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| 2017–18 NBA season | |
|---|---|
| Title | 2017–18 NBA season |
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | October 17, 2017 – June 8, 2018 |
| Games | 82 |
| Teams | 30 |
| Tv | ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV |
| Season | Regular season |
| Top seed | Houston Rockets |
| Mvp | James Harden |
| Top scorer | James Harden |
| Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Finals | Finals |
| Finals champ | Golden State Warriors |
| Finals runner-up | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Finals mvp | Kevin Durant |
2017–18 NBA season was the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association and featured a 30-team campaign culminating in the 2018 NBA Finals. The season included notable performances by stars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and James Harden, and significant organizational moves by franchises including the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in the Finals to capture their third championship in four years, while Harden earned major individual recognition during the regular season.
The campaign opened with marquee matchups involving the defending champion Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James, and the ascending Houston Rockets featuring James Harden and Chris Paul. Midseason events included the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles with rosters headlined by Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid. The season witnessed strategic innovations influenced by analytics proponents such as Daryl Morey of the Rockets and coaching figures like Mike D'Antoni, Steve Kerr, Tyronn Lue, and Brad Stevens. Off-court narratives involved player movement affecting teams like the Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Utah Jazz.
Thirty franchises competed across the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, with divisions including the Atlantic Division, Central Division, Southeast Division, Northwest Division, Pacific Division, and Southwest Division. Notable venues included the Warriors' Oracle Arena, the Rockets' Toyota Center, the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena, and the Celtics' TD Garden. The season also saw international players from clubs such as Real Madrid Baloncesto, FC Barcelona Bàsquet, and CSKA Moscow represented on NBA rosters, with athletes like Rudy Gobert, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo drawing global attention. Broadcast partners ESPN, TNT, and ABC continued national coverage, while local rights involved networks such as MSG Network, NBC Sports Bay Area, and Fox Sports Net affiliates.
The Rockets finished with the league's best record after offensive efficiency campaigns led by Harden and Paul, while the Warriors maintained elite defense-offense balance with Durant and Curry forming a prolific tandem. The Cavaliers secured the Eastern Conference's top seed behind LeBron James and supporting pieces like Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving (before his earlier trade history), while contenders such as the Celtics, Raptors, and 76ers jockeyed for playoff positioning. Key regular-season storylines included the rise of young talents like Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, and Luka Dončić on international duty, veteran milestones for Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade, and coaching changes affecting franchises like the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic. The All-Star Weekend at Staples Center showcased the skills competition, three-point contest, and slam dunk battle featuring stars from the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers.
The postseason featured best-of-seven series across four rounds, with Western Conference matchups including the Rockets versus the Utah Jazz and Warriors versus the San Antonio Spurs and eventual conference finals between the Warriors and Rockets. In the East, the Cavaliers navigated series against the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Boston Celtics to reach the Finals. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in a rematch of recent Finals, with Kevin Durant earning Finals MVP honors for his pivotal scoring and defense. Other playoff highlights involved upset possibilities from clubs like the New Orleans Pelicans and the resilience of teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder in previous seasons' contexts.
Major awards recognized individual excellence: James Harden received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for leading the league in scoring and playmaking, while coaches and executives received accolades with nominations including Mike D'Antoni and Daryl Morey. Defensive honors cited performances by Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard (noting injury contexts), and rookie recognitions highlighted players like Ben Simmons earning Rookie of the Year consideration. Selections to the All-NBA Teams and All-Defensive Teams featured luminaries such as Harden, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Anthony Davis, while All-Star rosters and All-NBA voting reflected the season's statistical leaders and narratives.
The season encompassed trades, free agency moves, and front office shifts: high-profile transactions involved organizations like the Rockets acquiring roster depth through aggressive deadline activity, the Cavaliers managing cap dynamics around LeBron James, and rebuilding strategies by the 76ers under Sam Hinkie-era legacy adjustments. International signings and draft picks from the 2017 NBA Draft influenced team-building, with selections such as Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball earlier shaping market expectations. Ownership decisions, arena developments, and collective bargaining considerations involving the National Basketball Players Association formed part of broader league governance discussions.
Statistical leaders highlighted James Harden as the scoring champion and assist leader in various stretches, while Russell Westbrook's historical triple-double pace in prior seasons provided comparative context. Team records included offensive rating achievements by the Rockets and efficiency markers by the Warriors, and individual milestones encompassed scoring benchmarks by LeBron James and career totals for veterans like Dirk Nowitzki. Seasonal records, playoff single-game highs, and franchise bests were documented across box scores maintained by the NBA Statistics Department and chronicled by outlets such as ESPN and The Athletic.
Category:National Basketball Association seasons