2020–21 NBA season
On the 22nd of December 2020, the National Basketball Association finally opened its doors for the start of the regular season. This date marked a delay of over two months from the league's initial target of the 1st of December 2020. The pandemic forced the NBA to compress the schedule into just 72 games per team instead of the usual 82. Commissioner Adam Silver had warned that local health orders would limit fan attendance, which threatened the league's revenue model since 40 percent of income comes from ticket sales. The league considered moving the entire season into a bubble environment similar to the previous year's playoffs. Instead, they opted for a condensed calendar that allowed teams to play back-to-back games in the same cities to reduce travel risks. The season began only 72 days after the conclusion of the 2020 NBA Finals, creating the shortest off-season in league history.
Marvin Williams announced his retirement on the 8th of September 2020, ending a fifteen-year career spanning four different teams. Just six days later, Leandro Barbosa joined him by retiring after fourteen seasons and one championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. Kevin Séraphin followed suit on October 24, concluding seven years across three franchises. Corey Brewer retired on November 16 after twelve years and eight teams, including a title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. Dorell Wright and Andrew Bogut both announced their retirements on the 30th of November 2020, adding to the wave of departures. Evan Turner also left the game on that same day after ten seasons. Lucas Nogueira retired on the 4th of February 2021, having played his entire four-year career with the Toronto Raptors. Joakim Noah announced his retirement on the 1st of March 2021, after thirteen years and two All-Star selections. Thabo Sefolosha retired on the 31st of March 2021, following fourteen years of play. LaMarcus Aldridge ended his career on the 15th of April 2021, citing heart issues and an irregular heartbeat after games. Jeremy Lin concluded his nine-year journey on the 19th of May 2021, winning a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
The New York Knicks hired Tom Thibodeau as their new head coach on the 30th of July 2020. The Chicago Bulls fired Jim Boylen after two seasons on the 14th of August 2020. The New Orleans Pelicans let go of Alvin Gentry after five seasons on the 15th of August 2020. Brett Brown was dismissed by the Philadelphia 76ers after seven years on the 24th of August 2020. Nate McMillan was fired by the Indiana Pacers after four seasons on the 26th of August 2020. Steve Nash took over the Brooklyn Nets on the 3rd of September 2020. Billy Donovan parted ways with the Oklahoma City Thunder on the 8th of September 2020. Mike D'Antoni announced he would not return to the Houston Rockets on the 13th of September 2020. Billy Donovan was hired by the Chicago Bulls on the 22nd of September 2020. Doc Rivers left the Los Angeles Clippers after seven seasons on the 28th of September 2020. Doc Rivers then became the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers on the 3rd of October 2020. Nate Bjorkgren was named the new head coach of the Indiana Pacers on the 20th of October 2020. Tyronn Lue was promoted to lead the Los Angeles Clippers on the same day. Stan Van Gundy took charge of the New Orleans Pelicans on the 22nd of October 2020. Stephen Silas was hired by the Houston Rockets on the 30th of October 2020. Mark Daigneault was promoted to head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder on the 11th of November 2020. Ryan Saunders was fired by the Minnesota Timberwolves on the 21st of February 2021, and Chris Finch replaced him the next day. Lloyd Pierce was let go by the Atlanta Hawks on the 1st of March 2021, with Nate McMillan serving as interim.
For the first time in league history, the NBA staged a play-in tournament for teams ranked seventh through tenth in each conference from May 18 to 21, 2021. The format determined which two teams would earn the final playoff seeds in each conference. The seventh-place team hosted the eighth-place team, with the winner securing the seventh seed. The ninth-place team played the tenth-place team, and the loser was eliminated from playoff contention immediately. The loser of the seventh versus eighth game then hosted the winner of the ninth versus tenth matchup. The victor of that final game claimed the eighth seed while the other team went home. This new structure added an extra layer of drama to the end of the regular season before the standard sixteen-team playoffs began on the 22nd of May 2021.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors averaged thirty-two points per game during the season. Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards led the league in assists at eleven point seven per game and also recorded forty-eight turnovers per game. Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets won the Most Valuable Player award after averaging thirty-five point nine efficiency per game. He became the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to win MVP. Jokić also became the first Serbian native to receive the honor. On the 29th of December 2020, he recorded triple-doubles in his first three games of the season, joining Oscar Robertson as the only player to do so. Stephen Curry passed Reggie Miller for second place on the all-time three-point list on the 23rd of January 2021. LeBron James reached thirty-five thousand career points on the 19th of February 2021, becoming the third player in history to achieve that mark. Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers passed Hakeem Olajuwon for eleventh place on the all-time scoring list on the 13th of March 2021. LaMelo Ball posted a triple-double against the Atlanta Hawks on the 9th of January 2021, becoming the youngest player ever to record such a feat at nineteen years and one hundred forty days old.
The playoffs began on May 22 and concluded with the NBA Finals running from July 6 to the 20th of July 2021. The Milwaukee Bucks won their first championship since 2021, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team throughout the postseason. The league also saw historic moments during the regular season including the largest halftime lead in game history when the Dallas Mavericks held a fifty-point advantage over the Los Angeles Clippers on the 27th of December 2020. The Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder by ninety-five points on the 1st of May 2021, marking the largest road win in NBA history. The Utah Jazz set a record for most three-point field goals made per game at sixteen point seven. The Los Angeles Clippers achieved the highest free-throw percentage averaged at eighty-three point nine percent. The Portland Trail Blazers recorded the lowest average turnovers per game at eleven point one.
Common questions
When did the 2020-21 NBA season start?
The 2020-21 NBA season started on the 22nd of December 2020. This date marked a delay of over two months from the league's initial target of the 1st of December 2020.
Who retired from the NBA during the 2020-21 season?
Multiple players including Marvin Williams, Leandro Barbosa, Kevin Séraphin, Corey Brewer, Dorell Wright, Andrew Bogut, Evan Turner, Lucas Nogueira, Joakim Noah, Thabo Sefolosha, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Jeremy Lin announced their retirements between September 2020 and May 2021. LaMarcus Aldridge ended his career on the 15th of April 2021 citing heart issues.
Which teams hired new head coaches in the 2020-21 NBA season?
The New York Knicks hired Tom Thibodeau on the 30th of July 2020 while the Chicago Bulls fired Jim Boylen and later hired Billy Donovan. The Brooklyn Nets appointed Steve Nash on the 3rd of September 2020 and the Philadelphia 76ers hired Doc Rivers on the 3rd of October 2020 after firing Brett Brown.
What is the format of the 2020-21 NBA play-in tournament?
The NBA staged a play-in tournament for teams ranked seventh through tenth from May 18 to 21 2021 to determine the final playoff seeds. The seventh-place team hosted the eighth-place team while the ninth-place team played the tenth-place team with losers eliminated immediately.
Who won the MVP award in the 2020-21 NBA season?
Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets won the Most Valuable Player award after averaging thirty-five point nine efficiency per game. He became the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to win MVP and the first Serbian native to receive the honor.