The 1997-98 New Jersey Nets season was marked by underperformance, with the team finishing with a 43-39 record. This placed them fourth in the Atlantic Division and secured the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Under head coach John Calipari, the Nets showed flashes of potential but struggled with consistency throughout the season.
The roster was highlighted by standout performances from forward Keith Van Horn, who led the team in scoring, and veteran guard Sam Cassell. Despite their efforts, the Nets faced a tough first-round matchup against the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The Nets were swept 3-0 in the series, abruptly ending their postseason run. The season marked another step in the team’s development but underscored the need for further improvement to compete with the league’s elite teams.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-3
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1997-98 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Keith Van Horn | 62 | 19.7 | 6.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 30.8 | 3 | 12.7 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Cassell | 75 | 19.6 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 18.7 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Kerry Kittles | 77 | 17.2 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 41.8 | 3 | 16.3 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 38.5 |
| Kendall Gill | 81 | 13.4 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 25.7 | 3 | 14.3 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jayson Williams | 65 | 12.9 | 13.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3 | 7.0 | 14.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Gatling | 57 | 11.5 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 24.9 | 3 | 15.3 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Sherman Douglas | 80 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 30.4 | 3 | 18.3 | 2.7 | 8.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| David Benoit | 53 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 34.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rony Seikaly | 9 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Evans | 28 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 40.5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lucious Harris | 50 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 30.8 | 3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Edwards | 27 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Vaughn | 15 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Jack Haley | 16 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Cage | 79 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 20 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Yinka Dare | 10 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don MacLean | 9 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets in the 1998 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1998 NBA Playoffs, the New Jersey Nets faced a daunting challenge in the first round against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls. Despite their efforts, the Nets were swept in three games by a Bulls team led by the legendary Michael Jordan, underscoring the disparity between the two teams at that time. The series highlighted the Nets' need for further development to compete with the NBA's elite.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 96-93 | |
| Apr 26, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 96-91 | |
| Apr 29, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-101 |
New Jersey Nets 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-95 | |
| Nov 01, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 05, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-96 | |
| Nov 07, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-87 | |
| Nov 08, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 99-86 | |
| Nov 13, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 85-74 | |
| Nov 15, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-88 | |
| Nov 16, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 77-72 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-100 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | L 101-93 | |
| Nov 22, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-87 | |
| Nov 25, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 101-87 | |
| Nov 26, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-99 | |
| Nov 28, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 104-92 | |
| Nov 30, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 87-73 | |
| Dec 01, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 100-95 | |
| Dec 03, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 93-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-88 | |
| Dec 08, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 105-97 | |
| Dec 09, 1997 | @ Washington Wizards | L 120-99 | |
| Dec 11, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 103-99 | |
| Dec 13, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 133-95 | |
| Dec 17, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-101 | |
| Dec 20, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-92 | |
| Dec 22, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | W 99-88 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 116-96 | |
| Dec 27, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-104 | |
| Dec 29, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-91 | |
| Dec 30, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 109-91 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-98 | |
| Jan 03, 1998 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 95-81 | |
| Jan 07, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-88 | |
| Jan 08, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 89-87 | |
| Jan 10, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-101 | |
| Jan 12, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 108-100 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 81-68 | |
| Jan 15, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-116 | |
| Jan 17, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-81 | |
| Jan 19, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 95-84 | |
| Jan 21, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-112 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-98 | |
| Jan 24, 1998 | @ Washington Wizards | L 104-87 | |
| Jan 27, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-87 | |
| Jan 28, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-95 | |
| Jan 31, 1998 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 116-106 | |
| Feb 01, 1998 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-87 | |
| Feb 03, 1998 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-97 | |
| Feb 05, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-94 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 90-81 | |
| Feb 13, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 130-115 | |
| Feb 14, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-98 | |
| Feb 16, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-92 | |
| Feb 18, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-104 | |
| Feb 20, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-95 | |
| Feb 21, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-89 | |
| Feb 24, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-101 | |
| Feb 26, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-99 | |
| Feb 28, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-93 | |
| Mar 01, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | L 85-84 | |
| Mar 03, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 94-91 | |
| Mar 06, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 122-115 | |
| Mar 08, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-100 | |
| Mar 10, 1998 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 79-78 | |
| Mar 12, 1998 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-104 | |
| Mar 14, 1998 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 108-93 | |
| Mar 16, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 88-72 | |
| Mar 19, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-87 | |
| Mar 20, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 99-92 | |
| Mar 22, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-100 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 91-86 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 82-76 | |
| Mar 31, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-90 | |
| Apr 02, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-106 | |
| Apr 04, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-94 | |
| Apr 06, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-115 | |
| Apr 08, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | W 117-104 | |
| Apr 11, 1998 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 124-117 | |
| Apr 12, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 116-109 | |
| Apr 14, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 96-92 | |
| Apr 15, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 109-103 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | L 121-109 | |
| Apr 19, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-101 |