Fansided

NBA 20 Years Ago: Kemp trade, Pitino in Boston, and Bulls drama

By Jason Mann

SEATTLE, WA - 1997: Shawn Kemp #40 of the Seattle SuperSonics walks on the court against the Houston Rockets during Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals as part of the 1997 NBA Playoffs at the KeyArena at Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington circa 1997. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - 1997: Shawn Kemp #40 of the Seattle SuperSonics walks on the court against the Houston Rockets during Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals as part of the 1997 NBA Playoffs at the KeyArena at Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington circa 1997. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

To kick off our new series NBA 20 Years Ago, we look at the 1997 NBA offseason, including the Shawn Kemp trade to Cleveland, Kevin Garnett’s record-setting extension, Rick Pitino taking power in Boston, and Larry Bird coming home to Indiana as a rookie coach, in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.

We discus the offseason melodrama surrounding the Chicago Bulls, more rumors of a Scottie Pippen trade, Phil Jackson only returning for one more year, a record number of coaching changes, the 1997 season award-winners, whether Karl Malone stole the MVP from Michael Jordan, the Washington Bullets becoming the Wizards, a series of unfortunate jersey changes (for the Warriors, Timberwolves, Knicks, Nets, 76ers and Pacers), the 1997 NBA draft with Tim Duncan joining the Spurs, and the eternal question of whether Kevin Van Horn or Tim Thomas had a better career.

Listen: Michael Jordan and All-Stars in 1989

We also look at a pretty undramatic free agency period with David Wesley at a top catch, Shaquille O’Neal’s summer flop “Steel” vs. Dennis Rodman’s spring flop “Double Team,” how much Kemp could help the offensively challenged Cavaliers, Vin Baker moving on to Seattle, Antonio McDyess being traded from Denver to Phoenix, and Garnett reshaping the salary structure of the NBA.

Next: 25-under-25 -- The best young players in the NBA

Archives

Follow Us

Thanks for listening, downloading, subscribing and supporting!

Home/NBA