1999–2000 NBA season

54th NBA season August 2023 1999–2000 NBA season National Basketball Association Basketball November 2, 1999 – April 19, 2000 April 22 – June 4, 2000 (Playoffs) June 7 – 19, 2000 (Finals) 29 NBC, TBS, TNT Draft 1999 NBA draft Elton Brand List of first overall NBA draft picks Chicago Bulls Regular season Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal (L.A. Lakers) NBA Most Valuable Player Award Shaquille O'Neal (L.A. Lakers) List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders Playoffs 2000 NBA playoffs Eastern Eastern Conference (NBA) Indiana Pacers New York Knicks Western Western Conference (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers Portland Trail Blazers Finals 2000 NBA Finals Los Angeles Lakers Indiana Pacers Shaquille O'Neal (L.A. Lakers) Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award List of NBA seasons NBA 1998–99 NBA season 1998–99 2000–01 NBA season 2000–01 The 1999–2000 NBA season was the 54th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season began on November 2, 1999, and ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA championship, beating the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2 in the 2000 NBA Finals. thumb|right|300px|Players warming up prior to an April 2000 game between the Charlotte Hornets and the season's eventual Eastern Conference champions Indiana Pacers at the Charlotte Coliseum. Notable occurrences +Coaching changesOffseason Team 1998–99 coach 1999–2000 coach Cleveland Cavaliers Mike Fratello Randy Wittman Denver Nuggets Mike D'Antoni Dan Issel Los Angeles Lakers Kurt Rambis Phil Jackson Orlando Magic Chuck Daly Doc Rivers Washington Wizards Jim Brovelli Gar HeardIn-season Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach Detroit Pistons Alvin Gentry George Irvine Golden State Warriors P.J. Carlesimo Garry St. Jean Los Angeles Clippers Chris Ford Jim Todd Phoenix Suns Danny Ainge Scott Skiles Vancouver Grizzlies Brian Hill Lionel Hollins Washington Wizards Gar Heard Darrell Walker Effective this season, the first game of the NBA regular season begins on either the first Tuesday of November or the last Tuesday of October, and the last game on the third Wednesday of April. The NBA playoffs begin on the third Saturday of April. Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain died on October 12, 1999, at 63.Litsky Frank October 12, 1999 Wilt Chamberlain Is Dead at 63 https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/sports/basketball/101399bkn-obit-chamberlain.html February 1, 2024 archive.nytimes.com Wilt's former teams, the Lakers, Sixers, and Warriors honored him by sporting black patches for the rest of the season. The Boston Celtics officially retired their trademark parquet floor on December 22, 1999, after 54 years. The floor would be replaced by a replica combining elements of the old floor and new wooden sections.November 22, 2000 ESPN.com - NBA - Celtics to officially replace parquet floor https://www.espn.com/nba/news/1999/1122/188462.html February 1, 2024 www.espn.com Two active players were killed in automobile accidents within four months of each other. On January 12, Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets was killed as a result of reckless driving while racing against teammate David Wesley.January 16, 2000 ESPN.com - NBA - Hornets' Phills, 30, killed in car crash https://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2000/0112/285010.html February 1, 2024 a.espncdn.com Phills would have his jersey retired during the season after news of his unexpected death was announced.February 7, 2000 Hornets Retire Phills' No. 13 https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/phills_number_retired.html February 1, 2024 www.nba.com en On May 20, Malik Sealy of the Minnesota Timberwolves was driving home from a birthday party being held for Kevin Garnett when his SUV was struck by a drunk driver who had been driving on the wrong side of the road.May 22, 2024 ESPN.com - NBA - Sealy dies in collision with pickup truck https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2000/0520/541964.html February 1, 2024 www.espn.com Sealy would have his jersey retired on November 4, 2000.Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves History - Wolves Transactions https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/history/draft-history February 1, 2024 www.nba.com en The Lakers would also go on to win 19 consecutive games between February 4, 2000, and March 16, 2000, the sixth-longest winning streak in NBA history.Fromal Adam March 22, 2013 Ranking Most Impressive Stretches of Kobe Bryant's Career https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1576644-ranking-most-impressive-stretches-of-kobe-bryants-career February 1, 2024 Bleacher Report en The 2000 NBA All-Star Game was held in Oakland, California. The West won 137–126. Tim Duncan from the San Antonio Spurs and Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers shared the game's MVP honors.2000 NBA All-Star recap https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-2000 February 1, 2024 NBA.com en The Slam Dunk Contest returned after a two-year absence, with Vince Carter winning the title in what is considered to be the best Dunk Contest performance of all time.Zarum Dave The oral history of Vince Carter's dunk contest win https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/the-oral-history-of-vince-carters-dunk-contest-win/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230923064419/https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/the-oral-history-of-vince-carters-dunk-contest-win/ September 23, 2023 February 1, 2024 sportsnet.ca San Antonio Spurs forward Sean Elliott was sidelined for most of the season while undergoing kidney transplant operations. He successfully returned on March 13, becoming the first player to return following kidney transplant.Rayford Meg November 10, 2014 National Kidney Foundation's Michele Anthony and Wizards Alumni Association Executive Director Bob Dandridge on the 34th Annual Kidney Ball WashingtonExec https://washingtonexec.com/2014/11/national-kidney-foundations-michele-anthony-wizards-alumni-association-executive-director-bob-dandridge-34th-annual-kidney-ball/ February 1, 2024 en-US Staples Center's first season saw its tenants at two opposite ends of the league: the Lakers finished with a best regular season record of 67–15 and the NBA title, while the Clippers finished 15–67, the worst of the season.Treat Jeremy April 15, 2016 A Mini History of the L.A. Clippers https://lamag.com/sports/mini-history-clippers February 1, 2024 LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles en The Toronto Raptors also made the playoffs for the first time, becoming the first Canadian team to do so. 36-year-old Houston Rockets forward Charles Barkley suffered a devastating injury early in the season but returned for a final game before retiring.Alexander Rachel December 9, 1999 Washingtonpost.com: Barkley's Career Ends on Injury https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/daily/dec99/09/barkley9.htm February 1, 2024 www.washingtonpost.com The season marked Patrick Ewing's last in a New York Knicks uniform. He was traded during the 2000 offseason to the Seattle SuperSonics in a four-team deal.Legends profile: Patrick Ewing https://www.nba.com/news/history-nba-legend-patrick-ewing February 1, 2024 NBA.com en Doc Rivers became the first recipient of the NBA Coach of the Year Award to have not led his team to the playoffs. He coached the Orlando Magic to a respectable 41–41 (.500) record, good enough for the 9th seed in the East.Ferguson Mike April 26, 2020 20-year Orlandoversary: Magic's Doc Rivers named NBA Coach of the Year https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2020/4/26/21206841/orlando-magic-doc-rivers February 1, 2024 Orlando Pinstriped Post en October 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211015175224/https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2020/4/26/21206841/orlando-magic-doc-rivers dead During Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers held a 75–60 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers with 10:28 left to play. During the fourth quarter, the Blazers would miss thirteen consecutive shots, allowing the Lakers to claw back and take the game, 89–84. The game was capped off with a famous alley-oop to Shaquille O'Neal from Kobe Bryant.Beck Howard June 4, 2020 'Bryant...to Shaq!' https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2894431-bryantto-shaq-the-truth-about-the-lob-that-launched-a-dynasty February 1, 2024 Bleacher Report en The Indiana Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.Michael J. June 5, 2020 20 years later, Pacers reflect on only NBA Finals trip: 'You always wonder what could've been.' https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2020/06/05/indiana-pacers-reflect-2000-nba-finals-loss-kobe-shaq-lakers/5123406002/ February 1, 2024 The Indianapolis Star en-US Kevin Johnson returned from retirement to replace the injured Jason Kidd of the Phoenix Suns in this season's playoffs, but the Suns fell to the Lakers in the second round and Johnson would retire again. 1999–2000 NBA changes The Atlanta Hawks moved into the Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena) and changed their uniforms added white (road), and red (home) side panels to their jerseys and shorts.Atlanta Hawks Historical Timeline: Heritage Hall https://www.nba.com/hawks/ February 1, 2024 www.nba.com en The Boston Celtics added their alternate logo of a cloverleaf above the shorts of their uniforms. The Cleveland Cavaliers changed their uniforms, removing the blue areas from their jerseys. The Denver Nuggets moved into the Pepsi Center (now Ball Arena). January 15, 2024 Pepsi Center http://www.insidearenas.com/western/PepsiCenter.htm February 1, 2024 InsideArenas.com en-US The Detroit Pistons added new maroon alternate uniforms added black side panels to their jerseys and shorts. The Indiana Pacers moved into Conseco Fieldhouse, now Gainbridge Fieldhouse.November 19, 2019 20 Years of Fieldhouse Memories with Many More to Come https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/20-years-fieldhouse-memories-many-more-come February 1, 2024 www.nba.com en The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers both moved into the Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena, while the Lakers changed their uniforms added gold (road), and purple (home) side panels to their jerseys and shorts.A behind-the-scenes look at the center of NBA star power https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/28261311/how-lakers-clippers-rule-staples-center-their-own-ways February 1, 2024 ESPN.com The Miami Heat changed their logo and uniforms added dark red (road), and also dark red (home) side panels to their jerseys and shorts, and moved into the AmericanAirlines Arena in January 2000 (now Kaseya Center). April 6, 2023 Kaseya Center: These Are All the Names the Miami-Dade Arena Has Had in Over 20 Years https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/aaa-ftx-or-miami-dade-arena-breaking-down-what-weve-called-newly-named-kaseya-center/3009120/ February 1, 2024 NBC 6 South Florida en-US The Philadelphia 76ers added new blue alternate uniforms. The Seattle SuperSonics added new red alternate uniforms added dark green side panels to their jerseys and shorts. The Toronto Raptors changed their uniforms removing the pinstripes added side panels to their jerseys and shorts. They also played their first full season at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Final standings By division Eastern Conference Western Conference By conference Notes z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs y – Clinched division title x – Clinched playoff spot Playoffs 2000 NBA playoffs Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics. 2000 NBA playoffs Bracket yes no Statistics leaders + Category Player Team Stat Points per game Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers 29.7 Rebounds per game Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta Hawks 14.1 Assists per game Jason Kidd Phoenix Suns 10.1 Steals per game Eddie Jones Charlotte Hornets 2.67 Blocks per game Alonzo Mourning Miami Heat 3.72 FG% Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers .574 FT% Jeff Hornacek Utah Jazz .950 3FG% Hubert Davis Dallas Mavericks .491 NBA awards Most Valuable Player: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls; Steve Francis, Houston Rockets Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat Sixth Man of the Year: Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns Most Improved Player: Jalen Rose, Indiana Pacers Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers, Orlando Magic Executive of the Year: John Gabriel, Orlando Magic Sportsmanship Award: Eric Snow, Philadelphia 76ers 99% 33% All-NBA First Team: F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs F – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves C – Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers G – Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics G – Jason Kidd, Phoenix Suns 33% All-NBA Second Team: F – Karl Malone, Utah Jazz F – Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons C – Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat G – Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers G – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 33% All-NBA Third Team: F – Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings F – Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors C – David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs G – Eddie Jones, Charlotte Hornets G – Stephon Marbury, New Jersey Nets 66% 33% NBA All-Defensive First Team: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 33% All-Defensive Second Team: Scottie Pippen, Portland Trail Blazers Clifford Robinson, Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers Eddie Jones, Charlotte Hornets Jason Kidd, Phoenix Suns 66% 33% NBA All-Rookie First Team: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls Steve Francis, Houston Rockets Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Clippers Wally Szczerbiak, Minnesota Timberwolves Andre Miller, Cleveland Cavaliers 33% All-Rookie Second Team: Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns Ron Artest,Artest Entered the NBA as Ron Artest before changing his name in 2011. Chicago Bulls James Posey, Denver Nuggets Jason Terry, Atlanta Hawks Chucky Atkins, Orlando Magic Players of the month The following players were named the Players of the Month. MonthPlayerRef.1October – NovemberShaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)April 5, 2000 League Honors https://books.google.com/books?id=BVBIAAAAIBAJ&dq=phil+jackson+elton+brand+shaquille+o%27neal&pg=PA21 February 1, 2024 The Ledger C82DecemberAlonzo Mourning (Miami Heat)3JanuaryKevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)4FebruaryShaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)5MarchShaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)6AprilGary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics)Payton NBA player of the month - UPI Archives https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/04/20/Payton-NBA-player-of-the-month/6835956203200/ 2024-08-02 UPI en Rookies of the month The following players were named the Rookies of the Month. MonthPlayerRef.1October – NovemberAdrian Griffin (Boston Celtics)Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Clippers)2DecemberSteve Francis (Houston Rockets)3JanuaryElton Brand (Chicago Bulls)4FebruaryElton Brand (Chicago Bulls)5MarchSteve Francis (Houston Rockets)6AprilElton Brand (Chicago Bulls)Steve Francis (Houston Rockets)ESPN.com - NBA - Francis, Brand tie in rookie voting https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2000/0509/523641.html 2024-08-02 www.espn.com Coaches of the month The following coaches were named Coaches of the Month. MonthCoachRef.1October – NovemberMike Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy, Sr. (Portland Trail Blazers)2DecemberPhil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers)3JanuaryFlip Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves)4FebruaryPhil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers)5MarchJerry Sloan (Utah Jazz)5AprilPaul Silas (Charlotte Hornets) Notes See also List of NBA regular season records References NBA Category:1999–2000 in Canadian basketball