The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of the NBA's original franchise, the Celtics struggled all season losing players like Dino Radja, Dana Barros, Dee Brown, Greg Minor and Pervis Ellison to injuries. The team suffered through their worst season posting a 13-game losing streak between February and March, then losing ten straight games near the end of the season. The Celtics lost 34 of their final 38 games finishing last place in the Atlantic Division with an awful 15–67 record, which was the team's worst record in franchise history. Top draft pick Antoine Walker led the team with 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while being selected to the All-Rookie First Team.

Following the season, head coach M.L. Carr was fired, Rick Fox signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, David Wesley signed with the Charlotte Hornets, Todd Day signed with the Miami Heat, and second-year forward Eric Williams was traded to the Denver Nuggets. This was also Radja's final season in the NBA. After failing his physical exam voiding a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers during the offseason, he returned to play in Europe.

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