The 1996-97 Los Angeles Clippers season was marked by a struggle to find consistency, resulting in a 36-46 record. Despite the efforts of key players like Loy Vaught, who led the team in scoring and rebounding, the Clippers failed to secure a playoff spot, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division.
Head coach Bill Fitch faced challenges with injuries throughout the season, which hindered the team’s ability to develop cohesion. The Clippers showcased potential in various close games but often fell short against stronger teams. Rookie Lorenzen Wright provided a glimpse of talent, contributing significantly off the bench.
One of the season’s highlights was the Clippers’ victory over the Chicago Bulls, showcasing their ability to compete with top-tier teams. However, the season ultimately underscored the need for a more robust roster to compete in the highly competitive Western Conference.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Los Angeles Clippers 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% |
| Loy Vaught | 82 | 14.9 | 10.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 16.7 | 3 | 15.0 | 9.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 33.3 |
| Malik Sealy | 80 | 13.5 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 35.6 | 3 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| Rodney Rogers | 81 | 13.2 | 5.1 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 36.1 | 3 | 10.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 20.0 |
| Darrick Martin | 82 | 10.9 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 38.9 | 3 | 11.0 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 55.6 |
| Stanley Roberts | 18 | 9.5 | 5.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bo Outlaw | 82 | 7.6 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 3 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Brent Barry | 59 | 7.5 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 32.4 | 3 | 11.7 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 45.5 |
| Lamond Murray | 74 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 34.1 | 3 | 7.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 25.0 |
| Lorenzen Wright | 77 | 7.3 | 6.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 25.0 | 3 | 10.3 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Terry Dehere | 73 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 32.5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Piatkowski | 65 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 42.5 | 3 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Pooh Richardson | 59 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 32.8 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Duckworth | 26 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 75.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rich Manning | 10 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Dwayne Schintzius | 15 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Los Angeles Clippers in the 1997 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Utah Jazz
In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Utah Jazz in the first round. The Clippers, who entered as the eighth seed, were swept in the best-of-five series by the top-seeded Jazz. Despite a spirited effort, the Clippers couldn’t overcome the Jazz's formidable duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, marking an early exit in three straight games.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 106-86 | |
| Apr 26, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-99 | |
| Apr 28, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 104-92 |
Los Angeles Clippers 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 97-85 | |
| Nov 02, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 95-90 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 82-78 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | L 88-81 | |
| Nov 10, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 81-70 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 99-92 | |
| Nov 14, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 94-78 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-100 | |
| Nov 17, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 93-81 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 105-94 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 88-84 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 98-82 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 111-94 | |
| Nov 30, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 106-95 | |
| Dec 03, 1996 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 96-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 114-96 | |
| Dec 07, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-80 | |
| Dec 08, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 90-69 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 100-95 | |
| Dec 12, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 97-94 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 106-94 | |
| Dec 16, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 122-121 | |
| Dec 19, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 102-93 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-86 | |
| Dec 22, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 97-91 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 100-88 | |
| Dec 27, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-98 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 115-101 | |
| Jan 04, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | W 95-91 | |
| Jan 05, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 93-84 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 87-80 | |
| Jan 10, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 102-98 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 95-93 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 108-93 | |
| Jan 19, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-102 | |
| Jan 21, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-82 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-100 | |
| Jan 24, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 114-111 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 112-96 | |
| Jan 30, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 100-94 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-98 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-86 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-112 | |
| Feb 13, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-98 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-93 | |
| Feb 18, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 87-69 | |
| Feb 20, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-84 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 114-96 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-86 | |
| Feb 25, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-93 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 83-80 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 94-92 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 109-107 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 113-109 | |
| Mar 06, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 94-93 | |
| Mar 08, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 91-85 | |
| Mar 10, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-106 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-105 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 112-96 | |
| Mar 14, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-94 | |
| Mar 18, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 121-111 | |
| Mar 19, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-98 | |
| Mar 22, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-94 | |
| Mar 23, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 106-91 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 110-104 | |
| Mar 27, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 103-88 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-85 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 103-96 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 97-87 | |
| Apr 03, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | W 113-94 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 117-102 | |
| Apr 06, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-96 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 127-117 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-96 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 116-94 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 99-93 | |
| Apr 15, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 123-119 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-95 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-100 |