The 1996-97 Dallas Mavericks season was a period of rebuilding and development. The team finished with a record of 24-58, placing them 6th in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. Under head coach Jim Cleamons, the Mavericks struggled to find consistency, particularly on the defensive end, leading to their subpar record.
Despite the team’s struggles, the season was notable for the emergence of rookie point guard Derek Harper, who provided leadership and experience. Additionally, the Mavericks acquired talented rookies Samaki Walker and Erick Strickland, who showed flashes of potential. Another significant event was the mid-season acquisition of Shawn Bradley, a 7’6″ center, aimed at bolstering their defense.
The Mavericks’ performance during the 1996-97 season set the stage for future improvements, as they began to lay the groundwork for a more competitive team in the years to come. The focus remained on player development and establishing a foundation for long-term success.
- Regular Season Record: 24-58
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
POINTS
Chris Gatling
19.1
REBOUNDS
A.C. Green
9.3
ASSISTS
Jason Kidd
9.1
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Chris Gatling | 44 | 19.1 | 7.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 16.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sasha Danilović | 13 | 16.6 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 36.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Finley | 56 | 16.0 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 38.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Jackson | 46 | 15.5 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 33.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shawn Bradley | 33 | 14.6 | 8.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George McCloud | 41 | 13.7 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 38.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Cassell | 16 | 12.3 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 30.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Pack | 20 | 11.5 | 3.0 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 23.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jamal Mashburn | 37 | 10.6 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 32.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Erick Strickland | 28 | 10.6 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 30.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Derek Harper | 75 | 10.0 | 1.8 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 34.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jason Kidd | 22 | 9.9 | 4.1 | 9.1 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 32.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| A.C. Green | 56 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Khalid Reeves | 13 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Samaki Walker | 43 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jamie Watson | 10 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Martin Müürsepp | 32 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 15.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Oliver Miller | 42 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Loren Meyer | 19 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Dumas | 18 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 12.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Montross | 47 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed O'Bannon | 19 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 10.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stacey King | 6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Dreiling | 40 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Roberts | 12 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stevin Smith | 8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jason Sasser | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 92-91 | |
| Nov 02, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 107-94 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 100-96 | |
| Nov 06, 1996 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 103-84 | |
| Nov 09, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 91-84 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 103-82 | |
| Nov 14, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 100-90 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 88-87 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-97 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-94 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-91 | |
| Nov 24, 1996 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-91 | |
| Nov 26, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 105-101 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 116-97 | |
| Dec 02, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | W 108-102 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | @ Miami Heat | L 101-79 | |
| Dec 05, 1996 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 106-102 | |
| Dec 07, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 96-85 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 100-95 | |
| Dec 12, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 93-86 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 106-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 109-73 | |
| Dec 19, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-77 | |
| Dec 22, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 93-79 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-108 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-90 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 107-97 | |
| Jan 04, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-72 | |
| Jan 08, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-93 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 104-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 105-98 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 78-66 | |
| Jan 17, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 88-78 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 107-104 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-99 | |
| Jan 21, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 105-93 | |
| Jan 24, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 97-87 | |
| Jan 25, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 92-81 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-83 | |
| Jan 30, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 92-82 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-97 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-96 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 111-97 | |
| Feb 13, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 107-99 | |
| Feb 15, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-84 | |
| Feb 17, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 100-95 | |
| Feb 18, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 87-69 | |
| Feb 20, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-99 | |
| Feb 22, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 99-92 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 88-86 | |
| Feb 25, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 86-84 | |
| Feb 27, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 107-105 | |
| Mar 01, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 89-80 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 109-108 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-92 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 96-65 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 80-69 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 88-83 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 91-83 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-107 | |
| Mar 15, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 101-76 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 89-88 | |
| Mar 18, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 86-85 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 93-72 | |
| Mar 22, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 75-72 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 94-92 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-80 | |
| Mar 29, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 94-87 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 84-80 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 100-82 | |
| Apr 03, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 106-90 | |
| Apr 05, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-84 | |
| Apr 06, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 87-80 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 87-82 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 90-82 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | L 96-85 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 99-93 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 92-77 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-102 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 100-95 |