| ||
| League: |  NBA
| |
|---|---|---|
| Duration: | Regular Season December 22, 2020 - May 16, 2021 Play-In Tournament May 18 - May 21, 2021 Playoffs May 21 - July 6, 2021 Finals July 6 - 20, 2021 | |
| No. of games: | 72 | |
| No. of teams: | 30 | |
| Regular season | ||
| Top seed: | Eastern Conference: Philadelphia 76ers (49–23) | |
| Western Conference: Utah Jazz (52–20) | ||
| Season awards: | ||
| MVP: | Nikola Jokić (DEN) | |
| COTY: | Tom Thibodeau (NYK) | |
| ROTY: | LaMelo Ball (CHA) | |
| Playoffs | ||
| Eastern Conference Championship | ||
| Champions: | Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Series: | MIL: 4 - ATL: 2 | |
| Opponent: | Atlanta Hawks | |
| Western Conference Championship | ||
| Champions: | Phoenix Suns | |
| Series: | PHX: 4 - LAC: 2 | |
| Opponent: | Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Finals | ||
| Champions: | Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Series: | MIL: 4 - PHX: 2 | |
| Opponent: | Phoenix Suns | |
| Awards | ||
| Finals MVP: | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | |
| Draft | ||
| 2020 NBA Draft | ||
| No. 1 pick: | Anthony Edwards | |
| Draft team: | Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| NBA All-Star Game | ||
| 2021 NBA All-Star Game | ||
| Date: | March 7, 2021 | |
| Host: | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Champions: | Team LeBron | |
| Score: | 170-150 | |
| Opponent: | Team Durant | |
| MVP: | Giannis Antetokounmpo | |
| NBA seasons | ||
| <- 2019–20 NBA season | ||
| 2021–22 NBA season -> | ||
The 2020–21 NBA season was the 75th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was reduced to 72 games for each team, and began on December 22, 2020. The 2021 NBA All-Star Game was played on March 7, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and was won by Team LeBron, 170–150. The playoffs are tentatively scheduled to run under the standard 16-team playoff format between May 22 and July 22, 2021. Due to COVID-19 cross-border restrictions imposed by the Canadian government, the Toronto Raptors played their 2020–21 home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Transactions[]
Retirements[]
- On September 8, 2020, Marvin Williams announced his retirement from the NBA. Williams played for four teams during his 15-year NBA career.
- On September 14, 2020, Leandro Barbosa announced his retirement from the NBA. Barbosa played 14 seasons in the NBA, winning one championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
- On October 24, 2020, Kevin Seraphin announced his retirement from the NBA. Séraphin played for three teams during his seven-year NBA career.
- On November 16, 2020, Corey Brewer announced his retirement from the NBA. Brewer played for 12 years in the NBA for eight teams, winning one championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
- On November 18, 2020, Dorell Wright announced his retirement from the NBA. Wright played for four teams during his 11-year NBA career, winning one championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
- On November 25, 2020, Aaron Brooks announced his retirement from the NBA. Brooks played for seven teams during his 13-year NBA career.
- On November 30, 2020, Andrew Bogut announced his retirement from the NBA. Bogut played for five teams during his 14-year NBA career, winning one championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
- On November 30, 2020, Evan Turner announced his retirement from the NBA. Turner played 10 seasons for five teams during his time in the NBA.
- On February 4, 2021, Lucas Nogueira announced his retirement from the NBA. Nogueira played for the Toronto Raptors for his entire four-year NBA career.
- On March 1, 2021, Joakim Noah announced his retirement from the NBA. Noah played for four teams during his 13-year NBA career. He was the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, and a two-time All-Star.
- On March 31, 2021, Thabo Sefolosha announced his retirement from the NBA. Sefolosha played for five teams during his 14-year NBA career.
- On April 15, 2021, LaMarcus Aldridge announced his retirement from the NBA as a result of health concerns. Aldridge played for three teams during his 15-year NBA career, and was a seven-time All-Star.
Free agency[]
Free agency negotiations were scheduled to begin on October 18, 2020, but that date was delayed. On November 9, 2020, it was announced that free agency would begin on November 20 at 6 p.m. ET, with signings permitted starting at 12 p.m. ET on November 22, 2020.
Regular season[]
The entire schedule of the first-half of the season was released on December 2, 2020, while the entire shedule of the second-half of the season was released on February 24, 2021. The regular season began on December 22, 2020, and ended on May 16, 2021.
| Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c – Philadelphia 76ers | 49 | 23 | .681 | 0.0 | 29-7 | 20-16 | 10-2 | 72 |
| x – Brooklyn Nets | 48 | 24 | .667 | 1.0 | 28-8 | 20-16 | 8-4 | 72 |
| x – New York Knicks | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 25-11 | 16-20 | 4-8 | 72 |
| x – Boston Celtics | 36 | 36 | .500 | 13.0 | 21-15 | 15–21 | 4-8 | 72 |
| o – Toronto Raptors | 27 | 45 | .376 | 22.0 | 16-20 | 11-15 | 4-8 | 72 |
| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Milwaukee Bucks | 46 | 26 | .639 | 3.0 | 26-10 | 20-16 | 11–1 | 72 |
| pi – Indiana Pacers | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 13-23 | 21-15 | 7-5 | 72 |
| o – Chicago Bulls | 31 | 41 | .431 | 18.0 | 15-21 | 16-20 | 7–5 | 72 |
| o – Cleveland Cavaliers | 22 | 50 | .306 | 27.0 | 13-23 | 9–27 | 4-8 | 72 |
| o – Detroit Pistons | 20 | 52 | .292 | 29.0 | 13-23 | 7-29 | 1-11 | 72 |
| Southeast Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 25-11 | 16-20 | 9-3 | 72 |
| x – Miami Heat | 40 | 32 | .556 | 9.0 | 21-15 | 19-17 | 6-6 | 72 |
| x – Washington Wizards | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 19-17 | 15-21 | 3–9 | 72 |
| pi – Charlotte Hornets | 33 | 49 | .458 | 16.0 | 18-19 | 15-20 | 8-4 | 72 |
| o – Orlando Magic | 21 | 51 | .292 | 28.0 | 11-25 | 10-26 | 4-8 | 72 |
| Northwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z – Utah Jazz | 52 | 20 | .722 | 0.0 | 31-5 | 21-15 | 7-5 | 72 |
| x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 25-11 | 22-14 | 9-3 | 72 |
| x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .611 | 10.0 | 20-16 | 22-14 | 6-6 | 72 |
| o – Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 13-23 | 10-26 | 5–7 | 72 |
| o – Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 10-26 | 12-24 | 3-9 | 72 |
| Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Phoenix Suns | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 27-9 | 24-12 | 7-5 | 72 |
| x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .681 | 5.0 | 25-11 | 22-14 | 9-3 | 72 |
| x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .611 | 10.0 | 21-15 | 21-15 | 4-8 | 72 |
| pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 25-11 | 14-22 | 5-7 | 72 |
| o – Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 16-20 | 15-21 | 5-7 | 72 |
| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Dallas Mavericks | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 21-15 | 21-15 | 7–5 | 72 |
| x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 18–18 | 20-16 | 6-6 | 72 |
| pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 19.0 | 14-22 | 19-17 | 6-6 | 72 |
| o – New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .451 | 21.0 | 18-18 | 13–23 | 7–6 | 72 |
| o – Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 9-27 | 8-28 | 5-7 | 72 |
By conference[]
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c – Philadelphia 76ers * | 49 | 23 | .681 | 0.0 | 72 |
| 2 | x – Brooklyn Nets | 48 | 24 | .677 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | y – Milwaukee Bucks * | 46 | 26 | .639 | 3.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – New York Knicks | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Atlanta Hawks * | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Miami Heat | 40 | 32 | .556 | 9.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Boston Celtics | 36 | 36 | .500 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 8 | x – Washington Wizards | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 72 |
| 9 | pi – Indiana Pacers | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – Charlotte Hornets | 33 | 39 | .458 | 16.0 | 72 |
| 11 | o – Chicago Bulls | 31 | 41 | .431 | 18.0 | 72 |
| 12 | o – Toronto Raptors | 27 | 45 | .375 | 22.0 | 72 |
| 13 | o – Cleveland Cavaliers | 22 | 50 | .306 | 27.0 | 72 |
| 14 | o – Orlando Magic | 21 | 51 | .292 | 28.0 | 72 |
| 15 | o – Detroit Pistons | 20 | 52 | .278 | 29.0 | 72 |
| Western Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Utah Jazz * | 52 | 20 | .722 | 0.0 | 72 |
| 2 | y – Phoenix Suns * | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 8 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 9 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .466 | 19.0 | 72 |
| 11 | o – New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 12 | o – Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 13 | o – Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 72 |
| 14 | o – Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 72 |
| 15 | o – Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 72 |
Notes[]
- z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs/clinched best record
- c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs/clinched conference
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- pi - Clinched play-in spot
- * – Division winner