The 1996-97 Denver Nuggets season was challenging, ending with a 21-61 record. This marked a significant downturn from previous years, with the team failing to make the playoffs. Bernie Bickerstaff took over as head coach, but the team struggled to find consistency and cohesion.
A key storyline was the trade of three-time All-Star Dikembe Mutombo to the Atlanta Hawks, which left a significant void in the roster. The Nuggets also saw several player changes, contributing to their instability. Despite the difficulties, LaPhonso Ellis showed some promise, leading the team in scoring.
The season was marred by a lack of defensive prowess and offensive efficiency, as the Nuggets couldn’t compete effectively in the Western Conference. The outcome prompted a reevaluation of the team’s strategy and roster, leading to future rebuilding efforts.
- Regular Season Record: 21-61
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
POINTS
LaPhonso Ellis
21.9
REBOUNDS
Ervin Johnson
11.1
ASSISTS
Mark Jackson
12.3
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| LaPhonso Ellis | 55 | 21.9 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 36.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Antonio McDyess | 74 | 18.3 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 17.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dale Ellis | 82 | 16.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 36.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bryant Stith | 52 | 14.9 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 38.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Jackson | 52 | 10.4 | 5.2 | 12.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 39.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ricky Pierce | 33 | 10.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 30.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Smith | 33 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 42.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Goldwire | 27 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 39.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ervin Johnson | 82 | 7.1 | 11.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brooks Thompson | 65 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 39.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Šarūnas Marčiulionis | 17 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 36.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Hammonds | 81 | 6.2 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vincent Askew | 1 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Aaron Williams | 1 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff McInnis | 13 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 46.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Murdock | 12 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Zídek | 16 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jimmy King | 2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Allen | 25 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 20.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Elmer Bennett | 5 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darvin Ham | 35 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Melvin Booker | 5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| LaSalle Thompson | 17 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 92-91 | |
| Nov 03, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 88-79 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 82-78 | |
| Nov 07, 1996 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 110-108 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 94-91 | |
| Nov 10, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-86 | |
| Nov 11, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 104-93 | |
| Nov 13, 1996 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 95-94 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | @ Boston Celtics | W 82-80 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 104-86 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 110-92 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-65 | |
| Nov 26, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 117-108 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-103 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-103 | |
| Dec 01, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-96 | |
| Dec 03, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-99 | |
| Dec 05, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-104 | |
| Dec 07, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 104-91 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 89-88 | |
| Dec 11, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 101-97 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | L 108-104 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-82 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 95-79 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 108-93 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 112-109 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-89 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 103-96 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 03, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 93-91 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 109-96 | |
| Jan 08, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-99 | |
| Jan 10, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 108-89 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 104-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 102-100 | |
| Jan 14, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-101 | |
| Jan 16, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 88-87 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 107-104 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 132-123 | |
| Jan 22, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 94-84 | |
| Jan 24, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 114-111 | |
| Jan 25, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 83-82 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 114-99 | |
| Jan 30, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | W 113-109 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 113-107 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-104 | |
| Feb 05, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 106-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-81 | |
| Feb 13, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-117 | |
| Feb 15, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 92-87 | |
| Feb 16, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-97 | |
| Feb 18, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 134-123 | |
| Feb 20, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 92-68 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 99-86 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 95-86 | |
| Feb 25, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 124-122 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 112-108 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 109-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-100 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 96-83 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 96-91 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 102-82 | |
| Mar 15, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-105 | |
| Mar 17, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-94 | |
| Mar 20, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | L 108-101 | |
| Mar 23, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 120-103 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-100 | |
| Mar 29, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-105 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-97 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 116-99 | |
| Apr 02, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-85 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-113 | |
| Apr 07, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-104 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 96-90 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 109-107 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 116-94 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 103-93 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-63 | |
| Apr 17, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-104 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 100-95 |