The 1997 draft had an all-time great in Tim Duncan, a Hall of Fame swingman in Tracy McGrady and a Finals MVP in Chauncey Billups, but there was not an awful lot after that.

The 1997 NBA Finals featured two teams with different narratives. On one side, the Chicago Bulls were defending their title and trying to win their fifth championship in seven years.

During the 1996-1997 NBA season, Kobe’s rookie year, he averaged 7.6 points, 1.9. rebounds and 1.3 assists and 41 percent shooting from the field.

Jordan won his fifth Finals MVP after finishing the series with averages of 32.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Chicago might have lost the 1997 NBA Finals if Jordan hadn’t played in Game 5.

The game has twice previously been played in Northeast Ohio: first in 1981 at the Richmond Coliseum and in 1997 -- when the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary -- at Gund Arena (now RMFH).

Season 7, Eps. 20: It's NBA All-Star weekend, and we get an all-access pass for the weekend- Kevin Garnett shares his first All-Star experience, Lisa Leslie gives us a tour through the weekend ...

The 1997 NBA Finals featured two teams with different narratives. On one side, the Chicago Bulls were defending their title and trying to win their fifth championship in seven years.