The 2017–18 NBA season was the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 17, 2017, earlier than previous seasons to reduce the number of "back-to-back" games teams were scheduled to play, with the 2017 Eastern Conference champion (and Finals runner–up) Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The 2018 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 18, 2018, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. The regular season ended on April 11, 2018. The playoffs began on April 14, 2018 and ended on June 8 with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.
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Retirement On July 17, 2017, Paul Pierce signed a ceremonial contract with the Boston Celtics and officially retired as a Celtic after playing 19 seasons and winning one championship with the Celtics in 2008. On July 19, 2017, James Jones was announced to be the vice president of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns, which signified his retirement after playing 14 seasons and winning two championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 and one championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. On August 4, 2017, Jason Maxiell signed a ceremonial contract with the Detroit Pistons and officially retired after playing 10 seasons. On August 15, 2017, Tayshaun Prince was announced to be assistant general manager for the Memphis Grizzlies, which signified his retirement after playing 15 seasons and winning one championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. On September 2, 2017, Primož Brezec announced his retirement after 21 professional seasons. Brezec had played in Russia, Cyprus, Kuwait, and his native country Slovenia since last playing in the NBA during the 2009–10 NBA season. On October 23, 2017, Metta World Peace was hired as player development coach for the South Bay Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA G League affiliate, thus ending his 18-year playing career with the NBA. During his career, he won one NBA championship with the Lakers in 2010. On November 19, 2017, David Lee announced his retirement from the NBA via Instagram. Lee won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. On November 20, 2017, Earl Barron became an assistant coach for the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA G League, thus ending his 14-year playing career. Barron played for seven NBA teams during his career, winning one championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. On December 11, 2017, Matt Barnes announced his retirement from the NBA via Instagram. Barnes won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in June 2017. On February 8, 2018, Caron Butler announced his retirement after 14 professional seasons. Butler won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. On February 19, 2018, Tiago Splitter announced his retirement from basketball due to a hip injury. Splitter won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.
In-season trades On November 17, 2017, the Phoenix Suns traded Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for Greg Monroe and two 2018 first-round draft picks. On December 7, 2017, the Philadelphia 76ers traded Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a 2019 second-round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets for veteran forward Trevor Booker. On January 30, 2018, the Los Angeles Clippers traded 5 time All-Star Blake Griffin, veteran center Willie Reed, and sophomore forward Brice Johnson to the Detroit Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanović, a protected 2018 first-round draft pick, and a protected 2019 second-round draft pick. On February 3, 2018, the Chicago Bulls traded forward Nikola Mirotić to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange of Ömer Aşık, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, and a protected 2018 first-round draft pick. On February 5, 2018, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Tyler Zeller of the Brooklyn Nets for fellow guard Rashad Vaughn and a protected 2018 second-round draft pick. On February 7, 2018, the New York Knicks traded forward Willy Hernangómez to the Charlotte Hornets for center Johnny O'Bryant III, a 2020 second-round draft pick, and a 2021 second-round draft pick. On February 8, 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and their 2018 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. The Cavaliers also participated in a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings to acquire Rodney Hood and George Hill while trading Iman Shumpert and a 2020 second-round pick to the Kings, Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose (Rose was later waived and signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves) to the Jazz while the Kings also receive Joe Johnson from the Jazz. In addition, the Cavaliers traded Dwyane Wade back to the Miami Heat for a 2024 second-round pick.
Free agency Free agency negotiations began on July 1. Players began signing on July 6, after the July moratorium ended.
Coaching changes + Coaching changesIn-seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coachPhoenix SunsEarl WatsonJay Triano (interim)Memphis GrizzliesDavid FizdaleJ. B. Bickerstaff (interim)Milwaukee BucksJason KiddJoe Prunty (interim)
Off-season For the first time since the inauguration of the BAA, there would be no coaching changes going from the previous season to entering the regular season. In fact, the 536 days from Dave Joerger being fired as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies to the day the Phoenix Suns fired Earl Watson as head coach would be the longest period in NBA history without any coaching changes occur. The last time no head coaches were hired in the off-season occurred during the 1975–76 season.
In-season On October 22, 2017, the Phoenix Suns fired head coach Earl Watson and replaced him with the team's associate coach Jay Triano as interim head coach for the rest of the season. On November 27, 2017, the Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach David Fizdale and replaced him with the team's associate head coach J. B. Bickerstaff, removing the interim tag after the season concluded. On January 22, 2018, the Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Jason Kidd and replaced him with the team's assistant head coach Joe Prunty as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Preseason The preseason began on September 30 and ended on October 13.
International games The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves played two preseason games in China, at Shenzhen on October 5 and Shanghai on October 8. Minnesota won the first game 111–97, while Golden State emerged victorious in the second one, 142–110.
Regular season The regular season began on October 17, 2017, and ended on April 11, 2018.
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 * – Division leader
Tiebreakers Eastern Conference Miami clinched #6 seed over Milwaukee based on head-to-head record (3–0).
Western Conference Oklahoma City, Utah, and New Orleans were seeded based on record in games against each other (OKC: 4–3, UTAH: 4–4, NO: 3–4). San Antonio clinched #7 seed over Minnesota based on head-to-head record (2–1).
International games On August 9, 2017, the NBA announced that the Brooklyn Nets would play two regular season games at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico. On December 7, the Nets played against the Oklahoma City Thunder and on December 9, they matched up against the Miami Heat. The Nets prevailed 100–95 over the Thunder in their first game, but lost to the Heat 101–89 in their second game.
On August 10, 2017, the NBA announced that the Philadelphia 76ers would play the Boston Celtics at The O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom on January 11, 2018. The Celtics won the game 114–103.
Playoffs
The 2018 NBA playoffs began on April 14, 2018, ESPN aired the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals and TNT aired the 2018 Western Conference Finals. For the first time since 1979 both Conference Finals series went to a deciding Game 7. The season ended with the 2018 NBA Finals which began on May 31, 2018, and ended on June 8, 2018, on ABC.
Bracket
Statistics
Individual statistic leaders Category Player Team Statistic Points per game James Harden Houston Rockets 30.4 Rebounds per game Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons 16.0 Assists per game Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 10.3 Steals per game Victor Oladipo Indiana Pacers 2.4 Blocks per game Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans 2.6 Turnovers per game DeMarcus Cousins New Orleans Pelicans 5.0 Fouls per game DeMarcus Cousins New Orleans Pelicans 3.8 Minutes per game LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 36.9 FG% Clint Capela Houston Rockets 65.2% FT% Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 92.2% 3FG% Darren Collison Indiana Pacers 46.8% Efficiency per game James Harden Houston Rockets 29.87 Double-doubles Karl-Anthony Towns Minnesota Timberwolves 68 Triple-doubles Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 25
Individual game highs Category Player Team Statistic Points James Harden Houston Rockets 60 Rebounds Dwight Howard Charlotte Hornets 30 Assists Rajon Rondo New Orleans Pelicans 25 Steals Lou Williams Los Angeles Clippers 10 Blocks Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans 10 Three pointers Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 10 Kemba Walker Charlotte Hornets
Team statistic leaders Category Team Statistic Points per game Golden State Warriors 113.5 Rebounds per game Philadelphia 76ers 47.4 Assists per game Golden State Warriors 29.3 Steals per game Oklahoma City Thunder 9.1 Blocks per game Golden State Warriors 7.5 Turnovers per game Philadelphia 76ers 15.9 FG% Golden State Warriors 50.3% FT% Golden State Warriors 81.5% 3FG% Golden State Warriors 39.1% +/− Houston Rockets +8.5
Awards
Yearly awards
Awards were presented at the NBA Awards ceremony, which were held on June 25. Finalists for voted awards were announced during the playoffs and winners were presented at the award ceremony. The All-NBA Teams were announced in advance in order for teams to have all the necessary information to make off-season preparations. + 2017–18 NBA awards Award Recipient(s) Runner(s)-up/Finalists Most Valuable Player James Harden (Houston Rockets) Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers) Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams (Los Angeles Clippers) Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets)Fred VanVleet (Toronto Raptors) Most Improved Player Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers) Clint Capela (Houston Rockets)Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets) Coach of the Year Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors) Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz)Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics) Executive of the Year Daryl Morey (Houston Rockets) NBA Sportsmanship Award Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award J. J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks) Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award Jamal Crawford (Minnesota Timberwolves) Community Assist Award Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)
All-NBA First Team: F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers F Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors C Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans G James Harden, Houston Rockets G Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
All-NBA Second Team: F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks F LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers G Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder G DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
All-NBA Third Team: F Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves F Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder C Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors G Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers