1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season
[17][18] However, the team posted a ten-game winning streak between November and December,[19] and later on held a 27–20 record at the All-Star break.[20] The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, and qualifying for the playoffs after a one-year absence.[32][33][34][35] Both Ilgauskas and Knight were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Anderson and Henderson were both selected the NBA All-Rookie Second Team; Knight also finished tied in eleventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[36][37] and head coach Mike Fratello finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[38][39][40][36][37] However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers would lose in four games to the Indiana Pacers,[41][42][43][44] and they would not make it back to the postseason until 2006.[45][46] Until 2023, this was the last time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without future All-Star LeBron James, who was selected by the team as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.
1997–98Cleveland CavaliersMike FratelloWayne EmbryGordon GundGeorge Gund IIIGund ArenaCentralEasternPacersSportsChannel/Fox Sports Ohio< 1996–97 1998–99 >1997–98 NBA seasonNational Basketball AssociationCleveland, Ohio1997 NBA draftDerek AndersonUniversity of KentuckyBrevin KnightStanford UniversityCedric HendersonUniversity of MemphisZydrunas Ilgauskas1996 NBA draftShawn KempSeattle SuperSonicsWesley PersonPhoenix SunsMitchell ButlerBob SuraVitaly PotapenkoNew York City, New York1998 NBA All-Star GameRookie GameDefensive Player of the YearCoach of the YearplayoffsIndiana PacersLeBron James2003 NBA draftUnited StatesKentuckyStanfordMemphisPhoenixAntonio McDyessAnderson, DerekBrooks, ScottUC IrvineButler, MitchellDumas, TonyFerry, DannyHenderson, CedricIlgauskas, ZydrunasLithuaniaJames, HenrySt. Mary's (TX)Kemp, ShawnTrinity Valley CCKnight, BrevinPerson, WesleyAuburnPotapenko, VitalyWright StateScott, ShawnelleSt. John'sSura, BobFlorida StateThomas, CarlEastern MichiganMarc IavaroniSidney LoweRon RothsteinCentral DivisionChicago BullsCharlotte HornetsAtlanta HawksDetroit PistonsMilwaukee BucksToronto RaptorsEastern ConferenceMiami HeatNew York KnicksNew Jersey NetsWashington WizardsOrlando MagicBoston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersAtlantaBostonCharlotteChicagoDallasDenverDetroitGolden StateHoustonIndianaL.A. ClippersL.A. LakersMilwaukeeMinnesotaNew JerseyNew YorkOrlandoPhiladelphiaPortlandSacramentoSan AntonioSeattleTorontoVancouverWashingtonMarket Square ArenaKnightMinutesField-goal3-point field-goalFree-throwReboundsAssistsStealsBlocksPoints