The 1996-97 New Jersey Nets finished the NBA season with a record of 26-56, placing sixth in the Atlantic Division. The team struggled throughout the year, leading to the dismissal of head coach Butch Beard after a 3-15 start. He was replaced by John Calipari, who took over the coaching duties but was unable to significantly turn the season around.
Despite their poor record, the Nets had some noteworthy individual performances. Jayson Williams emerged as a key player, averaging 13.4 rebounds per game and establishing himself as a dominant force on the boards. Kerry Kittles, in his rookie season, showed promise by averaging 16.4 points per game, earning him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
The season was largely seen as a rebuilding phase for the Nets, who aimed to develop their young talent and improve their future prospects. Although wins were hard to come by, the groundwork was laid for future potential improvements.
- Regular Season Record: 26-56
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
POINTS
Kendall Gill
21.8
REBOUNDS
Jayson Williams
13.5
ASSISTS
Robert Pack
9.6
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kendall Gill | 82 | 21.8 | 6.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 33.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Cassell | 23 | 19.3 | 3.6 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 39.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Gatling | 3 | 17.0 | 7.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Jackson | 31 | 16.5 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 37.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kerry Kittles | 82 | 16.4 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 37.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Pack | 34 | 15.9 | 2.5 | 9.6 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 29.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jayson Williams | 41 | 13.4 | 13.5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shawn Bradley | 40 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Khalid Reeves | 50 | 8.3 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 39.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Massenburg | 79 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Williams | 11 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 27.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Edwards | 32 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 34.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 62 | 5.6 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lloyd Daniels | 17 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 32.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Montross | 31 | 5.1 | 9.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed O'Bannon | 45 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 28.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Kleine | 28 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Evric Gray | 5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jack Haley | 20 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Adrian Caldwell | 18 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Werdann | 6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Yinka Dare | 41 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vincent Askew | 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 |
New Jersey Nets 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-77 | |
| Nov 07, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-95 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 86-82 | |
| Nov 13, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-91 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 93-85 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-88 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-91 | |
| Nov 25, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-92 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 99-77 | |
| Nov 28, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 124-118 | |
| Nov 30, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-95 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-102 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | @ Boston Celtics | W 110-108 | |
| Dec 07, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-69 | |
| Dec 11, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-101 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-92 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-91 | |
| Dec 17, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 97-88 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-81 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 109-95 | |
| Dec 21, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 101-100 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-81 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 98-96 | |
| Dec 27, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-94 | |
| Dec 29, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 110-102 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-86 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 101-91 | |
| Jan 03, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-85 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 90-74 | |
| Jan 09, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-107 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 123-106 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-111 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 116-104 | |
| Jan 17, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-103 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-92 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 132-123 | |
| Jan 22, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 103-95 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-104 | |
| Jan 25, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 92-81 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 84-62 | |
| Jan 30, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-101 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-75 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 92-90 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-105 | |
| Feb 06, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 104-100 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | W 104-98 | |
| Feb 12, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 113-100 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 125-107 | |
| Feb 15, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-86 | |
| Feb 17, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-101 | |
| Feb 20, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 92-87 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-84 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-93 | |
| Feb 25, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-90 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-108 | |
| Mar 03, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 108-95 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-118 | |
| Mar 06, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 102-96 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-90 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-102 | |
| Mar 14, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-98 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | W 89-74 | |
| Mar 18, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 97-89 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-110 | |
| Mar 23, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 100-91 | |
| Mar 24, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-84 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 123-105 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 92-86 | |
| Mar 29, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-101 | |
| Apr 02, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 94-89 | |
| Apr 03, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 93-87 | |
| Apr 06, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-96 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 94-92 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-88 | |
| Apr 11, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-90 | |
| Apr 13, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 132-123 | |
| Apr 15, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 109-101 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-105 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | W 86-74 | |
| Apr 20, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-92 |