Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
1983–84 NBA season

1983–84 NBA season

The 1983–84 NBA season was the 38th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 for the second time since 1969 in the NBA Finals.

1983–84 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationOct 28, 1983 – Apr 15, 1984
Apr 17 – May 25, 1984 (Playoffs)
May 27 – Jun 12, 1984 (Finals)
Number of teams23
TV partner(s)CBS, ESPN, USA
Draft
Top draft pickRalph Sampson
Picked byHouston Rockets
Regular season
Top seedBoston Celtics
Season MVPLarry Bird (Boston)
Top scorerAdrian Dantley (Utah)
Playoffs
Eastern championsBoston Celtics
  Eastern runners-upMilwaukee Bucks
Western championsLos Angeles Lakers
  Western runners-upPhoenix Suns
Finals
ChampionsBoston Celtics
  Runners-upLos Angeles Lakers
Finals MVPLarry Bird (Boston)

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team1982–83 coach1983–84 coach
Atlanta HawksKevin LougheryMike Fratello
Boston CelticsBill FitchK.C. Jones
Chicago BullsPaul WestheadKevin Loughery
Detroit PistonsScotty RobertsonChuck Daly
Golden State WarriorsAl AttlesJohnny Bach
Houston RocketsDel HarrisBill Fitch
New Jersey NetsBill BlairStan Albeck
San Antonio SpursStan AlbeckMorris McHone
San Diego ClippersPaul SilasJim Lynam
In-season
TeamOutgoing coachIncoming coach
San Antonio SpursMorris McHoneBob Bass

  • The 1984 NBA All-Star Game was played at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, with the East defeating the West 154–145. Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons wins the game's MVP award. Larry Nance of the Phoenix Suns won the first NBA Slam Dunk Championship.

  • David Stern begins his tenure as the league's fourth commissioner, effective April 1.

  • The NBA Playoffs were expanded from 6 teams per conference to 8, where it stands to this date. As a result, the 'first round bye' system was eliminated.

  • Marked the first year the first round of the NBA Playoffs went from best-of-3 to best-of-five playoff.

  • Ralph Sampson became the first rookie to win the Rookie of the Month Award in every month of the season. He unanimously won the Rookie of the Year Award. David Robinson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, and Karl-Anthony Towns would later achieve the same feat.

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to become the all-time NBA career leader in points. He passed Chamberlain in a game against the Utah Jazz at Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center on April 5. Fittingly, it was his trademark sky-hook that put him in the record books.

  • The Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons play in the highest scoring game in NBA history with the Pistons winning 186–184 in three overtimes.

  • The Dallas Mavericks made its first postseason appearance, beating the Seattle SuperSonics 3–2 before bowing out to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the Conference Semifinals. Game 5 of the Seattle series was played at Moody Coliseum as Reunion Arena, the Mavericks' home, was unavailable.

  • The Utah Jazz appeared in the postseason for the first time, defeating the Denver Nuggets 3–2 in the opening round and then losing to the Phoenix Suns 4–2 in the Western semis. This started a streak of 20 consecutive playoff appearances, fourth longest in the NBA behind the Portland Trail Blazers (21 between 1983 and 2003), the Philadelphia 76ers (23 between 1949 (as Syracuse Nationals) and 1971), and the San Antonio Spurs current streak of 22 starting in 1998)[1].

  • The Clippers play their final game in San Diego, California.

  • This would be the last season until 2013–14 that the Finals had the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The Finals would adopt the 2-3-2 format the following season.

  • The New Jersey Nets won a playoff series for the first time in their NBA history, upsetting the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers in five games. The series marked the only time (to date) a road team won every game in a five-game playoff series.

  • Final season of ESPN broadcasting NBA games until the 2002–03 season. It also marked the final season of NBA broadcasts on the USA Network.

  • Spalding replaced Wilson as manufacturer of the official NBA game ball, a relationship that continues today.

  • It was the final season for eventual Hall of Famers Tiny Archibald, Elvin Hayes and Bob Lanier.

Final standings

By division

Atlantic Division
    		WLPCTGBHomeRoadDiv
    y-Boston Celtics6220.756–33–829–1213–11
    x-Philadelphia 76ers5230.6341032–920–2115–9
    x-New York Knicks4735.5731529–1218–2312–12
    x-New Jersey Nets4537.5491729–1216–2512–12
    x-Washington Bullets3547.4272725–1610–318–16
    Central Division
      		WLPCTGBHomeRoadDiv
      y-Milwaukee Bucks5032.610–30–1120–2119–10
      x-Detroit Pistons4933.598130–1119–2221–8
      x-Atlanta Hawks4042.4881031–109–3216–14
      Cleveland Cavaliers2854.3412223–185–3611–19
      Chicago Bulls2755.3292318–239–3210–20
      Indiana Pacers2656.3172420–216–3512–18
      Midwest Division
        		WLPCTGBHomeRoadDiv
        y- Utah Jazz4537.549–31–1014–2715–15
        x-Dallas Mavericks4339.524231–1012–2919–11
        x-Denver Nuggets3844.463727–1411–3016–14
        x-Kansas City Kings3844.463726–1512–2916–14
        San Antonio Spurs3745.451828–139–3214–16
        Houston Rockets2953.3541621–208–339–21
        Pacific Division
          		WLPCTGBHomeRoadDiv
          y-Los Angeles Lakers5428.659–28–1326–1518–12
          x-Portland Trail Blazers4834.585633–815–2617–13
          x-Seattle Sonics4240.5121232–910–3114–16
          x-Phoenix Suns4141.5001331–1010–3116–14
          Golden State Warriors3745.4511727–1410–3113–17
          San Diego Clippers3052.3662425–165–3612–18

          By conference

          		Eastern Conference
            TeamWLPCTGB
            1z-Boston Celtics6220.756–
            2y-Milwaukee Bucks5032.61012
            3x-Philadelphia 76ers5230.63410
            4x-Detroit Pistons4933.59813
            5x-New York Knicks4735.57315
            6x-New Jersey Nets4537.54917
            7x-Atlanta Hawks4042.48822
            8x-Washington Bullets3547.42727
            9Cleveland Cavaliers2854.34134
            10Chicago Bulls2755.32935
            11Indiana Pacers2656.31736

            		Western Conference
              TeamWLPCTGB
              1c-Los Angeles Lakers5428.659–
              2y-Utah Jazz4537.5499
              3x-Portland Trail Blazers4834.5856
              4x-Dallas Mavericks4339.52411
              5x-Seattle Sonics4240.51212
              6x-Phoenix Suns4141.50013
              7x-Denver Nuggets3844.46316
              8x-Kansas City Kings3844.46316
              9San Antonio Spurs3745.45117
              10Golden State Warriors3745.45117
              11San Diego Clippers3052.36624
              12Houston Rockets2953.35425

              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

              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.

              First RoundConference SemifinalsConference FinalsNBA Finals
              1Los Angeles3
              8Kansas City0
              1Los Angeles4
              4Dallas1
              4Dallas3
              5Seattle2
              1Los Angeles4
              Western Conference
              6Phoenix2
              3Portland2
              6Phoenix3
              6Phoenix4
              2Utah2
              2Utah3
              7Denver2
              W1Los Angeles3
              E1Boston4
              1Boston3
              8Washington1
              1Boston4
              5New York3
              4Detroit2
              5New York3
              1Boston4
              Eastern Conference
              2Milwaukee1
              3Philadelphia2
              6New Jersey3
              6New Jersey2
              2Milwaukee4
              2Milwaukee3
              7Atlanta2

              Statistics leaders

              CategoryPlayerTeamStat
              Points per gameAdrian DantleyUtah Jazz30.6
              Rebounds per gameMoses MalonePhiladelphia 76ers13.4
              Assists per gameMagic JohnsonLos Angeles Lakers13.1
              Steals per gameRickey GreenUtah Jazz2.65
              Blocks per gameMark EatonUtah Jazz4.28
              FG%Artis GilmoreSan Antonio Spurs.631
              FT%Larry BirdBoston Celtics.888
              3FG%Darrell GriffithUtah Jazz.361

              NBA awards

              Yearly awards

              • Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

              • Rookie of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets

              • Defensive Player of the Year: Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks

              • Sixth Man of the Year: Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

              • Coach of the Year: Frank Layden, Utah Jazz

              • All-NBA First Team: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics Bernard King, New York Knicks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

              • All-NBA Second Team: Adrian Dantley, Utah Jazz Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks Jim Paxson, Portland Trail Blazers

              • All-NBA Rookie Team: Steve Stipanovich, Indiana Pacers Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets Darrell Walker, New York Knicks Jeff Malone, Washington Bullets Thurl Bailey, Utah Jazz Byron Scott, Los Angeles Lakers

              • NBA All-Defensive First Team: Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers Tree Rollins, Atlanta Hawks Maurice Cheeks, Philadelphia 76ers Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks

              • NBA All-Defensive Second Team: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics Dan Roundfield, Atlanta Hawks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers Dennis Johnson, Boston Celtics T.R. Dunn, Denver Nuggets

              *Note: All above information were obtained on the History section on NBA.com [2] *

              Player of the week

              The following players were named NBA Player of the Week.

              WeekPlayer
              Oct. 28 – Nov. 6Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Kings)
              Nov. 7 – Nov. 13Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
              Nov. 14 – Nov. 20Kiki Vandeweghe (Denver Nuggets)
              Nov. 21 – Nov. 27Mark Aguirre (Dallas Mavericks)
              Nov. 28 – Dec. 4Rickey Green (Utah Jazz)
              Dec. 5 – Dec. 11Jeff Ruland (Washington Bullets)
              Dec. 12 – Dec. 18Adrian Dantley (Utah Jazz)
              Dec. 19 – Dec. 26Dan Roundfield (Atlanta Hawks)
              Dec. 27 – Jan. 2Isiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons)
              Jan. 3 – Jan. 8Purvis Short (Golden State Warriors)
              Jan. 9 – Jan. 15Kelly Tripucka (Detroit Pistons)
              Jan. 16 – Jan. 22Buck Williams (New Jersey Nets)
              Jan. 31 – Feb. 5Bernard King (New York Knicks)
              Feb. 6 – Feb. 12Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
              Feb. 13 – Feb. 19Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
              Feb. 20 – Feb. 26Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
              Feb. 27 – Mar. 4Mickey Johnson (Golden State Warriors)
              Mar. 5 – Mar. 11Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
              Mar. 12 – Mar. 18Adrian Dantley (Utah Jazz)
              Mar. 19 – Mar. 25Moses Malone (Philadelphia 76ers)
              Mar. 26 – Apr. 1Isiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons)
              Apr. 2 – Apr. 8Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
              Apr. 9 – Apr. 15Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta Hawks)

              Player of the month

              The following players were named NBA Player of the Month.

              MonthPlayer
              NovemberMagic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
              DecemberJeff Ruland (Washington Bullets)
              JanuaryMark Aguirre (Dallas Mavericks)
              FebruaryBernard King (New York Knicks)
              MarchKareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)

              Rookie of the month

              The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month.

              MonthRookie
              NovemberRalph Sampson (Houston Rockets)
              DecemberRalph Sampson (Houston Rockets)
              JanuaryRalph Sampson (Houston Rockets)
              FebruaryRalph Sampson (Houston Rockets)
              MarchRalph Sampson (Houston Rockets)

              Coach of the month

              The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month.

              MonthCoach
              NovemberDick Motta (Dallas Mavericks)
              DecemberFrank Layden (Utah Jazz)
              JanuaryK.C. Jones (Boston Celtics)
              FebruaryChuck Daly (Detroit Pistons)
              MarchJack Ramsay (Portland Trail Blazers)

              References

              [1]
              Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgFeldman, Dan (March 31, 2019). "Spurs match record by making playoffs 22nd straight year". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
              Sep 21, 2019, 3:28 AM
              [2]
              Citation Linkwww.nba.comNBA.com
              Sep 21, 2019, 3:28 AM
              [3]
              Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
              Sep 21, 2019, 3:28 AM