1996–97 Vancouver Grizzlies season

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1996–97 Vancouver Grizzlies season

Overview
The Vancouver Grizzlies’ second NBA season was another tough year after finishing with the league’s worst record in their first season. They drafted Shareef Abdur-Rahim third overall and Roy Rogers 22nd in 1996, added Anthony Peeler and George Lynch via a trade from the Lakers, and signed free agent Lee Mayberry. The team again struggled, finishing 14–68 and last in the Midwest Division.

Draft picks
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim, forward, California (3rd overall)
- Roy Rogers, forward, University of Alabama (22nd)
- Chris Robinson, guard, Western Kentucky (51st)

Season highlights and lows
- The Grizzlies opened the year with a seven-game losing streak and started 0–7. They won their eighth game, 92–89 over the Phoenix Suns.
- Head coach Brian Winters was fired after an 8–35 start and was replaced by general manager Stu Jackson.
- Vancouver finished the season 14–68, the worst mark in the franchise’s history, and ended last in the Midwest Division and near the bottom of the Western Conference.
- Despite the record, Shareef Abdur-Rahim shined in his rookie year, while Bryant Reeves improved, and Anthony Peeler contributed solid scoring. Abdur-Rahim earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Key players and stats (highlights)
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim: 18.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game; All-Rookie First Team.
- Bryant Reeves: 16.2 points, 8.1 rebounds per game.
- Anthony Peeler: 14.5 points per game, strong 3-point shooting.
- Greg Anthony: 9.5 points, 6.3 assists per game.
- George Lynch: 8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds per game (missed many games due to injury).
- Blue Edwards, Lawrence Moten, Roy Rogers, Eric Mobley, Aaron Williams, Chris Robinson also contributed.

All-Star weekend and attendance
- Abdur-Rahim and Rogers played in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend; Abdur-Rahim finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
- The Grizzlies drew 683,442 fans at General Motors Place, placing 17th in home attendance.

End of season moves
- Anthony signed with the Seattle SuperSonics after the season.
- Stu Jackson, who had become GM, was fired as head coach.
- Roy Rogers was traded to the Boston Celtics.
- Lawrence Moten and Eric Mobley were released.

After the season
- Abdur-Rahim’s strong rookie year and All-Rookie honor made him the bright spot of the season.
- The team prepared for a new era with coaching changes and further roster adjustments, aiming to improve on the tough 1996–97 campaign.

Notes
- The Grizzlies’ final record was 14–68, a franchise-worst at the time.
- They swept the season series against the Boston Celtics, their first-ever two-win series against that opponent, with a season-ending win over Phoenix to reach 14 wins.