1998–99 Denver Nuggets season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the Nuggets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 32nd season as a franchise.[1] On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games.[2][3][4][5][6] Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled.[7][8][9][10][11]

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.com
Local media
Television
RadioKKFN
< 1997–98 1999–00 >

However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.[12][13][14][15][16]

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 Raef LaFrentz from the University of Kansas.[17][18][19][20][21] During the off-season, the team acquired Nick Van Exel from the Los Angeles Lakers,[17][18][22][23] acquired second-year guard Chauncey Billups from the Toronto Raptors,[24][25][26] and acquired second-year forward Johnny Taylor, and top draft pick Keon Clark from the Orlando Magic.[24][25][27]

Despite the return of Antonio McDyess, who was re-signed by the team after one season with the Phoenix Suns,[28][29][30][31] the Nuggets continued to struggle under new head coach Mike D'Antoni,[32] losing eight of their first nine games. 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.[33][34] Without their top draft pick, the Nuggets lost their final seven games, and finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 14–36 record.[35] The Nuggets had the worst team defensive rating in the NBA.[36]

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 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.[37]

This was also the Nuggets' final season playing at McNichols Sports Arena before moving to the Pepsi Center the following season.[38] Also following the season, Fortson, Williams and second-year guard Eric Washington were all traded to the Boston Celtics,[39][40][41][42] and D'Antoni was fired as head coach.[43]

Draft picks

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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. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 7 Alexander, Cory 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) –– Virginia
G 4 Billups, Chauncey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) –– Colorado
F/C 13 Clark, Keon 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– UNLV
F 15 Fortson, Danny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Cincinnati
F 21 Herrera, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Houston
C 45 LaFrentz, Raef 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– Kansas
G 11 McCarty, Kelly 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) –– Southern Miss
F/C 24 McDyess, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Alabama
C 34 Meyer, Loren 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 257 lb (117 kg) –– Iowa State
G/F 23 Stith, Bryant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) –– Virginia
F 17 Taylor, Johnny 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Chattanooga
G 31 Van Exel, Nick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– Cincinnati
G/F 14 Washington, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– Alabama
F 32 Williams, Eric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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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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
#
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:[37]

Awards and records

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Transactions

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References

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  1. ^ 1998-99 Denver Nuggets
  2. ^ Wise, Mike (June 30, 1998). "BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 30, 1998). "NBA Lockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "NBA Lockout Begins". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. June 30, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Bembry, Jerry (June 30, 1998). "Billion-Dollar Question: NBA Facing Long Timeout? Rising Salaries Spur Basketball Owners to Lock Out Players". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Steele, David (June 30, 1998). "NBA Lockout Now a Certainty". SFGate. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "NBA Cancels All-Star Game". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. December 8, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Wise, Mike (December 9, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; It's Official: N.B.A. Cancels Its All-Star Game". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Heisler, Mark (December 9, 1998). "NBA Dunks All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Asher, Mark (December 9, 1998). "NBA Cancels All-Star Game". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Steele, David (December 9, 1998). "NBA Drops All-Stars -- What's Left?; February Game in Philly Latest Casualty of Lockout". SFGate. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ^ "NBA: Let The Games Begin!". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 6, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Wise, Mike (January 7, 1999). "With Little Time on Clock, NBA and Players Settle". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Heisler, Mark (January 7, 1999). "NBA, Players Union Agree to End Lockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Justice, Richard; Asher, Mark (January 7, 1999). "NBA Labor Dispute Ends After 6 Months". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Bembry, Jerry (January 7, 1999). "Just Beating Buzzer, NBA Unlocks Season; With Only Day Left to Make Deal, Owners, Players Union Agree". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Clippers Pick Olowokandi No. 1". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. June 24, 1998. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Olowokandi Is the Center of Attention". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1998. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  20. ^ Mills, Roger (June 25, 1998). "Olowokandi Shoots to the Top". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "1998 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 25, 1998). "Van Exel Is Exiled to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Van Exel Act Gets Him Exiled to the Nuggets". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 25, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Gardner, Kris (January 21, 1999). "Knicks Acquiring Sprewell Highlights Six-Deal Day". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Bucks: Signed F Robert Traylor to Three-Year..." The Baltimore Sun. January 22, 1999. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "NBA Midwest Division Capsules". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  27. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  28. ^ "Nuggets Finally Sign McDyess". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 21, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  29. ^ Heisler, Mark (January 22, 1999). "McDyess, Nuggets Hit a Snag". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ "NBA DEALINGS: McDyess, Divac and Smith Sign". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. January 23, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  32. ^ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- DENVER; D'Antoni Is Named Coach of Nuggets". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 23, 1998. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  33. ^ Thompson, Jack (February 27, 1999). "Lafrentz Injury Worse Than Feared". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  34. ^ "League Has $5,000 Gesture of Its Own for Polynice". Los Angeles Times. March 4, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  35. ^ "1998–99 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  36. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  37. ^ a b "1998–99 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  38. ^ Teaford, Elliott (September 28, 1999). "Another Scorer Added in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  39. ^ "Celtics Trade Mercer in Six-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 4, 1999. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  40. ^ Greenberg, Alan (August 4, 1999). "Celts Cash Out on Mercer". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  41. ^ "NBA Teams Get Busy Trading and Signing". Deseret News. Associated Press. August 4, 1999. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  42. ^ "NBA Trade Roundup". Associated Press. August 4, 1999. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  43. ^ "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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