The 1998–99 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. All 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule, 61% of the regular 82 games, and the 16 teams who qualified for the playoffs played a full post-season schedule. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the 1999 NBA Finals.
The lockout occurred during the 1998–1999 NBA season, which was the first season following the departure of Michael Jordan before he returned to play for the Washington Wizards in 2001.
The NBA and the Players Association reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement on January 18, 1999.
The All-Star Game was not held due to the league's lockout.
Due to the lockout, the pre-season was shortened to just two games instead of the normal eight, and some teams did not meet each other at all during the course of the 50-game regular season. To preserve games between teams in the same conference, much of the time missed was made up for by skipping well over half of the games played between teams in the opposite conference.
The New York Knicks became only the second #8 seed to advance in the playoffs by defeating a #1 seed. They are the only #8 seed to advance to the NBA Finals.
The Los Angeles Lakers played their final season at the Great Western Forum.
The Los Angeles Clippers played their final season at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
The Indiana Pacers played their final season at the Market Square Arena.
The Denver Nuggets played their final season at the McNichols Sports Arena.
The Miami Heat played their final season at the Miami Arena.
The Toronto Raptors played their first game in Air Canada Centre.
The Spurs became the first former ABA team to win a championship. (As of October 2009, they are still the only ABA franchise with a title; the Nets and Pacers have not won a title, and the Nuggets have never played an NBA Finals game.)
The Atlanta Hawks played in the Georgia Dome while Philips Arena was constructed for the 1999–2000 season. This season would be the Hawks' last playoff appearance until the 2007–08 season.
The Clippers tied the 1988-89 Miami Heat for the longest losing streak to start the season (17) from February 5 till March 11 when they defeated the Sacramento Kings. In December 2009, this record was broken by the New Jersey Nets who lost the first eighteen games of the season.
Hall of Fame coach Red Holzman passed away on November 13, 1998 at age 78.
Final standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Miami Heat
33
17
.660
-
Orlando Magic
33
17
.660
-
Philadelphia 76ers
28
22
.560
5
New York Knicks
27
23
.540
6
Boston Celtics
19
31
.380
14
Washington Wizards
18
32
.360
15
New Jersey Nets
16
34
.320
17
Central Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Indiana Pacers
33
17
.660
-
Atlanta Hawks
31
19
.620
2
Detroit Pistons
29
21
.580
4
Milwaukee Bucks
28
22
.560
5
Charlotte Hornets
26
24
.520
7
Toronto Raptors
23
27
.460
10
Cleveland Cavaliers
22
28
.440
11
Chicago Bulls
13
37
.260
20
Western Conference[]
Midwest Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
San Antonio Spurs C
37
13
.740
-
Utah Jazz
37
13
.740
-
Houston Rockets
31
19
.620
6
Minnesota Timberwolves
25
25
.500
12
Dallas Mavericks
19
31
.380
18
Denver Nuggets
14
36
.280
23
Vancouver Grizzlies
8
42
.160
29
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Portland Trail Blazers
35
15
.700
-
Los Angeles Lakers
31
19
.620
4
Sacramento Kings
27
23
.540
8
Phoenix Suns
27
23
.540
8
Seattle SuperSonics
25
25
.500
10
Golden State Warriors
21
29
.420
14
Los Angeles Clippers
9
41
.180
26
C - NBA Champions
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
Allen Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers
26.8
Rebounds per game
Chris Webber
Sacramento Kings
13.0
Assists per game
Jason Kidd
Phoenix Suns
10.8
Steals per game
Kendall Gill
New Jersey Nets
2.7
Blocks per game
Alonzo Mourning
Miami Heat
3.9
FG%
Shaquille O'Neal
Los Angeles Lakers
57.6
FT%
Reggie Miller
Indiana Pacers
91.5
3FG%
Dell Curry
Milwaukee Bucks
47.6
NBA awards[]
Most Valuable Player: Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
Rookie of the Year: Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors
Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
Sixth Man of the Year: Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic
Most Improved Player: Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic
Coach of the Year: Mike Dunleavy, Portland Trail Blazers
All-NBA First Team:
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
C - Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
G - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
G - Jason Kidd, Phoenix Suns
All-NBA Second Team:
F - Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings
F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
C - Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
G - Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat
All-NBA Third Team:
F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
F - Antonio McDyess, Denver Nuggets
C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
G - John Stockton, Utah Jazz
NBA All-Defensive First Team:
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
F - Scottie Pippen, Houston Rockets
C - Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
G - Jason Kidd, Phoenix Suns
NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
F - P.J. Brown, Miami Heat
F - Theo Ratliff, Philadelphia 76ers
C - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
G - Eddie Jones, Los Angeles Lakers/Charlotte Hornets
