• Regular season reduced down to 72 games to help compensate for the quick turnaround from last year amidst the pandemic
• Coaching carousel sees significant offseason activity headlined by the hiring’s of Doc Rivers in Philadelphia, Steve Nash in Brooklyn, Tyronn Lue in Los Angeles (Clippers), Billy Donovan in Chicago and Tom Thibodeau in New York
• Following last season’s offseason bonanza, free agency tapers back down to a much less exciting flow highlighted by Chris Paul’s trade to Phoenix, Houston and Washington’s point-guard swap of Russell Westbrook/John Wall and Anthony Davis committing to the Lakers on a 5 year deal
• The Brooklyn Nets pull off the transaction of the year acquiring offensive ace James Harden to pair with incumbent studs Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to form the league’s deadliest big 3
• Carmelo Anthony moves up to 10th place on the all-time scoring list
• Russell Westbrook passes Oscar Robertson for the most career triple-doubles achieved 
• Denver Nuggets dynamic center Nikola Jokic becomes the lowest drafted player ever (2nd round 41st overall) to win the MVP award
• New “play-in tournament” format allows for 2 additional seeds (9 and 10) in each conference to compete in a win-and-your-in elimination round against the 7 and 8 seeds to determine playoff entry 
• The Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks enjoy Cinderella postseason runs that stoke their fans flames after many years of mediocrity 
• Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks complete the season atop the NBA’s mountain winning the franchise its first title since 1971

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Team	W/L Home/Away
	49-23* 29-7/20-16
	48-24* 28-8/20-16
	41-31* 25-11/16-20
	36-36* 21-15/15-21
	27-45 16-20/11-25

CENTRAL DIVISION

Team	W/L Home/Away
	46-26* 26-10/20-16
	34-38* 13-23/21-15
	31-41 13-23/21-15
	22-50 13-23/9-27
	20-52 13-23/7-29

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Team	W/L Home/Away
	41-31* 25-11/16-20
	40-32* 21-15/19-17
	34-38* 19-17/15-21
	33-39* 18-19/15-20
	21-51 11-25/10-26

PACIFIC DIVISION

Team	W/L Home/Away
	51-21* 27-9/24-12
	47-25* 26-10/21-15
	42-30* 21-15/21-15
	39-33* 25-11/14-22
	31-41 16-20/15-21

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Team	W/L Home/Away
	52-20* 31-5/21-15
	47-25* 25-11/22-14
	42-30* 20-16/22-14
	23-49 13-23/10-26
	22-50 10-26/12-24

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Team	W/L Home/Away
	42-30* 21-15/21-15
	38-34* 18-18/20-16
	33-39* 14-22/19-17
	31-41 18-18/13-23
	17-55 9-27/8-28

PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

#8 SEED PLAY-IN QUALIFIER #9 #10

#7 SEED PLAY-IN GAME #7 #8

#8 SEED PLAY-IN QUALIFIER
(winner proceeds to #8 seed play-in game/loser eliminated from playoff contention)

#9

#10

@Indiana Bankers Life Fieldhouse

144

117

advance to the #8 seed play-in game

KEY PERFORMER

Domantas Sabonis (F/C)

14 points
21 rebounds
9 assists
1 steal
1 block

#7 SEED PLAY-IN GAME
(winner proceeds to playoffs as #7 seed/loser moves on to the #8 seed play-in game)

#7

#8

@Boston TD Garden

118

100

KEY PERFORMER

Jayson Tatum (F)

50 points
8 rebounds
4 assists
1 steal
2 blocks

#8 SEED PLAY-IN GAME
(winner proceeds to playoffs as #8 seed/loser eliminated from playoff contention)

#8

#9

@Washington Capital One Arena

142

115

advance to NBA playoffs as #8 seed

KEY PERFORMER

Russell Westbrook (G)

18 points
8 rebounds
15 assists
1 steal

PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

#8 SEED PLAY-IN QUALIFIER #9 #10

#7 SEED PLAY-IN GAME #7 #8

#8 SEED PLAY-IN QUALIFIER
(winner proceeds to #8 seed play-in game/loser eliminated from playoff contention)

#9

#10

@Memphis FedExForum

100

96

advance to the #8 seed play-in game

KEY PERFORMER

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

23 points
23 rebounds
3 blocks

#7 SEED PLAY-IN GAME
(winner proceeds to playoffs as #7 seed/loser moves on to the #8 seed play-in game)

#7

#8

@Los Angeles STAPLES Center

103

100

KEY PERFORMER

LeBron James (F)

22 points
11 rebounds
10 assists
2 steals
1 block

#8 SEED PLAY-IN GAME
(winner proceeds to playoffs as #8 seed/loser eliminated from playoff contention)

#8

#9

@Golden State Chase Center (ot.)

112

117

advance to NBA playoffs as #8 seed

KEY PERFORMER

Ja Morant (G)

35 points
6 rebounds
6 assists
4 steals

1ST ROUND
BRACKET

#1

#8

#4

#5

#3

#6

#2

#7

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#1

#8

Game 1 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	125	118
Game 2 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	120	95
Game 3 @Washington Capital One Arena	103	132
Game 4 @Washington Capital One Arena	122	114
Game 5 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	129	112

win series 4-1

KEY PERFORMER

Tobias Harris (F)

25.0 points per game
10.0 rebounds per game
3.8 assists per game
1.2 steals per game

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#4

#5

Game 1 @New York Madison Square Garden	105	107
Game 2 @New York Madison Square Garden	101	92
Game 3 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	105	94
Game 4 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	113	96
Game 5 @New York Madison Square Garden	89	103

win series 4-1

KEY PERFORMER

Trae Young (G)

29.2 points per game
9.8 assists per game
2.8 rebounds per game

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#3

#6

Game 1 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum (ot.)	109	107
Game 2 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	132	98
Game 3 @Miami America Airlines Arena	84	113
Game 4 @Miami America Airlines Arena	103	120

win series 4-0

KEY PERFORMER

Giannis Antetokounmpo (F)

23.5 points per game
15.0 rebounds per game
7.8 assists per game
1.8 steals per game
0.8 blocks per game

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#2

#7

Game 1 @Brooklyn Barclays Center	104	93
Game 2 @Brooklyn Barclays Center	130	108
Game 3 @Boston TD Garden	125	119
Game 4 @Boston TD Garden	126	141
Game 5 @Brooklyn Barclays Center	123	109

win series 4-1

KEY PERFORMER

James Harden (G)

27.8 points per game
7.2 rebounds per game
10.6 assists per game
2.0 steals per game
1.0 blocks per game

1ST ROUND
BRACKET

#1

#8

#4

#5

#3

#6

#2

#7

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#1

#8

Game 1 @Utah Vivint Arena	109	112
Game 2 @Utah Vivint Arena	141	129
Game 3 @Memphis FedExForum	111	121
Game 4 @Memphis FedExForum	113	120
Game 5 @Utah Vivint Arena	126	110

win series 4-1

KEY PERFORMER

Donovan Mitchell (G)

28.5 points per game
3.0 rebounds per game
5.8 assists per game
1.3 steals per game

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#4

#5

Game 1 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	103	113
Game 2 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	121	127
Game 3 @Dallas American Airlines Center	108	118
Game 4 @Dallas American Airlines Center	81	106
Game 5 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	100	105
Game 6 @Dallas American Airlines Center	97	104
Game 7 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	126	111

win series 4-3

KEY PERFORMER

Kawhi Leonard (F)

32.1 points per game
7.9 rebounds per game
4.6 assists per game
2.3 steals per game
1.0 blocks per game

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#3

#6

Game 1 @Denver Ball Arena	109	123
Game 2 @Denver Ball Arena	128	109
Game 3 @Portland Moda Center	115	120
Game 4 @Portland Moda Center	115	95
Game 5 @Denver Ball Arena (2 ot.)	147	140
Game 6 @Portland Moda Center	115	126

win series 4-2

KEY PERFORMER

Nikola Jokic (C)

33.0 points per game
10.5 rebounds per game
4.5 assists per game

1ST ROUND SERIES
(best of 7)

#2

#7

Game 1 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	99	90
Game 2 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	102	109
Game 3 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	109	95
Game 4 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	92	100
Game 5 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	115	85
Game 6 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	100	113

win series 4-2

KEY PERFORMER

Devin Booker (G)

29.7 points per game
6.2 rebounds per game
5.0 assists per game

SEMIFINAL
BRACKET

#1

#5

#2

#3

SEMIFINALS SERIES
(best of 7)

#1

#5

Game 1 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	124	128
Game 2 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	118	102
Game 3 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	111	127
Game 4 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	103	100
Game 5 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	106	109
Game 6 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	99	104
Game 7 @Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center	96	103

win series 4-3

KEY PERFORMER

Trae Young (G)

29.0 points per game
2.6 rebounds per game
10.9 assists per game
1.7 steals per game

SEMIFINALS SERIES
(best of 7)

#2

#3

Game 1 @Brooklyn Barclays Center	115	107
Game 2 @Brooklyn Barclays Center	125	86
Game 3 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	86	83
Game 4 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	107	96
Game 5 @Brooklyn Barclays Center	114	108
Game 6 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	104	89
Game 7 @Brooklyn Barclays Center (ot.)	111	115

win series 4-3

KEY PERFORMER

Khris Middleton (F/G)

24.3 points per game
8.7 rebounds per game
4.3 assists per game
2.0 steals per game

SEMIFINAL
BRACKET

#1

#4

#2

#3

SEMIFINALS SERIES
(best of 7)

#1

#4

Game 1 @Utah Vivint Arena	112	109
Game 2 @Utah Vivint Arena	117	111
Game 3 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	132	106
Game 4 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	118	104
Game 5 @Utah Vivint Arena	111	119
Game 6 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	131	119

win series 4-2

KEY PERFORMER

Paul George (F/G)

29.0 points per game
9.5 rebounds per game
4.8 assists per game
1.0 steals per game

SEMIFINALS SERIES
(best of 7)

#2

#3

Game 1 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	122	105
Game 2 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	123	98
Game 3 @Denver Ball Arena	102	116
Game 4 @Denver Ball Arena	118	125

win series 4-0

KEY PERFORMER

Chris Paul (G)

25.5 points per game
5.0 rebounds per game
10.3 assists per game
1.5 steals per game

FINALS
BRACKET

#3

#5

FINALS SERIES
(best of 7)

#3

#5

Game 1 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	113	116
Game 2 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	125	91
Game 3 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	102	113
Game 4 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	110	88
Game 5 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	123	112
Game 6 @Atlanta State Farm Arena	107	118

win series 4-2

KEY PERFORMER

Jrue Holiday (G)

22.0 points per game
5.0 rebounds per game
10.0 assists per game
1.7 steals per game
1.0 blocks per game

FINALS
BRACKET

#2

#4

FINALS SERIES
(best of 7)

#2

#4

Game 1 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	120	114
Game 2 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	104	103
Game 3 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	106	92
Game 4 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	80	84
Game 5 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	102	116
Game 6 @Los Angeles STAPLES Center	103	130

win series 4-2

KEY PERFORMER

Deandre Ayton (C)

17.8 points per game
13.7 rebounds per game
1.3 assists per game
1.7 blocks per game

(best of 7)

Game 1 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	118	105
Game 2 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	118	108
Game 3 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	120	100
Game 4 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	109	103
Game 5 @Phoenix Phoenix Suns Arena	119	123
Game 6 @Milwaukee Fiserv Forum	105	98

NBA CHAMPIONS

NBA FINALS MVP


Giannis Antetokounmpo (F)

35.2 points/game
13.2 rebounds/game
5.0 assists/game
1.2 steals/game
1.8 blocks/game

W/L/: 42-30 (3rd in PACIFIC DIVISION)
Offensive Ranking: 24th
Defensive Ranking: 1st

• Re-fitted their championship-level roster nicely acquiring G Dennis Schroder, F Montrezl Harrell and C Marc Gasol before the season started 
• F LeBron James becomes the 1st player in history to score at least 10 points in 1,000 consecutive games
• Came close to acquiring G Kyle Lowry from Toronto at the trade deadline but opted to stay put with budding prospect Talen Horton-Tucker
• Waited until 5/12/2021 to officially reveal their 17th championship banner so that they could celebrate while fans could be present
• Defeated Golden State during the league’s first ever play-in tournament, ensuring a playoff berth after a disappointing season fraught with a multitude of frivolous injuries