Utah Jazz vs Seattle SuperSonics

Lore & Background

The Jazz entered the regular season once again as runners-up in the NBA Finals, having lost back-to-back NBA Finals to the Chicago Bulls, both in six games. However, with Michael Jordan retiring for a second time, Scottie Pippen being traded to the Houston Rockets, Dennis Rodman signing with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, and Phil Jackson's contract expiring, the Bulls dynasty that headlined much of the 1990s was dramatically dismantled, and the Jazz hoped to make the NBA Finals for a third time. During the off-season, the team re-signed free agent, and former Jazz forward Thurl Bailey, who came out of his retirement; Bailey last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1993–94 season.

Reader's Guide

The Jazz got off to a 19–4 start to the regular season, and later on posted an 11-game winning streak in April. However, the team played around .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, but managed to finish in second place in the Midwest Division with a league-best 37–13 record, earning the third seed in the Western Conference; however, their record was tied with the San Antonio Spurs, who won the Midwest Division title by a tie-breaker. The Jazz qualified for the NBA playoffs for the 16th consecutive year. In the Western Conference First Round, the Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings in five games. In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Jazz lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.

Did You Know?

• Karl Malone averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year for the second time.
• John Stockton provided the team with 11.1 points, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
• The Jazz finished fourth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 493,120 at the Delta Center during the regular season.
• For the season, the Jazz revealed new black alternate road uniforms, which featured copper side panels on their jerseys and shorts; these uniforms would remain in use until 2004.