The 1997-98 Boston Celtics season marked a pivotal year for the franchise, primarily due to organizational changes and a focus on rebuilding. Under the leadership of head coach Rick Pitino, who was also the team president, the Celtics aimed to rejuvenate their roster. Despite Pitino’s high-profile arrival, the team struggled to find success on the court, finishing the season with a disappointing 36-46 record, which placed them sixth in the Atlantic Division and out of playoff contention.
The Celtics entered the season with a blend of veterans and young talent. The most significant addition was rookie Chauncey Billups, selected third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft. However, Billups was traded mid-season to the Toronto Raptors, a move that highlighted the team’s instability and constant roster changes. Antoine Walker and Ron Mercer emerged as key players, with Walker averaging an impressive 22.4 points per game, showcasing potential as a franchise cornerstone.
Despite some individual performances, the Celtics struggled with consistency, particularly on defense, where they allowed 96.3 points per game. The team’s inability to secure victories was exacerbated by a lack of cohesion and experience. The 1997-98 season was part of a broader rebuilding phase for Boston, setting the stage for future growth and development. While the season did not yield immediate success, it laid the groundwork for the team’s eventual resurgence in the early 2000s.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Boston Celtics 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% |
| Antoine Walker | 82 | 22.4 | 10.2 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 31.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ron Mercer | 80 | 15.3 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 10.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kenny Anderson | 16 | 11.2 | 2.4 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 37.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chauncey Billups | 51 | 11.1 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 33.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dana Barros | 80 | 9.8 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 40.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Walter McCarty | 82 | 9.6 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 30.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dee Brown | 41 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 38.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Travis Knight | 74 | 6.5 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 27.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bruce Bowen | 61 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 33.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Andrew DeClercq | 81 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tyus Edney | 52 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 30.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Greg Minor | 69 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 19.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Žan Tabak | 18 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Thomas | 33 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pervis Ellison | 33 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dontae' Jones | 15 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 26.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Roy Rogers | 9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reggie Hanson | 8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 92-85 | |
| Nov 02, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 107-96 | |
| Nov 04, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-70 | |
| Nov 05, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 90-74 | |
| Nov 07, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 96-92 | |
| Nov 08, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-96 | |
| Nov 12, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 96-86 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 103-99 | |
| Nov 15, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-101 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 122-109 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-100 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 101-93 | |
| Nov 23, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 90-86 | |
| Nov 26, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-103 | |
| Nov 28, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 112-108 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-97 | |
| Dec 03, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 97-87 | |
| Dec 05, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 117-97 | |
| Dec 10, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-91 | |
| Dec 12, 1997 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 97-88 | |
| Dec 13, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 93-77 | |
| Dec 15, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-83 | |
| Dec 17, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 88-83 | |
| Dec 21, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-77 | |
| Dec 23, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 102-96 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-86 | |
| Dec 28, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-102 | |
| Dec 30, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 100-90 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 93-89 | |
| Jan 03, 1998 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-99 | |
| Jan 06, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 90-79 | |
| Jan 07, 1998 | @ Washington Wizards | L 110-108 | |
| Jan 09, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-92 | |
| Jan 10, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | L 90-82 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 97-88 | |
| Jan 15, 1998 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 97-93 | |
| Jan 18, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 103-96 | |
| Jan 19, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-82 | |
| Jan 21, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 89-85 | |
| Jan 24, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 95-88 | |
| Jan 26, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | W 94-85 | |
| Jan 28, 1998 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 104-102 | |
| Jan 30, 1998 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 97-95 | |
| Feb 01, 1998 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 107-96 | |
| Feb 03, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 93-89 | |
| Feb 04, 1998 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 110-99 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 112-99 | |
| Feb 12, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | L 118-100 | |
| Feb 13, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-96 | |
| Feb 15, 1998 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 101-87 | |
| Feb 17, 1998 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 102-99 | |
| Feb 18, 1998 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 114-105 | |
| Feb 20, 1998 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-96 | |
| Feb 22, 1998 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-96 | |
| Feb 25, 1998 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-94 | |
| Feb 27, 1998 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-88 | |
| Mar 01, 1998 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-101 | |
| Mar 04, 1998 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 110-94 | |
| Mar 06, 1998 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 108-98 | |
| Mar 08, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-100 | |
| Mar 11, 1998 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 110-105 | |
| Mar 13, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 96-92 | |
| Mar 15, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 93-77 | |
| Mar 17, 1998 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 99-93 | |
| Mar 19, 1998 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-96 | |
| Mar 22, 1998 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-90 | |
| Mar 23, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-88 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | vs. Miami Heat | L 105-91 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 82-76 | |
| Mar 29, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-94 | |
| Mar 31, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | L 121-95 | |
| Apr 01, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | W 98-87 | |
| Apr 03, 1998 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 101-100 | |
| Apr 05, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | W 102-92 | |
| Apr 08, 1998 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 117-104 | |
| Apr 10, 1998 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 82-80 | |
| Apr 12, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 93-87 | |
| Apr 14, 1998 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 95-86 | |
| Apr 15, 1998 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-109 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 78-71 | |
| Apr 18, 1998 | @ Washington Wizards | L 112-95 |