick Van Exel (14)
Great Western Forum 17,009
42–20
63
March 14
L.A. Clippers
L 95-97
Eddie Jones (22)
Corie Blount (15)
Nick Van Exel (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
42–21
64
March 16
Toronto
W 98-90 (OT)
Eddie Jones (27)
Jerome Kersey (11)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,839
43–21
65
March 17
@ Denver
W 113-94
Nick Van Exel (30)
Blount & Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (9)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,817
44–21
66
March 20
@ Cleveland
W 89-76
Eddie Jones (25)
Corie Blount (12)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Gund Arena 18,818
45–21
67
March 21
@ Miami
L 97-98
Elden Campbell (24)
Elden Campbell (12)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Miami Arena 15,200
45–22
68
March 23
@ Orlando
L 84-110
Elden Campbell (16)
Blount & Kersey (8)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Orlando Arena 17,248
45–23
69
March 24
@ New Jersey
W 109-84
Nick Van Exel (23)
Travis Knight (14)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Continental Airlines Arena 20,049
46–23
70
March 26
Milwaukee
W 106-84
Elden Campbell (31)
Corie Blount (14)
3 players tied (4)
Great Western Forum 17,505
47–23
71
March 27
@ Vancouver
W 102-98 (OT)
Elden Campbell (25)
Elden Campbell (9)
Nick Van Exel (8)
General Motors Place 18,722
48–23 :
April: 8–3 (home: 5–1; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 1
@ Seattle
W 99-97
Nick Van Exel (30)
Blount & Kersey (11)
Nick Van Exel (6)
KeyArena 17,072
49–23
73
April 2
Denver
W 110-85
Eddie Jones (27)
Corie Blount (13)
Nick Van Exel (12)
Great Western Forum 17,141
50–23
74
April 4
San Antonio
L 83-94
Sean Rooks (20)
Corie Blount (13)
Nick Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 17,505
50–24
75
April 6
Dallas
W 87-80
Derek Fisher (21)
Sean Rooks (11)
3 players tied (5)
Great Western Forum 17,364
51–24
76
April 8
@ Golden State
W 109-85
Kobe Bryant (24)
Knight & Rooks (7)
Derek Fisher (6)
San Jose Arena 17,973
52–24
77
April 9
@ Utah
L 89-101
Eddie Jones (16)
Elden Campbell (11)
Derek Fisher (4)
Delta Center 19,911
52–25
78
April 11
Phoenix
W 114-98
O'Neal & Van Exel (24)
Horry & O'Neal (11)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
53–25
79
April 13
Utah
W 100-98
Shaquille O'Neal (39)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 17,505
54–25
80
April 17
Sacramento
W 108-99
Shaquille O'Neal (42)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 17,505
55–25
81
April 18
@ L.A. Clippers
W 123-95
Elden Campbell (21)
Travis Knight (9)
Nick Van Exel (10)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 16,094
56–25
82
April 20
@ Portland
L 96-100
Elden Campbell (29)
Elden Campbell (11)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Rose Garden 21,538
56–26 :
1996–97 schedule :

### Playoffs

1997 playoff game log Total: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4) :
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 25
Portland
W 95–77
Shaquille O'Neal (46)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–0
2
April 27
Portland
W 107–93
Shaquille O'Neal (30)
Eddie Jones (7)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
2–0
3
April 30
@ Portland
L 90–98
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
O'Neal & Van Exel (4)
Rose Garden 21,538
2–1
4
May 2
@ Portland
W 95–91
Campbell & O'Neal (27)
4 players tied (8)
Jones & Van Exel (5)
Rose Garden 21,538
3–1 :
Conference Semi-finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4
@ Utah
L 77–93
Nick Van Exel (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (4)
Delta Center 19,911
0–1
2
May 6
@ Utah
L 101–103
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Nick Van Exel (12)
Delta Center 19,911
0–2
3
May 8
Utah
W 104–84
Kobe Bryant (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Nick Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–2
4
May 10
Utah
L 95–110
Shaquille O'Neal (34)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–3
5
May 12
@ Utah
L 93–98 (OT)
Nick Van Exel (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Shaquille O'Neal (5)
Delta Center 19,911
1–4 :
1997 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 51 | 51 | 38.1 | .557 | .000 | .484 | 12.5 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 26.2 |
| Eddie Jones | 80 | 80 | 37.5 | .438 | .391 | .819 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 17.2 |
| Nick Van Exel | 79 | 79 | 37.2 | .402 | .378 | .825 | 2.9 | 8.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 15.3 |
| Cedric Ceballos | 8 | 8 | 34.9 | .410 | .238 | .867 | 6.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 10.8 |
| Elden Campbell | 77 | 77 | 32.7 | .469 | .250 | .711 | 8.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 14.9 |
| Robert Horry | 22 | 14 | 30.7 | .455 | .329 | .700 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 9.2 |
| Jerome Kersey | 70 | 44 | 25.2 | .432 | .262 | .602 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 6.8 |
| Byron Scott | 79 | 8 | 18.2 | .430 | .388 | .841 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 6.7 |
| Corie Blount | 58 | 18 | 17.4 | .514 | .333 | .675 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 4.2 |
| Travis Knight | 71 | 14 | 16.3 | .509 | - | .620 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.8 |
| Kobe Bryant | 71 | 6 | 15.5 | .417 | .375 | .819 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 7.6 |
| George McCloud | 23 | 2 | 12.4 | .354 | .429 | .667 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4.1 |
| Derek Fisher | 80 | 3 | 11.5 | .397 | .301 | .658 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 3.9 |
| Sean Rooks | 69 | 3 | 10.7 | .470 | .000 | .700 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.8 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Corie Blount | 3 | 0 | 2.7 | 1.000 | | .500 | .7 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Kobe Bryant | 9 | 0 | 14.8 | .382 | .261 | .867 | 1.2 | 1.2 | .3 | .2 | 8.2 |
| Elden Campbell | 9 | 9 | 30.9 | .398 | 1.000 | .816 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .8 | 1.4 | 11.8 |
| Derek Fisher | 6 | 0 | 5.7 | .273 | .000 | .667 | .5 | 1.0 | .2 | .0 | 1.3 |
| Robert Horry | 9 | 9 | 31.0 | .447 | .429 | .778 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .8 | 6.7 |
| Eddie Jones | 9 | 9 | 31.4 | .458 | .375 | .743 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 1.0 | .4 | 11.2 |
| Jerome Kersey | 9 | 0 | 23.3 | .486 | .000 | .789 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .7 | 5.4 |
| Travis Knight | 9 | 0 | 10.3 | .800 | | .750 | 2.0 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 2.1 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 9 | 9 | 36.2 | .514 | | .610 | 10.6 | 3.2 | .6 | 1.9 | 26.9 |
| Sean Rooks | 8 | 0 | 6.8 | .444 | | .750 | 1.5 | .1 | .4 | .4 | 1.8 |
| Byron Scott | 8 | 0 | 16.8 | .455 | .364 | .895 | 1.5 | 1.4 | .1 | .0 | 6.4 |
| Nick Van Exel | 9 | 9 | 39.2 | .378 | .273 | .824 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 1.1 | .0 | 14.4 |
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records

* Shaquille O'Neal, 1997 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Male Athlete
* Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Third Team
* Kobe Bryant, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team
* Travis Knight, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team