The 1996-97 Cleveland Cavaliers season was marked by a transition phase under head coach Mike Fratello. The team finished with a record of 42-40, which placed them fifth in the Central Division and allowed them to secure the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This season was notable as it marked a playoff return after missing out in the previous year.
Throughout the regular season, the Cavaliers were characterized by their defensive prowess, a hallmark of Fratello’s coaching style. They allowed only 87.5 points per game, making them the best defensive team in terms of points allowed. However, their offensive production was less impressive, as they averaged just 87.3 points per game, ranking them last in the league.
The roster featured standout performances from players like Terrell Brandon, who led the team in scoring with an average of 19.5 points per game, and Chris Mills, who contributed significantly on both ends of the floor. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, drafted in 1996, missed the entire season due to foot injuries, which limited the team’s potential ceiling.
In the playoffs, the Cavaliers faced the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in the first round. Despite their defensive efforts, the Cavaliers were swept in the series, losing 3-0. The season highlighted the need for offensive improvements to complement their strong defense and maintain competitiveness in subsequent seasons. Overall, the 1996-97 season was a step forward for the Cavaliers, setting the foundation for future development.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers 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% |
| Terrell Brandon | 78 | 19.5 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 37.3 | |||||||
| Chris Mills | 80 | 13.4 | 6.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 39.1 | |||||||
| Tyrone Hill | 74 | 12.9 | 9.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bobby Phills | 69 | 12.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 39.4 | |||||||
| Danny Ferry | 82 | 10.6 | 4.1 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 40.1 | |||||||
| Bob Sura | 82 | 9.2 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 32.3 | |||||||
| Vitaly Potapenko | 80 | 5.8 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Mark West | 70 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Donny Marshall | 56 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 37.9 | |||||||
| Antonio Lang | 64 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Reggie Geary | 39 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 38.1 | |||||||
| Shawnelle Scott | 16 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Carl Thomas | 19 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 16.7 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-77 | |
| Nov 02, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | W 98-96 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 74-68 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 88-72 | |
| Nov 10, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 101-86 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 87-83 | |
| Nov 13, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 81-70 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-89 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 102-98 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 73-63 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 89-81 | |
| Nov 24, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 103-74 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 92-75 | |
| Nov 30, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 86-82 | |
| Dec 03, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 93-74 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | W 84-57 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 93-81 | |
| Dec 08, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 90-69 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 76-74 | |
| Dec 11, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-95 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 101-87 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 101-93 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 99-81 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 91-82 | |
| Dec 22, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-94 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 89-84 | |
| Dec 27, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 94-86 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-97 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 108-96 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-94 | |
| Jan 04, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 99-91 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 95-90 | |
| Jan 08, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 81-78 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 98-85 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 93-79 | |
| Jan 16, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 88-87 | |
| Jan 17, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-84 | |
| Jan 19, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-102 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 94-74 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 87-71 | |
| Jan 25, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 106-73 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 84-62 | |
| Jan 29, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 75-65 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 71-66 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 80-76 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 79-78 | |
| Feb 05, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 89-84 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-94 | |
| Feb 12, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 83-75 | |
| Feb 17, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 19, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-84 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 94-88 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 91-84 | |
| Feb 25, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 72-66 | |
| Feb 27, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 73-70 | |
| Mar 01, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-81 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 90-82 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 93-88 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 85-78 | |
| Mar 08, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 90-82 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 88-85 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 101-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 96-73 | |
| Mar 17, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 85-82 | |
| Mar 19, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 90-72 | |
| Mar 20, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 89-76 | |
| Mar 22, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 75-72 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 64-59 | |
| Mar 27, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 107-89 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 83-79 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 84-80 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 94-88 | |
| Apr 02, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 96-87 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 84-71 | |
| Apr 07, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 110-105 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | W 93-73 | |
| Apr 11, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | L 103-101 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-118 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 94-82 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 78-63 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 82-75 | |
| Apr 20, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 85-81 |