The 2022-23 NBA season was marked by a flurry of offseason moves that saw several players finding new homes. The Utah Jazz shook up the league by trading their two franchise cornerstones, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively. The San Antonio Spurs also accelerated their rebuild by sending All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets added role players Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith in a significant under-the-radar trade.
The season was also marked by the loss of Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who passed away on July 31, 2022. The NBA announced that Russell’s No. 6 jersey would be retired league-wide, and all players wore a commemorative patch on their jerseys throughout the season. Additionally, every NBA court displayed a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer’s table.
The season opener featured the Golden State Warriors receiving their championship rings, but they struggled to find their postseason form and finished with a 6-seed out West. The season was also notable for a record 19 players averaging 25 points or more, with Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell scoring a career-high and franchise-record 71 points in an overtime win against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 2, 2023. Portland Trail Blazers PG Damian Lillard later matched him with his own career- and franchise-high 71 in Portland’s win over the Houston Rockets on February 26.
Injuries took a toll on several star players, including Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Devin Booker, among others. Despite this, Sixers stars James Harden and Joel Embiid became the first pair of teammates to win the assist and scoring titles, respectively, since former San Antonio Spurs legends George Gervin and Johnny Moore did so in 1981-82. Embiid also won his first Kia MVP but came up short in the playoffs, blowing a 3-2 lead to the Boston Celtics in the conference semis.
All major injuries include: Kawhi Leonard (29 games), LeBron James (27 games), Damian Lillard (24 games), Karl Anthony-Towns (53 games), Devin Booker (29 games), Davis (26 games), Durant (35 games), Paul George (26 games), James Harden (24 games), Bradley Beal (30 games), LaMelo Ball (46 games), Zion Williamson (53 games) and Khris Middleton (49 games).
The Sacramento Kings ended their league-worst 16-year playoff drought, going 48-34 and clinching the No. 3 seed in the West. Star guard De’Aaron Fox earned his first All-Star nod and received the inaugural Jerry West NBA Clutch Player of the Year award, too. Additionally, Kings coach Mike Brown was named Coach of the Year in his first season with the team.
The playoffs were filled with surprises, with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks eliminated by the No. 8 seed Miami Heat in the opening round. The Heat went on to upset the No. 5 seeded New York Knicks in the semifinals and the Boston Celtics (No. 2) on the road in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. In the West, the Denver Nuggets cruised to their first Finals appearance in franchise history, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals.
The 2023 Finals saw the Denver Nuggets emerge as champions after a Game 5 win against the Miami Heat, with Nikola Jokic claiming Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP honors. Jokic made history as the first player to lead every major statistical category in a postseason, racking up 600 total points, 269 rebounds and 190 assists. He finished his first Finals series averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
The season also saw several award winners, including Joel Embiid as the Kia Most Valuable Player, Paolo Banchero as the Kia Rookie of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. as the Kia Defensive Player of the Year, and Mike Brown as the Coach of the Year. De’Aaron Fox received the inaugural Jerry West NBA Clutch Player of the Year award, while Malcolm Brogdon was named the Kia Sixth Man of the Year. The list of award winners also included Jayson Tatum as the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP, Jimmy Butler as the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and Nikola Jokic as the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP.
Playoffs, play-in and NBA season leaders
AT&T Play-In Tournament
Eastern Conference Play-In
Atlanta Hawks defeated Miami Heat (for 7th seed)
Chicago Bulls defeated Toronto Raptors (in 9-10 seed game)
Miami Heat defeated Chicago Bulls (for 8th seed)
Western Conference Play-In
Los Angeles Lakers defeated Minnesota Timberwolves (for 7th seed)
Oklahoma City Thunder defeated New Orleans Pelicans (in 9-10 game)
Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Oklahoma City Thunder (for 8th seed)
Playoffs
Eastern Conference first round
Miami Heat defeated Milwaukee Bucks (4-1)
New York Knicks defeated Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1)
Philadelphia 76ers defeated Brooklyn Nets (4-0)
Boston Celtics defeated Atlanta Hawks (4-2)
Western Conference first round
Denver Nuggets defeated Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1)
Phoenix Suns defeated LA Clippers (4-1)
Golden State Warriors defeated Sacramento Kings (4-3)
Los Angeles Lakers defeated Memphis Grizzlies (4-2)
Eastern Conference semifinals
Miami Heat defeated New York Knicks (4-2)
Boston Celtics defeated Philadelphia 76ers (4-3)
Western Conference semifinals
Denver Nuggets defeated Phoenix Suns (4-2)
Los Angeles Lakers defeated Golden State Warriors (4-2)
Eastern Conference finals
Miami Heat defeated Boston Celtics (4-3)
Western Conference finals
Denver Nuggets defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-0)
NBA Finals
Denver Nuggets defeated Miami Heat (4-1)
Season Leaders
Points — Joel Embiid; 33.1 ppg
Assists — James Harden; 10.7 ast
Rebounds — Domantas Sabonis; 12.3 rebs
Steals — O.G. Anunoby; 1.9 stl
Blocks — Jaren Jackson Fr.; 3.0 blks
FG% — Nic Claxton; 70.5%
FT% — Tyler Herro; 93.4%
3PT% — Luke Kennard; 49.4%
Award Winners
Kia Most Valuable Player — Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Kia Rookie of the Year — Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Kia Defensive Player of the Year — Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Kia Most Improved Player — Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Kia Sixth Man of the Year — Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
Coach of the Year — Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
Kia Clutch Player of the Year — De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Kobe Bryant All Star Game MVP — Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP — Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP — Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Bill Russell Finals MVP — Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
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