The 1996-97 Golden State Warriors season was marked by struggles and transition. The team finished with a disappointing 30-52 record, placing them 6th in the Pacific Division and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Warriors were coached by Rick Adelman, who was in his second season with the team but was unable to turn around their fortunes.
Key players for the Warriors included Latrell Sprewell, who was an offensive standout, averaging 24.2 points per game, and Joe Smith, a promising young forward who contributed 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. B.J. Armstrong and Mark Price provided veteran presence in the backcourt, although injuries limited Price’s impact. The team also acquired rookies Todd Fuller and Erick Dampier, but neither made a significant impact in their debut seasons.
Despite the presence of talented individuals, the Warriors struggled with inconsistency and injuries throughout the season. Their defensive issues were evident, as they allowed 108.4 points per game, one of the highest in the league. This lack of defensive resilience, coupled with inconsistent offensive performances, contributed to their poor record.
The 1996-97 season was also notable for off-court issues, including tensions between management and players, which foreshadowed future turmoil. The Warriors’ struggles during this period were a reflection of broader challenges within the organization, setting the stage for significant changes in the years to come.
- Regular Season Record: 30-52
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Golden State Warriors Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Latrell Sprewell | 80 | 24.2 | 4.6 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 35.4 | |||||||
| Joe Smith | 80 | 18.7 | 8.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 26.1 | |||||||
| Chris Mullin | 79 | 14.5 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 41.1 | |||||||
| Mark Price | 70 | 11.3 | 2.6 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 39.6 | |||||||
| B.J. Armstrong | 49 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 27.8 | |||||||
| Melvin Booker | 16 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 31.4 | |||||||
| Donyell Marshall | 61 | 7.3 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 31.5 | |||||||
| Bimbo Coles | 51 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 29.4 | |||||||
| Andrew DeClercq | 71 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Felton Spencer | 72 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Scott Burrell | 29 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 36.1 | |||||||
| Todd Fuller | 75 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Donald Royal | 36 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ray Owes | 57 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Lou Roe | 17 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 27.3 | |||||||
| Clifford Rozier | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Golden State Warriors 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Golden State Warriors.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 97-85 | |
| Nov 03, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 105-95 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-93 | |
| Nov 07, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | L 105-100 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 94-91 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-102 | |
| Nov 14, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 95-86 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-103 | |
| Nov 17, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 102-92 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-109 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 109-104 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 120-115 | |
| Nov 26, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 107-88 | |
| Nov 28, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 124-118 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-93 | |
| Dec 01, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-70 | |
| Dec 03, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 114-99 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 118-87 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 86-71 | |
| Dec 08, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 114-88 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 101-91 | |
| Dec 12, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 90-79 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-87 | |
| Dec 15, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 110-102 | |
| Dec 17, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-83 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 123-96 | |
| Dec 22, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-91 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 113-108 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 03, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 122-114 | |
| Jan 06, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 08, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | L 109-95 | |
| Jan 09, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 102-86 | |
| Jan 12, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-93 | |
| Jan 14, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | L 116-108 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-111 | |
| Jan 17, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 98-91 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-93 | |
| Jan 21, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 105-93 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 94-79 | |
| Jan 24, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-97 | |
| Jan 27, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 122-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-86 | |
| Jan 31, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 115-92 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 110-98 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 107-85 | |
| Feb 13, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 107-99 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 108-94 | |
| Feb 16, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-85 | |
| Feb 19, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-101 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 101-82 | |
| Feb 22, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 120-87 | |
| Feb 24, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-100 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-84 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-108 | |
| Mar 01, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 118-108 | |
| Mar 03, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-104 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 90-85 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-98 | |
| Mar 10, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 112-106 | |
| Mar 12, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-101 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-95 | |
| Mar 15, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 106-102 | |
| Mar 17, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 116-95 | |
| Mar 19, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 93-91 | |
| Mar 20, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 100-95 | |
| Mar 22, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 100-93 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 126-89 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 122-115 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 113-102 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 91-82 | |
| Apr 03, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-90 | |
| Apr 05, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 120-103 | |
| Apr 06, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 114-100 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-85 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 109-107 | |
| Apr 11, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 97-87 | |
| Apr 13, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 105-97 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 103-93 | |
| Apr 17, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 106-93 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 122-120 |