Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles
available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The 1997 NBA
Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although
the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the
best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a
model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early
in the season and finished with the third worst record, subsequently
winning the lottery. Leading up to the draft, there was no doubt that
Tim Duncan would be selected at No. 1 by the Spurs, and in fact the rest
of the draft was regarded with some skepticism. The Celtics would end up
with the third and sixth picks selecting Chauncey Billups and Ron
Mercer, both of whom were traded in the next two years.
