The Chicago Bulls finish the season with a combined regular season and postseason record of 87-13, the best in NBA history. Prior to the start of the NBA Playoffs, the Bulls shocked the basketball world by wearing black socks, claiming this as redemption to the city's most infamous sports moment, the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. The socks would become a Bulls playoff tradition, which other teams soon follow. However, this wasn't the first time a team or a particular player wore black socks; Orlando Magic Guard Dennis Scott wore black socks while competing in the AT&T Three-Point Shootout at NBA All-Star Weekend.
Michael Jordan became the only player to win the NBA Finals MVP Award at least four times.
Jordan won his NBA record 8th scoring title.
The Boston Celtics played their first game at the Fleet Center (now TD Garden).
The NBA marks its return to Canada after almost 50 years as the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies make their debuts as the NBA's 28th and 29th franchises. The Grizzlies began play at GM Place while the Raptors set up shop at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre). In addition to that, both franchises emerge victorious in their debut games.
The 1996 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, with the East defeating the West 129–118. Michael Jordan of the Bulls was named the game's MVP.
Referees were locked out to begin the season, but reached an agreement to return to work in December 1995.
Magic Johnson comes out of retirement to play in 32 games for Los Angeles before retiring again at the end of the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers play their final game at The Spectrum (then Corestates Spectrum).
Portland Trail Blazers' longest sellout streak by any team in professional sports ends at 814, during which the team played its first season at higher-capacity Rose Garden.
The Sacramento Kings first playoff appearance since the 1986 NBA Playoffs.
Final standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Orlando Magic
60
22
.732
-
New York Knicks
47
35
.573
13
Miami Heat
42
40
.512
18
Washington Bullets
39
43
.476
21
Boston Celtics
33
49
.402
27
New Jersey Nets
30
52
.366
30
Philadelphia 76ers
18
64
.220
42
Central Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Chicago Bulls C
72
10
.878
-
Indiana Pacers
52
30
.634
20
Cleveland Cavaliers
47
35
.573
25
Atlanta Hawks
46
36
.561
26
Detroit Pistons
46
36
.561
26
Charlotte Hornets
41
41
.500
31
Milwaukee Bucks
25
57
.305
47
Toronto Raptors
21
61
.256
51
Western Conference[]
Midwest Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
San Antonio Spurs
59
23
.720
-
Utah Jazz
55
27
.671
4
Houston Rockets
48
34
.585
11
Denver Nuggets
35
47
.427
24
Dallas Mavericks
26
56
.317
33
Minnesota Timberwolves
26
56
.317
33
Vancouver Grizzlies
15
67
.183
44
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Seattle SuperSonics
64
18
.780
-
Los Angeles Lakers
53
29
.646
11
Portland Trail Blazers
44
38
.537
20
Phoenix Suns
41
41
.500
23
Sacramento Kings
39
43
.476
25
Golden State Warriors
36
46
.439
28
Los Angeles Clippers
29
53
.354
35
C - NBA Champions
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
Michael Jordan
Chicago Bulls
30.4
Rebounds per game
Dennis Rodman
Chicago Bulls
14.9
Assists per game
John Stockton
Utah Jazz
11.2
Steals per game
Gary Payton
Seattle SuperSonics
2.9
Blocks per game
Dikembe Mutombo
Denver Nuggets
4.5
FG%
Gheorghe Muresan
Washington Bullets
58.4
FT%
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Denver Nuggets
93.0
3FG%
Tim Legler
Washington Bullets
52.2
NBA awards[]
Yearly awards[]
Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Rookie of the Year: Damon Stoudamire, Toronto Raptors
Defensive Player of the Year: Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
Sixth Man of the Year: Toni Kukoč, Chicago Bulls
Most Improved Player: Gheorghe Muresan, Washington Bullets
Coach of the Year: Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls
All-NBA First Team:
F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
G - Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
All-NBA Second Team:
F - Shawn Kemp, Seattle SuperSonics
F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
G - John Stockton, Utah Jazz
All-NBA Third Team:
F - Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns
F - Juwan Howard, Washington Bullets
C - Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic
G - Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
G - Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
NBA All-Defensive First Team:
F - Dennis Rodman, Chicago Bulls
F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
F - Horace Grant, Orlando Magic
F - Derrick McKey, Indiana Pacers
C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
G - Bobby Phills, Cleveland Cavaliers
G - Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
All-NBA Rookie First Team:
Damon Stoudamire, Toronto Raptors
Joe Smith, Golden State Warriors
Jerry Stackhouse, Philadelphia 76ers
Antonio McDyess, Denver Nuggets
Arvydas Sabonis, Portland Trail Blazers
Michael Finley, Phoenix Suns
All-NBA Rookie Second Team:
Rasheed Wallace, Washington Bullets
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
Bryant Reeves, Vancouver Grizzlies
Brent Barry, Los Angeles Clippers
Tyus Edney, Sacramento Kings
Player of the week[]
The following players were named NBA Player of the Week.
Week
Player
Nov. 3 – Nov. 12
Anfernee Hardaway (Orlando Magic)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19
Cedric Ceballos (Los Angeles Lakers)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26
Shawn Kemp (Seattle SuperSonics)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3
Terrell Brandon (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10
Dikembe Mutombo (Denver Nuggets)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 17
Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
Dec. 18 – Dec. 24
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 30
Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 7
Clifford R. Robinson (Portland Trail Blazers)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14
David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28
Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers)
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4
Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 18
Armon Gilliam (New Jersey Nets)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25
Shawn Kemp (Seattle SuperSonics)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 3 (tie)
Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 3 (tie)
Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic)
Mar. 4 – Mar. 10
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Mar. 11 – Mar. 17
Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
Mar. 18 – Mar. 24
Chris Gatling (Miami Heat)
Mar. 25 – Mar. 31
Arvydas Sabonis (Portland Trail Blazers)
Apr. 1 – Apr. 7
Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
Player of the month[]
The following players were named NBA Player of the Month.
Month
Player
November
Anfernee Hardaway (Orlando Magic)
December
Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
January
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
February
Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns)
March
David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
April
Juwan Howard (Washington Wizards)
Rookie of the month[]
The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month.
Month
Rookie
November
Damon Stoudamire (Toronto Raptors)
December
Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors)
January
Damon Stoudamire (Toronto Raptors)
February
Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors)
March
Jerry Stackhouse (Philadelphia 76ers)
April
Arvydas Sabonis (Portland Trail Blazers)
Coach of the month[]
The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month.
