Wikipedia

1998–99 Denver Nuggets season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the 23rd season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 32nd season as a franchise.[1] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.[2]

1998–99 Denver Nuggets season
Head coachMike D'Antoni
General managerDan Issel
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record14–36 (.280)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
RadioKKFN
< 1997–98 1999–00 >

After their dreadful season, where they finished with the league's worst record at 11–71, the Nuggets received the third overall pick the 1998 NBA draft, and selected center Raef LaFrentz from the University of Kansas.[3][4][5][6][7] During the off-season, the team re-signed former Nuggets forward Antonio McDyess after one season with the Phoenix Suns,[8][9][10][11] acquired All-Star guard Nick Van Exel from the Los Angeles Lakers,[3][4][12][13] acquired second-year guard Chauncey Billups from the Toronto Raptors,[14][15][16] and acquired second-year forward Johnny Taylor, and power forward, and top draft pick Keon Clark out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from the Orlando Magic.[14][15][17]

Despite the return of McDyess, the Nuggets still continued to struggle under new head coach Mike D'Antoni,[18] losing eight of their first nine games of the regular season. Things would get worse as LaFrentz suffered a knee injury after only just twelve games, and was out for the remainder of the season, averaging 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.[19][20] Without their top draft pick, the Nuggets lost their final seven games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Midwest Division with a 14–36 record.[21] The Nuggets had the worst team defensive rating in the NBA.[22]

McDyess had a stellar season averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Van Exel averaged 16.5 points and 7.4 assists per game, and Billups provided the team with 13.9 points per game. In addition, second-year forward Danny Fortson stepped into the team's starting lineup in LaFrentz's absence, averaging 11.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while Eric Williams and Cory Alexander both contributed 7.3 points per game each off the bench, and Bryant Stith provided with 7.0 points per game.[23]

This was also the Nuggets' final season playing at the McNichols Sports Arena, before moving to the Pepsi Center the following season.[24] Also following the season, Fortson, Williams and second-year guard Eric Washington were all traded to the Boston Celtics,[25][26][27][28] and D'Antoni was fired as head coach.[29]

Draft picks

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Main article: 1998 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 3 Raef LaFrentz PF/C   United States Kansas
1 23 Tyronn Lue PG   United States Nebraska
2 54 Tremaine Fowlkes SF   United States Fresno State
2 55 Ryan Bowen PF   United States Iowa

Roster

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1998–99 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 7 Cory Alexander 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) –– Virginia
G 4 Chauncey Billups 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) –– Colorado
F/C 13 Keon Clark 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– UNLV
F 15 Danny Fortson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Cincinnati
F 21 Carl Herrera 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Houston
C 45 Raef LaFrentz 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– Kansas
G 11 Kelly McCarty 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) –– Southern Miss
F/C 24 Antonio McDyess 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Alabama
C 34 Loren Meyer 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 257 lb (117 kg) –– Iowa State
G/F 23 Bryant Stith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) –– Virginia
F 17 Johnny Taylor 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Chattanooga
G 31 Nick Van Exel 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– Cincinnati
G/F 14 Eric Washington 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– Alabama
F 32 Eric Williams 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Providence
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

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  • Head coach Mike D'Antoni holds American and Italian dual citizenship; he played for the Italian national team although he was born in the United States.
  • Rookie shooting guard Kelly McCarty holds American and Russian dual citizenship; he played for the Russian national team although he was born in the United States.

Regular season

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Season standings

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Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 37 13 .740 – 21–4 16–9 17–4
x-Utah Jazz 37 13 .740 – 22–3 15–10 15–3
x-Houston Rockets 31 19 .620 6 19–6 12–13 12–9
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 25 25 .500 12 18–7 7–18 11–9
Dallas Mavericks 19 31 .380 18 15–10 4–21 8–12
Denver Nuggets 14 36 .280 23 12–13 2–23 5–16
Vancouver Grizzlies 8 42 .160 29 7–18 1–24 3–18
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs 37 13 .740 –
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers 35 15 .700 2
3 x-Utah Jazz 37 13 .740 –
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers 31 19 .620 6
5 x-Houston Rockets 31 19 .620 6
6 x-Sacramento Kings 27 23 .540 10
7 x-Phoenix Suns 27 23 .540 10
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves 25 25 .500 12
9 Seattle SuperSonics 25 25 .500 12
10 Golden State Warriors 21 29 .420 16
11 Dallas Mavericks 19 31 .380 18
12 Denver Nuggets 14 36 .280 23
13 Los Angeles Clippers 9 41 .180 28
14 Vancouver Grizzlies 8 42 .160 29
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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1998-99 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta – 3–0 3–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1
Boston 0–3 – 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–3 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–1
Charlotte 0–3 2–1 – 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 1–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Chicago 1–3 1–2 1–2 – 0–3 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–2
Cleveland 1–2 2–2 1–2 3–0 – 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 3–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–2
Dallas 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 – 2–1 0–1 2–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 0–3 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–3 0–3 2–2 1–3 0–3 0–0 0–3 2–1 0–0
Denver 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 – 0–0 1–3 0–4 0–1 3–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–3 0–3 0–3 0–4 2–2 0–0 1–2 3–1 0–1
Detroit 2–1 3–0 0–3 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 – 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–4 1–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Golden State 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 3–1 0–0 – 0–3 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–4 4–0 0–0
Houston 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 4–0 0–0 3–0 – 0–0 3–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–0 0–3 4–0 0–0
Indiana 1–2 3–0 2–1 3–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 – 0–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–3 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 – 0–4 0–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–3 0–1 1–3 1–3 0–0
L.A. Lakers 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 4–0 – 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0
Miami 3–0 0–3 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–0 0–0 – 2–1 0–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 3–0
Milwaukee 2–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 – 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
Minnesota 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 – 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–3 3–1 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–3 3–1 0–0
New Jersey 2–1 2–1 0–3 1–2 0–3 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–2 0–0 – 0–3 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
New York 1–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 3–0 – 0–3 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1
Orlando 2–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–0 3–0 – 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1
Philadelphia 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–3 2–1 – 0–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2
Phoenix 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–1 3–0 0–1 2–1 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 – 0–3 0–3 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–0
Portland 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 – 4–0 1–3 2–2 0–0 1–2 4–0 0–0
Sacramento 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–1 0–3 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 3–0 0–4 – 1–2 2–2 0–0 1–2 4–0 1–0
San Antonio 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 4–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 – 2–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 0–0
Seattle 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–3 2–2 2–2 1–2 – 0–0 2–2 2–1 0–1
Toronto 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–3 1–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 – 0–0 1–0 2–2
Utah 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 0–1 4–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 – 3–0 1–0
Vancouver 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–3 0–4 0–1 3–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–3 0–3 0–4 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–3 – 0–0
Washington 1–2 1–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 —

Game log

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Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Antonio McDyess 50 50 38.7 .471 .111 .680 10.7 1.6 1.5 2.3 21.2
Nick Van Exel 50 50 36.0 .398 .308 .811 2.3 7.4 0.8 0.1 16.5
Chauncey Billups 45 41 33.1 .386 .362 .913 2.1 3.8 1.3 0.3 13.9
Raef LaFrentz 12 12 32.3 .457 .387 .750 7.6 0.7 0.8 1.4 13.8
Danny Fortson 50 38 28.3 .495 .000 .727 11.6 0.6 0.6 0.4 11.0
Cory Alexander 36 4 21.6 .373 .286 .841 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.1 7.3
Eric Williams 38 8 20.5 .365 .231 .799 2.1 1.0 0.7 0.2 7.3
Bryant Stith 46 32 26.0 .393 .292 .859 2.3 1.8 0.6 0.3 7.0
Johnny Taylor 36 9 20.1 .414 .382 .739 2.8 0.7 0.8 0.5 5.8
Eric Washington 38 6 20.0 .397 .381 .688 2.3 0.8 0.7 0.5 5.4
Tyson Wheeler 1 0 3.0 1.000 1.000 .500 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 4.0
Keon Clark 28 0 14.6 .450 .000 .568 3.4 0.4 0.4 1.1 3.3
Carl Herrera 24 0 11.0 .429 .000 .556 2.3 0.0 0.5 0.3 2.5
Kelly McCarty 2 0 2.0 .667 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0
Loren Meyer 14 0 5.0 .250 .200 .500 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.2 1.1
Monty Williams 1 0 6.0 .000 .500 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

Player Statistics Citation:[23]

Awards and records

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Transactions

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References

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  1. ^ 1998-99 Denver Nuggets
  2. ^ "NBA: Let The Games Begin!". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 6, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Clippers Pick Olowokandi No. 1". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. June 24, 1998. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Wise, Mike (June 25, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; 7 Feet 1 Inch of Potential at No. 1". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Olowokandi Is the Center of Attention". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1998. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Mills, Roger (June 25, 1998). "Olowokandi Shoots to the Top". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "1998 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Nuggets Finally Sign McDyess". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 21, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Heisler, Mark (January 22, 1999). "McDyess, Nuggets Hit a Snag". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "McDyess, Nuggets Agree to $67.5-Million Deal; Spurned Suns Now Expected to Turn Their Attention to Gugliotta". Deseret News. Associated Press. January 22, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  11. ^ "NBA DEALINGS: McDyess, Divac and Smith Sign". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. January 23, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 25, 1998). "Van Exel Is Exiled to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Van Exel Act Gets Him Exiled to the Nuggets". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 25, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Gardner, Kris (January 21, 1999). "Knicks Acquiring Sprewell Highlights Six-Deal Day". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Bucks: Signed F Robert Traylor to Three-Year..." The Baltimore Sun. January 22, 1999. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "NBA Midwest Division Capsules". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  17. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- DENVER; D'Antoni Is Named Coach of Nuggets". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 23, 1998. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  19. ^ Thompson, Jack (February 27, 1999). "Lafrentz Injury Worse Than Feared". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  20. ^ "League Has $5,000 Gesture of Its Own for Polynice". Los Angeles Times. March 4, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  21. ^ "1998–99 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  22. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "1998–99 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  24. ^ Teaford, Elliott (September 28, 1999). "Another Scorer Added in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  25. ^ "Celtics Trade Mercer in Six-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 4, 1999. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  26. ^ Greenberg, Alan (August 4, 1999). "Celts Cash Out on Mercer". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  27. ^ "NBA Teams Get Busy Trading and Signing". Deseret News. Associated Press. August 4, 1999. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  28. ^ "NBA Trade Roundup". Associated Press. August 4, 1999. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  29. ^ "D'Antoni Out, Issel In as Nugget Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 15, 1999. Retrieved November 17, 2022.

See also

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