The 1997-98 Washington Wizards finished the NBA season with a 42-40 record, placing fifth in the Atlantic Division. Despite a promising roster, they failed to secure a playoff spot, marking their first season in three years without postseason action. Under the guidance of head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, the Wizards were led by the seasoned play of Chris Webber, who averaged 21.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
The team faced challenges with consistency, particularly in the competitive Eastern Conference, and struggled against top-tier opponents. Off-court distractions, including rumors of team relocation, added pressure. While they showed flashes of potential, the Wizards’ inability to string together significant winning streaks ultimately defined their season. The 1997-98 campaign served as a transitional phase, setting the stage for future restructuring and strategic changes.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Washington Wizards Roster and Stats for 1997-98 Season
POINTS
Chris Webber
21.9
REBOUNDS
Chris Webber
9.5
ASSISTS
Rod Strickland
10.5
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Chris Webber | 71 | 21.9 | 9.5 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 31.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Juwan Howard | 64 | 18.5 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rod Strickland | 76 | 17.8 | 5.3 | 10.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tracy Murray | 82 | 15.1 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 39.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Calbert Cheaney | 82 | 12.8 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 28.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ledell Eackles | 42 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 34.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Whitney | 82 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 30.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jimmy Oliver | 1 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Davis | 74 | 4.4 | 6.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ben Wallace | 67 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| God Shammgod | 20 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Harvey Grant | 65 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darvin Ham | 71 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lorenzo Williams | 14 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tim Legler | 8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lawrence Moten | 8 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Washington Wizards 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the Washington Wizards.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 92-79 | |
| Nov 01, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 109-108 | |
| Nov 03, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | W 90-86 | |
| Nov 04, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-96 | |
| Nov 07, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 107-92 | |
| Nov 08, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 114-106 | |
| Nov 12, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 90-83 | |
| Nov 13, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 91-88 | |
| Nov 15, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 98-89 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 97-86 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 104-82 | |
| Nov 22, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-101 | |
| Nov 24, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 95-87 | |
| Nov 26, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 98-94 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 88-83 | |
| Dec 02, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-78 | |
| Dec 04, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 118-96 | |
| Dec 06, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 114-103 | |
| Dec 09, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-99 | |
| Dec 10, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 104-101 | |
| Dec 12, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | L 97-88 | |
| Dec 13, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 109-92 | |
| Dec 15, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 88-86 | |
| Dec 17, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | W 88-74 | |
| Dec 19, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 106-86 | |
| Dec 20, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 94-92 | |
| Dec 22, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-79 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 97-95 | |
| Dec 27, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-91 | |
| Dec 31, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 118-91 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 99-81 | |
| Jan 04, 1998 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-99 | |
| Jan 05, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-108 | |
| Jan 09, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 82-77 | |
| Jan 11, 1998 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 107-102 | |
| Jan 14, 1998 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 89-79 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 112-110 | |
| Jan 17, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-99 | |
| Jan 21, 1998 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-87 | |
| Jan 24, 1998 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 104-87 | |
| Jan 27, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 85-84 | |
| Jan 28, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 30, 1998 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 102-95 | |
| Feb 02, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 04, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-88 | |
| Feb 05, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | L 93-83 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 99-87 | |
| Feb 11, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-104 | |
| Feb 14, 1998 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 15, 1998 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 88-86 | |
| Feb 18, 1998 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-98 | |
| Feb 21, 1998 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 94-88 | |
| Feb 24, 1998 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 124-112 | |
| Feb 26, 1998 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-87 | |
| Feb 28, 1998 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 103-77 | |
| Mar 02, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 96-86 | |
| Mar 05, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | W 103-90 | |
| Mar 06, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-98 | |
| Mar 08, 1998 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-91 | |
| Mar 10, 1998 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-77 | |
| Mar 11, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 88-86 | |
| Mar 14, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 83-80 | |
| Mar 17, 1998 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 90-89 | |
| Mar 19, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 95-91 | |
| Mar 22, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-100 | |
| Mar 24, 1998 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-87 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 133-109 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 89-85 | |
| Mar 29, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-89 | |
| Apr 01, 1998 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-91 | |
| Apr 03, 1998 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 120-112 | |
| Apr 05, 1998 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 88-85 | |
| Apr 07, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-85 | |
| Apr 09, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 102-83 | |
| Apr 12, 1998 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 91-81 | |
| Apr 14, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | W 104-102 | |
| Apr 15, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-93 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | W 97-89 | |
| Apr 18, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-95 |