The 1997-98 Dallas Mavericks season marked a significant period of transition. The team finished with a 20-62 record, placing them 6th in the Midwest Division and missing the playoffs. This season was notable for the arrival of head coach Don Nelson, who was hired mid-season after the Mavericks started with a 4-12 record under coach Jim Cleamons. Nelson’s influence began to shape the team’s future, focusing on rebuilding and developing young talent.
During this season, the Mavericks acquired future star Dirk Nowitzki through a draft-day trade, although he did not join the NBA until the following season. The team also saw the emergence of Michael Finley, who led the Mavericks in scoring with an average of 21.5 points per game. Despite the poor record, the foundation was laid for future success, as management began strategizing for a more competitive roster in the coming years.
- Regular Season Record: 20-62
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1997-98 Season
POINTS
Michael Finley
21.5
REBOUNDS
A.C. Green
8.1
ASSISTS
Michael Finley
4.9
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Michael Finley | 82 | 21.5 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 35.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cedric Ceballos | 12 | 16.9 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 30.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Scott | 52 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 34.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shawn Bradley | 64 | 11.4 | 8.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hubert Davis | 81 | 11.1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 43.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Samaki Walker | 41 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Khalid Reeves | 82 | 8.7 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 36.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shawn Respert | 10 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 23.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Pack | 12 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Erick Strickland | 67 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 29.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Thomas | 5 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 7.3 | 8.1 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Anstey | 41 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 18.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Martin Müürsepp | 41 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 42.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Riley | 39 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bubba Wells | 39 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 16.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Ollie | 16 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Adrian Caldwell | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 90-88 | |
| Nov 01, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 89-81 | |
| Nov 04, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 92-87 | |
| Nov 05, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 110-103 | |
| Nov 08, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-94 | |
| Nov 11, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-96 | |
| Nov 13, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 85-77 | |
| Nov 17, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-75 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 102-95 | |
| Nov 20, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 101-97 | |
| Nov 22, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 83-62 | |
| Nov 25, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 28, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 93-91 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 96-87 | |
| Dec 02, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 112-79 | |
| Dec 04, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-91 | |
| Dec 06, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 108-106 | |
| Dec 09, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 99-92 | |
| Dec 11, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 100-90 | |
| Dec 12, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 68-66 | |
| Dec 14, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-89 | |
| Dec 16, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 103-92 | |
| Dec 18, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 89-75 | |
| Dec 20, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 89-88 | |
| Dec 22, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 79-67 | |
| Dec 23, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-85 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 97-95 | |
| Dec 29, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-105 | |
| Dec 30, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-98 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 92-85 | |
| Jan 03, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 97-88 | |
| Jan 06, 1998 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 108-90 | |
| Jan 08, 1998 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 103-92 | |
| Jan 10, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 84-79 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-87 | |
| Jan 14, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 108-82 | |
| Jan 17, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 113-110 | |
| Jan 20, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-98 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 81-75 | |
| Jan 24, 1998 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 94-92 | |
| Jan 27, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 84-77 | |
| Jan 30, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | L 104-94 | |
| Jan 31, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 110-98 | |
| Feb 02, 1998 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 104-90 | |
| Feb 04, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-99 | |
| Feb 05, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 101-93 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 90-81 | |
| Feb 11, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 91-90 | |
| Feb 13, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 85-82 | |
| Feb 15, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 105-99 | |
| Feb 17, 1998 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 95-77 | |
| Feb 19, 1998 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 87-81 | |
| Feb 21, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 94-82 | |
| Feb 25, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | L 100-79 | |
| Feb 26, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | L 91-72 | |
| Feb 28, 1998 | @ Washington Wizards | W 103-77 | |
| Mar 02, 1998 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 100-94 | |
| Mar 03, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 110-99 | |
| Mar 05, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-109 | |
| Mar 07, 1998 | vs. Miami Heat | L 94-88 | |
| Mar 10, 1998 | @ Houston Rockets | L 97-91 | |
| Mar 12, 1998 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 104-97 | |
| Mar 14, 1998 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 108-93 | |
| Mar 15, 1998 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 100-90 | |
| Mar 17, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-93 | |
| Mar 19, 1998 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 88-82 | |
| Mar 21, 1998 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 103-95 | |
| Mar 23, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 91-87 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 105-94 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 99-90 | |
| Mar 29, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 108-86 | |
| Mar 31, 1998 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 104-101 | |
| Apr 02, 1998 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-86 | |
| Apr 03, 1998 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-102 | |
| Apr 05, 1998 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-99 | |
| Apr 07, 1998 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 99-91 | |
| Apr 09, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-101 | |
| Apr 11, 1998 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 99-81 | |
| Apr 14, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-95 | |
| Apr 16, 1998 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 88-82 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-95 |