Veteran players This section includes veteran NBA players who appeared in at least one NBA game during the 1996-97 season or appeared on a roster as of August 25, 1997.

Individual career highs Regular-season and playoff highs for veteran NBA players.

Promising newcomers

Head coaches

All-time great players This section includes non-active players who reached one or more of the following plateaus: 17,000 NBA or NBA/ABA points; 10,000 rebounds; 5,000 assists and 10,000 points; named to either the 25th, 35th or 50th NBA Anniversary All-Time Teams; NBA or ABA Most Valuable Player; four-time first-, second- or third-team All-NBA selection or All-NBA plus All-ABA or All-NBL; six NBA All-Star Games or NBA All-Defensive first-team selections; career scoring average of 23 points per game

All-time great coaches This section includes non-active coaches who compiled 400 or more regular-season NBA victories.

The Closer A look back at the George Gervin/David Thompson battle for the 1977-78 NBA scoring title.

National Basketball Association statistical leaders