In one of the most emotional announcements in sports history, Lakers star Magic Johnson announces his retirement early in the season after receiving the news that he had tested HIV–positive.
Philadelphia 76er Charles Barkley honors Johnson by switching from his usual number 34 to 32, which he will wear for the entire season. The 76ers had retired the number in honor of Billy Cunningham, who un-retired it for Barkley to wear.
Due to back problems, Celtics star Larry Bird retired at the end of the season, thus bringing one of the most memorable eras in NBA history (Magic vs. Bird) to a close.
The 1992 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, with the West defeating the East 153–113. In an emotionally charged game, Magic Johnson wins the game's MVP award.
In the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers rescheduled and moved their home playoff games to the nearest area possible. Game 4 of the Lakers-Blazers series was played at Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center while Game 4 of the Clippers-Jazz series was played at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The Utah Jazz play their first game at the Delta Center.
The Chicago Bulls set a franchise record with 67 wins in a season (later broken by the 1995-96 team).
Dennis Rodman recorded 1,530 rebounds and averaged 18.7 rebounds per game in the regular season, both of which are the highest figures since 1972. It is the first of an NBA record seven consecutive rebounding titles for Rodman.
Michael Jordan scored 35 points in the first half to set an NBA Finals record for most points in a half. His six three-pointers also set a record for most in a half.
The Miami Heat are the first of the four late-1980s expansion franchises to make it to the playoffs. They are swept in the first round by the Bulls. Fourteen years later, they would become the first of those teams to win an NBA Championship.
On December 17, the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Miami Heat by a score of 148-80. This 68-point win by the Cavaliers set the record for largest margin of victory in the history of the NBA.
All NBA teams sport patches on their warmups commemorating the centennial anniversary of basketball. This was also the first of a six-year deal between the NBA and Champion Athletics as the league's official outfitter.
The season marked the last time the Boston Celtics won 50 games (they won 51 that season). They would not win 50 games or more until the 2007-08 season.
Following the first round loss to the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons head coach Chuck Daly resigned, ending the Pistons' 'Bad Boys' era.
Standings[]
By division[]
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-Boston Celtics
51
31
.622
—
34–7
17–24
19-9
x-New York Knicks
51
31
.622
—
30-11
21-20
20-8
x-New Jersey Nets
40
42
.488
11
25-16
15-26
15-13
x-Miami Heat
38
44
.463
13
28-13
10-31
14-14
Philadelphia 76ers
35
47
.427
16
23-18
12-29
15-13
Washington Bullets
25
57
.305
26
14-27
11-30
7-21
Orlando Magic
21
61
.256
30
13-28
8-33
8-20
Central Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-Chicago Bulls
67
15
.817
—
36–5
31–10
22–6
x-Cleveland Cavaliers
57
25
.695
10
35–6
22–19
21-7
x-Detroit Pistons
48
34
.585
19
25–16
23–18
15–13
x-Indiana Pacers
40
42
.488
27
26–15
14–27
13–15
Atlanta Hawks
38
44
.463
29
23-18
15–26
7-21
Charlotte Hornets
31
51
.378
36
22-19
9–32
10-18
Milwaukee Bucks
31
51
.378
36
25–16
6–35
10-18
Western Conference
Midwest Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-Utah Jazz
55
27
.671
—
37-4
18–23
20-6
x-San Antonio Spurs
47
35
.573
8
31–10
16–25
18-8
Houston Rockets
42
40
.512
13
28-13
14–27
12-14
Denver Nuggets
24
58
.293
21
18-23
6–35
8-18
Dallas Mavericks
22
60
.268
33
15-26
7-34
11-15
Minnesota Timberwolves
15
67
.183
40
9-32
6–35
9-17
Pacific Division v •d •e
W
L
PCT
GB
Home
Road
Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers
57
25
.695
—
33-8
24-17
21-9
x-Golden State Warriors
55
27
.671
2
31-10
24-17
19-11
x-Phoenix Suns
53
29
.646
4
36-5
17-24
17-13
x-Seattle SuperSonics
47
35
.573
10
28-13
19-22
16-14
x-Los Angeles Clippers
45
37
.549
12
29-12
16-25
13-17
x-Los Angeles Lakers
43
39
.578
14
24-17
19-22
13-17
Sacramento Kings
29
53
.354
28
21-20
8-33
6-24
By conference[]
#
Eastern Conference v •d •e
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
1
z-Chicago Bulls
67
15
.817
–
2
y-Boston Celtics
51
31
.622
16
3
x-Cleveland Cavaliers
57
25
.695
10
4
x-New York Knicks
51
31
.622
16
5
x-Detroit Pistons
48
34
.585
19
6
x-New Jersey Nets
40
42
.488
27
7
x-Indiana Pacers
40
42
.488
27
8
x-Miami Heat
38
44
.463
29
9
Atlanta Hawks
38
44
.463
29
10
Philadelphia 76ers
35
47
.427
32
11
Milwaukee Bucks
31
51
.378
36
11
Charlotte Hornets
31
51
.378
36
12
Washington Bullets
25
57
.305
42
13
Orlando Magic
21
61
.256
46
#
Western Conference v •d •e
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
1
z-Portland Trail Blazers
57
25
.695
–
2
y-Utah Jazz
55
27
.671
2
3
x-Golden State Warriors
55
27
.671
2
4
x-Phoenix Suns
53
29
.646
4
5
x-San Antonio Spurs
47
35
.573
10
6
x-Seattle SuperSonics
47
35
.573
10
7
x-Los Angeles Clippers
45
37
.549
12
8
x-Los Angeles Lakers
43
39
.524
14
9
Houston Rockets
42
40
.512
15
10
Sacramento Kings
29
53
.354
28
11
Denver Nuggets
24
58
.293
33
12
Dallas Mavericks
22
60
.268
35
13
Minnesota Timberwolves
15
67
.183
42
Notes
z – clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
