The Millennium Tip-Off
A deep dive into the pivotal season that ushered in a new millennium of professional basketball, featuring legendary performances and memorable moments.
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Season Overview
The Championship
The 1999-2000 NBA season marked the 54th season of the National Basketball Association. It commenced on November 2, 1999, and culminated with the Los Angeles Lakers clinching the NBA championship. They triumphed over the Indiana Pacers in a 4-2 series victory in the 2000 NBA Finals.
Season Timeline
The regular season spanned from November 2, 1999, to April 19, 2000. The postseason, including the NBA Finals, ran from April 22 to June 19, 2000, concluding the league's transition into the new millennium.
Broadcast Partners
The season's games were broadcast across major networks, including NBC, TBS, and TNT, providing extensive coverage for fans nationwide.
Notable Occurrences
Honoring Wilt Chamberlain
The league mourned the passing of basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain on October 12, 1999. His former teams—the Lakers, Sixers, and Warriors—paid tribute by wearing black patches throughout the season.
Celtics' Parquet Farewell
The Boston Celtics bid farewell to their iconic parquet floor on December 22, 1999, after 54 years of service. A replica, incorporating elements of the original, was installed.
Tragic Losses
The season was marked by the tragic deaths of two players in separate incidents: Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets (January 12, 2000) and Malik Sealy of the Minnesota Timberwolves (May 20, 2000). Both teams later retired their respective jersey numbers in their honor.
Lakers' Dominance
The Los Angeles Lakers achieved a remarkable 19-game winning streak from February 4 to March 16, 2000, marking the sixth-longest streak in NBA history at the time.
All-Star Weekend
Held in Oakland, California, the 2000 NBA All-Star Game saw the West defeat the East 137-126. Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal shared MVP honors. The Slam Dunk Contest returned, with Vince Carter delivering a legendary performance to claim the title.
Sean Elliott's Return
San Antonio Spurs forward Sean Elliott made a courageous comeback after kidney transplant operations, becoming the first player to return to the court following such a procedure.
Staples Center Inaugural Season
The newly opened Staples Center hosted two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum: the dominant Lakers, who won the championship, and the struggling Clippers, who finished with the league's worst record.
Raptors' Playoff Debut
The Toronto Raptors made their first playoff appearance, becoming the first Canadian team to achieve this milestone.
Barkley's Final Stand
Veteran Charles Barkley played his final NBA game in a Houston Rockets uniform, returning briefly after an early-season injury before retiring.
Ewing's Departure
The season marked Patrick Ewing's last with the New York Knicks before his trade to the Seattle SuperSonics.
Rivers' Unique Award
Doc Rivers became the first coach to win NBA Coach of the Year without leading his team to the playoffs, guiding the Orlando Magic to a respectable .500 record.
Blazers' Collapse
A pivotal moment occurred in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, where the Portland Trail Blazers squandered a significant lead against the Lakers, highlighted by a famous alley-oop from Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O'Neal.
Pacers' Historic Run
The Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Team & Arena Changes
Uniform Updates
Several teams introduced new uniforms or modifications:
- Atlanta Hawks: Moved into Philips Arena, updated uniforms with white and red side panels.
- Boston Celtics: Added their alternate clover logo above the shorts.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Revised uniforms, removing blue elements.
- Detroit Pistons: Introduced new maroon alternate uniforms with black side panels.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Updated uniforms with gold (road) and purple (home) side panels.
- Miami Heat: Changed logo and uniforms, adding dark red accents, and moved to AmericanAirlines Arena.
- Philadelphia 76ers: Introduced new blue alternate uniforms.
- Seattle SuperSonics: Added new red alternate uniforms with dark green side panels.
- Toronto Raptors: Modified uniforms, removing pinstripes and adding side panels.
Arena Transitions
Key arena moves included:
- Atlanta Hawks: Moved to Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena).
- Denver Nuggets: Relocated to the Pepsi Center (now Ball Arena).
- Indiana Pacers: Moved into Conseco Fieldhouse (now Gainbridge Fieldhouse).
- Los Angeles Clippers & Lakers: Both teams began playing at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena).
- Miami Heat: Moved into the AmericanAirlines Arena in January 2000 (now Kaseya Center).
- Toronto Raptors: Played their first full season at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena).
Final Standings
The following tables detail the final standings by division and conference.
Atlantic Division
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Miami Heat | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 33–8 | 19–22 | 18–6 |
| x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 | 33–8 | 17–24 | 14–10 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 3 | 29–12 | 20–21 | 13–11 |
| Orlando Magic | 41 | 41 | .500 | 11 | 26–15 | 15–26 | 12–13 |
| Boston Celtics | 35 | 47 | .427 | 17 | 26–15 | 9–32 | 12–12 |
| New Jersey Nets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 | 22–19 | 9–32 | 9–16 |
| Washington Wizards | 29 | 53 | .354 | 23 | 17–24 | 12–29 | 7–17 |
Central Division
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Indiana Pacers | 56 | 26 | .683 | – | 36–5 | 20–21 | 20–8 |
| x-Charlotte Hornets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 7 | 30–11 | 19–22 | 20–8 |
| x-Toronto Raptors | 45 | 37 | .549 | 11 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 16–12 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 42 | 40 | .512 | 14 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 16–12 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 14 | 23–18 | 19–22 | 16–12 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 24 | 22–19 | 10–31 | 8–20 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | 21–20 | 7–34 | 11–17 |
| Chicago Bulls | 17 | 65 | .207 | 39 | 12–29 | 5–36 | 5–23 |
Midwest Division
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | – | 31–10 | 24–17 | 14–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 53 | 29 | .646 | 2 | 31–10 | 22–19 | 16–8 |
| x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 50 | 32 | .610 | 5 | 26–15 | 24–17 | 18–6 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 15 | 22–19 | 18–23 | 12–12 |
| Denver Nuggets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 20 | 25–16 | 10–31 | 10–14 |
| Houston Rockets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 21 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 8–16 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 22 | 60 | .268 | 33 | 12–29 | 10–31 | 6–18 |
Pacific Division
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z-Los Angeles Lakers | 67 | 15 | .817 | – | 36–5 | 31–10 | 20–4 |
| y-Portland Trail Blazers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 8 | 30–11 | 29–12 | 21–3 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 14 | 32–9 | 21–20 | 15–9 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 45 | 37 | .549 | 22 | 24–17 | 21–20 | 12–12 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 44 | 38 | .537 | 23 | 30–11 | 14–27 | 9–15 |
| Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 48 | 12–29 | 7–34 | 2–22 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 52 | 10–31 | 5–36 | 5–19 |
Conference Rankings
Eastern Conference
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | c-Indiana Pacers | 56 | 26 | .683 | – |
| 2 | y-Miami Heat | 52 | 30 | .634 | 4 |
| 3 | x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 6 |
| 4 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 7 |
| 5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 7 |
| 6 | x-Toronto Raptors | 45 | 37 | .549 | 11 |
| 7 | x-Detroit Pistons | 42 | 40 | .512 | 14 |
| 8 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 14 |
| 9 | Orlando Magic | 41 | 41 | .500 | 15 |
| 10 | Boston Celtics | 35 | 47 | .427 | 21 |
| 11 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 24 |
| 12 | New Jersey Nets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 25 |
| 13 | Washington Wizards | 29 | 53 | .354 | 27 |
| 14 | Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 |
| 15 | Chicago Bulls | 17 | 65 | .207 | 39 |
Western Conference
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 67 | 15 | .817 | – |
| 2 | y-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 12 |
| 3 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 8 |
| 4 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 53 | 29 | .646 | 14 |
| 5 | x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 50 | 32 | .610 | 17 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 45 | 37 | .549 | 22 |
| 8 | x-Sacramento Kings | 44 | 38 | .537 | 23 |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 27 |
| 10 | Denver Nuggets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 32 |
| 11 | Houston Rockets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 33 |
| 12 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 22 | 60 | .268 | 45 |
| 13 | Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 48 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 15 | 67 | .183 | 52 |
Playoff Journey
Eastern Conference Finals
The Indiana Pacers, after a strong regular season, emerged as the Eastern Conference champions, defeating the New York Knicks in the Conference Finals.
Western Conference Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by their dominant duo, overcame the Portland Trail Blazers in a dramatic Western Conference Finals series. The Lakers secured their spot in the Finals after overcoming a significant deficit in Game 7, capped by a memorable alley-oop from Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O'Neal.
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals pitted the Los Angeles Lakers against the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers, with their superior regular season record and playoff momentum, ultimately defeated the Pacers 4 games to 2, securing the franchise's 12th NBA championship.
Finals MVP: Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
Statistical Leaders
Scoring & Rebounding
Points Per Game: Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers) - 29.7
Rebounds Per Game: Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta Hawks) - 14.1
Playmaking & Defense
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
Shooting Efficiency
Field Goal %: Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers) - .574
Free Throw %: Jeff Hornacek (Utah Jazz) - .950
3-Point Field Goal %: Hubert Davis (Dallas Mavericks) - .491
Major NBA Awards
Most Valuable Player
Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
Rookie Honors
Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand (Chicago Bulls) & Steve Francis (Houston Rockets)
Defensive Player
Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat)
Sixth Man
Rodney Rogers (Phoenix Suns)
Most Improved
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)
All-NBA Teams
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
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
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
All-Defensive & All-Rookie Teams
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
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
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official NBA resources or seeking expert analysis. Always refer to official NBA data for the most current and accurate information.
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