Hoops Habit
Fansided

Every NBA Team’s Signature Season

By Duncan Smith

Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts with forward Draymond Green (23) after making a three point shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts with forward Draymond Green (23) after making a three point shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Utah Jazz, 1996-97
Record: 64-18
Lost NBA Finals

Perhaps nothing sounds more like the Utah Jazz than the combination of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Stockton averaged 14.4 points and 10.5 assists on shooting splits of .548/.422/.846, and Malone averaged an outstanding 27.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor en route to his first of two NBA MVP awards.

The Utah Jazz only ever made one big mistake in the 1990s and that was to be good at the same time as Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were on top of the basketball world. In the first of two years where the Jazz crushed everybody in the regular season and the Western Conference finals, the Bulls took them down in six games both times.

In the 1996-97 Finals, the dynamic duo did their thing, with Stockton averaging 15 points and 8.8 assists and Malone averaging 23.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, but it was simply not enough in the face of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and company.

Next: Toronto Raptors