The 1996–97 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team represented the University of Oklahoma in competitive college basketball during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.

The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team played its home games in the Lloyd Noble Center and was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Big 12 Conference.

The team posted a 19–11 overall record (9–7 Big 12).

The Sooners received a bid to the 1997 NCAA tournament as No.

6 seed Stanford, 80–67, in the opening round.