The Houston Rockets became the lowest seeded team to ever win the NBA Finals, winning as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
The 1995 NBA All-Star Game was played at America West Arena (now known as US Airways Center) in Phoenix, Arizona, with the West defeating the East 139–112. Mitch Richmond of the Sacramento Kings was named the game's MVP (Most Valuable Player).
Midway through the season, Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after a failed attempt at a minor-league baseball career. His announcement consisted of a two-word fax: "I'm Back". Since the Bulls had already retired his number 23, he returned wearing number 45. However, he changed back to 23 during the playoffs.
An era came to an end as the Boston Celtics played their final season at the historic Boston Garden.
The Portland Trail Blazers played their final season at Memorial Coliseum.
The Chicago Bulls played their first game at the United Center.
The Cleveland Cavaliers played their first game at Gund Arena (now known as Quicken Loans Arena).
Due to extensive renovations to the Seattle Center Coliseum (now known as KeyArena), the Seattle SuperSonics played their home games at the Tacoma Dome, in nearby Tacoma, Washington.
Grant Hill became the first rookie in professional sports to lead fan balloting for the NBA All-Star Game.
The Orlando Magic became the first of the four late-1980s expansion franchises to reach the NBA Finals. They were swept in four straight games by the defending-champion Houston Rockets.
Lenny Wilkens passed Red Auerbach to become the NBA's all-time leader in wins, which stood for 15 years.
In an effort to increase scoring, the NBA's competition committee voted to shorten the three-point field goal line to a uniform 22 feet around the basket beginning this season and lasting through the 1996-97 NBA season.[1] Orlando Magic forward Dennis Scott set a then-single season record for most three-pointers made with 267 during the 1995-96 NBA season (Later surpassed by Ray Allen, who notched 269 three-pointers in the 2005–06 NBA season).[2] The NBA would revert back to its original three-point field goal parameters of 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet at the corners) at the start of the 1997-98 NBA season.[3]
The Western Conference Finals series between the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets was notable for the lack of home team success. The home team lost each of the first 5 games of the series, with the Rockets finally breaking through with a home win in Game 6.
Final standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Orlando Magic
57
25
.695
-
New York Knicks
55
27
.671
2
Boston Celtics
35
47
.427
22
Miami Heat
32
50
.390
25
New Jersey Nets
30
52
.366
27
Philadelphia 76ers
24
58
.293
33
Washington Bullets
21
61
.256
36
Central Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Indiana Pacers
52
30
.634
-
Charlotte Hornets
50
32
.610
2
Chicago Bulls
47
35
.573
5
Cleveland Cavaliers
43
39
.524
9
Atlanta Hawks
42
40
.512
10
Milwaukee Bucks
34
48
.415
18
Detroit Pistons
28
54
.341
24
Western Conference[]
Midwest Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
San Antonio Spurs
62
20
.756
-
Utah Jazz
60
22
.732
2
Houston Rockets C
47
35
.573
15
Denver Nuggets
41
41
.500
21
Dallas Mavericks
36
46
.439
26
Minnesota Timberwolves
21
61
.256
41
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Phoenix Suns
59
23
.720
-
Seattle SuperSonics
57
25
.695
2
Los Angeles Lakers
48
34
.585
11
Portland Trail Blazers
44
38
.537
15
Sacramento Kings
39
43
.476
20
Golden State Warriors
26
56
.317
33
Los Angeles Clippers
17
65
.207
42
C - NBA Champions
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
Shaquille O'Neal
Orlando Magic
29.3
Rebounds per game
Dennis Rodman
San Antonio Spurs
16.8
Assists per game
John Stockton
Utah Jazz
12.3
Steals per game
Scottie Pippen
Chicago Bulls
2.9
Blocks per game
Dikembe Mutombo
Denver Nuggets
3.9
FG%
Chris Gatling
Golden State Warriors
63.3
FT%
Spud Webb
Sacramento Kings
93.4
3FG%
Steve Kerr
Chicago Bulls
52.4
NBA awards[]
Most Valuable Player: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
Rookies of the Year: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks and Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
Defensive Player of the Year: Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
Sixth Man of the Year: Anthony Mason, New York Knicks
Most Improved Player: Dana Barros, Philadelphia 76ers
