1995–96 NBA season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA), though the 50th anniversary was not celebrated until the following season. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to win their fourth championship.

1995–96 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
Duration
  • November 3, 1995 – April 21, 1996
  • April 25 – June 2, 1996 (Playoffs)
  • June 5 – 16, 1996 (Finals)
Number of teams29
TV partner(s)NBC, TBS, TNT
Draft
Top draft pickJoe Smith
Picked byGolden State Warriors
Regular season
Top seedChicago Bulls
Season MVPMichael Jordan (Chicago)
Top scorerMichael Jordan (Chicago)
Playoffs
Eastern championsChicago Bulls
  Eastern runners-upOrlando Magic
Western championsSeattle SuperSonics
  Western runners-upUtah Jazz
Finals
ChampionsChicago Bulls
  Runners-upSeattle SuperSonics
Finals MVPMichael Jordan (Chicago)

1995 NBA lockout

The 1995 NBA lockout was the first lockout of four in the history of the NBA. When the previous collective bargaining agreement expired after the 1993–94 season, a no-strike, no-lockout agreement was made in October 1994, with a moratorium on signing or restructuring player contracts. That moratorium expired on June 15, 1995, one day after the NBA Finals concluded. The expansion draft (which was held on June 24) and the NBA draft (which was held on June 28) were allowed to take place, but all other league business, including trades, free-agent signings, contract extensions, and summer leagues were suspended[1] from July 1 until September 12; no games were lost due to the lockout, as a new collective bargaining agreement was reached well before the start of the 1995–96 season.[2][3][4][5] Among the key issues in the labor dispute were the salary cap, free agency, a rookie salary cap, and revenue sharing.[1]

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 1994–95 coach 1995–96 coach
Boston Celtics Chris Ford M.L. Carr
Detroit Pistons Don Chaney Doug Collins
Golden State Warriors Bob Lanier Rick Adelman
Miami Heat Alvin Gentry Pat Riley
New York Knicks Pat Riley Don Nelson
Toronto Raptors Do not exist Brendan Malone
Vancouver Grizzlies Brian Winters
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
Minnesota Timberwolves Bill Blair Flip Saunders
New York Knicks Don Nelson Jeff Van Gundy
Phoenix Suns Paul Westphal Cotton Fitzsimmons

1995–96 NBA changes

  • The Atlanta Hawks changed their logo and uniforms. The road jerseys were both red and black faded together.
  • The Boston Celtics moved into the FleetCenter.
  • The Chicago Bulls got new black alternate uniforms with pinstripes.
  • The Houston Rockets changed their logo and uniforms, adding pinstripes to their jerseys and navy to their color scheme.
  • The Miami Heat added new red alternate uniforms.
  • The Milwaukee Bucks added new green alternate uniforms.
  • The New York Knicks added the "New York" script to their logo, and got new blue alternate uniforms with black on the side of their jerseys.
  • The Portland Trail Blazers moved into the Rose Garden.
  • The Seattle SuperSonics changed their logo and uniforms, replacing their primary green and yellow colors with dark green and red.
  • The expansion Toronto Raptors got a new logo and new pinstripe uniforms, adding purple and red to their color scheme.
  • The expansion Vancouver Grizzlies got a new logo and new uniforms, adding teal and brown to their color scheme.

Final standings

By division

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y-Orlando Magic 60 22 .732 12.0 37–4 23–18 21–3 82
x-New York Knicks 47 35 .573 25.0 26–15 21–20 16–8 82
x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 30.0 26–15 16–25 13–12 82
Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 33.0 25–16 14–27 10–14 82
Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 39.0 18–23 15–26 12–12 82
New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 42.0 20–21 10–31 8–17 82
Philadelphia 76ers 18 64 .220 54.0 11–30 7–34 5–19 82
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
z-Chicago Bulls 72 10 .878 0.0 39–2 33–8 24–4 82
x-Indiana Pacers 52 30 .634 20.0 32–9 20–21 19–9 82
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 51 31 .622 21.0 33–8 18–23 15–9 82
x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 26.0 26–15 20–21 15–13 82
x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 26.0 30–11 16–25 15–13 82
Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 31.0 25–16 16–25 13–15 82
Milwaukee Bucks 25 57 .305 47.0 14–27 11–30 8–20 82
Toronto Raptors 21 61 .256 51.0 15–26 6–35 5–23 82
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs5923.72033–826–1519–5
x-Utah Jazz5527.671434–721–2014–10
x-Houston Rockets4834.5851127–1421–2015–9
Denver Nuggets3547.4272424–1711–3013–11
Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173317–249–3210–14
Dallas Mavericks2656.3173316–2510–3110–14
Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834410–315–363–21
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics6418.78038–326–1521–3
x-Los Angeles Lakers5329.6461130–1123–1817–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.5372026–1518–2311–13
x-Phoenix Suns4141.5002325–1616–259–15
x-Sacramento Kings3943.4762526–1513–2811–13
Golden State Warriors3646.4392823–1813–287–17
Los Angeles Clippers2953.3543519–2210–317–17


By conference

Eastern Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z-Chicago Bulls * 72 10 .878 82
2 y-Orlando Magic * 60 22 .732 12.0 82
3 x-Indiana Pacers 52 30 .634 20.0 82
4 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 51 31 .622 21.0 82
5 x-New York Knicks 47 35 .573 25.0 82
6 x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 26.0 82
7 x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 26.0 82
8 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 30.0 82
9 Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 31.0 82
10 Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 33.0 82
11 Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 39.0 82
12 New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 42.0 82
13 Milwaukee Bucks 25 57 .305 47.0 82
14 Toronto Raptors 21 61 .256 51.0 82
15 Philadelphia 76ers 18 64 .220 54.0 82
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics *6418.78082
2 y-San Antonio Spurs *5923.720582
3 x-Utah Jazz5527.671982
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5329.6461182
5 x-Houston Rockets4834.5851682
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.5372082
7 x-Phoenix Suns4141.5002382
8 x-Sacramento Kings3943.4762582
9 Golden State Warriors3646.4392882
10 Denver Nuggets3547.4272982
11 Los Angeles Clippers2953.3543582
12 Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173882
13 Dallas Mavericks2656.3173882
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834982

Notes

  • z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
  • c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
  • y – Clinched division title
  • x – Clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.

  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
E1 Chicago* 3  
E8 Miami 0  
  E1 Chicago* 4  
  E5 New York 1  
E4 Cleveland 0
E5 New York 3  
  E1 Chicago* 4  
Eastern Conference
  E2 Orlando* 0  
E3 Indiana 2  
E6 Atlanta 3  
  E6 Atlanta 1
  E2 Orlando* 4  
E2 Orlando* 3
E7 Detroit 0  
  E1 Chicago* 4
  W1 Seattle* 2
W1 Seattle* 3  
W8 Sacramento 1  
  W1 Seattle* 4
  W5 Houston 0  
W4 LA Lakers 1
W5 Houston 3  
  W1 Seattle* 4
Western Conference
  W3 Utah 3  
W3 Utah 3  
W6 Portland 2  
  W3 Utah 4
  W2 San Antonio* 2  
W2 San Antonio* 3
W7 Phoenix 1  


* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

Statistics leaders

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
Points per gameMichael JordanChicago Bulls30.4
Rebounds per gameDennis RodmanChicago Bulls14.9
Assists per gameJohn StocktonUtah Jazz11.2
Steals per gameGary PaytonSeattle SuperSonics2.85
Blocks per gameDikembe MutomboDenver Nuggets4.49
FG%Gheorghe MureșanWashington Bullets.584
FT%Mahmoud Abdul-RaufDenver Nuggets.930
3FG%Tim LeglerWashington Bullets.522

NBA awards

Yearly awards

Note: All information on this page were obtained on the History section on NBA.com

Player of the week

The following players were named NBA Player of the Week.

Week Player
Nov. 3 – Nov. 12 Anfernee Hardaway (Orlando Magic)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19 Cedric Ceballos (Los Angeles Lakers)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26 Shawn Kemp (Seattle SuperSonics)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3 Terrell Brandon (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10 Dikembe Mutombo (Denver Nuggets)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 17 Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
Dec. 18 – Dec. 24 Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 30 Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 7 Clifford R. Robinson (Portland Trail Blazers)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14 David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21 Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28 Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers)
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4 Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 18 Armen Gilliam (New Jersey Nets)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25 Shawn Kemp (Seattle SuperSonics)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 3 (tie) Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 3 (tie) Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic)
Mar. 4 – Mar. 10 Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Mar. 11 – Mar. 17 Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
Mar. 18 – Mar. 24 Chris Gatling (Miami Heat)
Mar. 25 – Mar. 31 Arvydas Sabonis (Portland Trail Blazers)
Apr. 1 – Apr. 7 Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)

Player of the month

The following players were named NBA Player of the Month.

Month Player
November Anfernee Hardaway (Orlando Magic)
December Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
January Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
February Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns)
March David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
April Juwan Howard (Washington Bullets)

Rookie of the month

The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month.

Month Rookie
November Damon Stoudamire (Toronto Raptors)
December Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors)
January Damon Stoudamire (Toronto Raptors)
February Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors)
March Jerry Stackhouse (Philadelphia 76ers)
April Arvydas Sabonis (Portland Trail Blazers)

Coach of the month

The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month.

Month Coach
November Garry St. Jean (Sacramento Kings)
December Mike Fratello (Cleveland Cavaliers)
January Phil Jackson (Chicago Bulls)
February George Karl (Seattle SuperSonics)
March Bob Hill (San Antonio Spurs)
April Phil Jackson (Chicago Bulls)

Notables

First games

The following is a list of notable players who played their first NBA game during the 1995–96 season, listed with their first team.

* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
PlayerTeamNotability
Joe SmithGolden State WarriorsFirst overall pick in the 1995 Draft
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Kevin Garnett*Minnesota Timberwolves15-time NBA All-Star
Nine-time All-NBA Team
12-time All-Defensive Team
One-time NBA MVP
One-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
One-time Defensive Player of the Year
One-time NBA champion
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Rasheed WallaceWashington BulletsFour-time NBA All-Star
One-time NBA champion
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Michael FinleyPhoenix SunsTwo-time NBA All-Star
One-time NBA champion
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Jerry StackhousePhiladelphia 76ersTwo-time NBA All-Star
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Antonio McDyessDenver NuggetsOne-time NBA All-Star
One-time All-NBA Team
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Theo RatliffDetroit PistonsOne-time NBA All-Star
Two-time All-Defensive Team
Damon StoudamireToronto Raptors1995–96 NBA Rookie of the Year winner
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Corliss WilliamsonSacramento KingsOne-time Sixth Man of the Year
One-time NBA champion
Alan HendersonAtlanta Hawks1997–98 Most Improved Player
Eric SnowSeattle SuperSonicsOne-time All-Defensive Team
Brent BarryLos Angeles ClippersTwo-time NBA champion
1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Tyus EdneySacramento Kings1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Bryant ReevesVancouver Grizzlies1995–96 All-Rookie Team
Arvydas Sabonis*Portland Trail Blazers1995–96 All-Rookie Team

Last games

PlayerTeamNotability
Michael AdamsCharlotte HornetsOne-time NBA All-Star
James EdwardsChicago BullsOver 1,100 games played
Three-time NBA champion
Magic Johnson*Los Angeles LakersFirst overall pick in the 1979 Draft
12-time NBA All-Star
10-time All-NBA Team
Three-time NBA MVP
Three-time NBA Finals MVP
Two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
Five-time NBA champion
1979–80 All-Rookie Team
Jeff MaloneMiami HeatTwo-time NBA All-Star
1983–84 All-Rookie Team
Doc RiversSan Antonio SpursOne-time NBA All-Star
One-time NBA champion (as coach)
One-time Coach of the Year (as coach)
Alvin RobertsonToronto RaptorsFour-time NBA All-Star
One-time All-NBA Team
Six-time All-Defensive Team
One-time Defensive Player of the Year
1985–86 Most Improved Player
Scott SkilesPhiladelphia 76ers1990–91 Most Improved Player

References

  1. Brown, Clifton. "1995 NBA playoffs; NBA. Talks resume as lockout looms."The New York Times, Houston, 13 June 1995. Retrieved on 2 June 2015.
  2. Friend, Tom (June 15, 1995). "Stern Says Labor Deal Could Be Struck Soon". The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  3. Brown, Clifton (June 13, 1995). "NBA Talks Resume as Lockout Looms". The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  4. "NBA Lockout Chronology". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. January 6, 1999. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  5. "10 Game-Changing Pro Sports Lockouts and Strikes – National Basketball Association (1995)". CNBC.com. CNBC LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-08-09. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
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