The 2015–16 NBA season was the 70th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 27, 2015, at the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls, with their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2016 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 14, 2016. The regular season ended on April 13, 2016. Golden State's Stephen Curry became the first unanimous MVP in league history. The playoffs started on April 16, 2016, and ended with the 2016 NBA Finals on June 19, 2016, with the Cleveland Cavaliers becoming NBA champions for the first time in franchise history after defeating the Golden State Warriors in seven games. This would also be the final season for All-Stars and future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. This would feature the last game 7 in the finals until 2025.
Transactions
Retirement On June 18, 2015, Shawn Marion officially announced his retirement after playing 16 seasons, winning an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. On June 23, 2015, Andrei Kirilenko officially announced his retirement after playing 13 seasons in the NBA. On July 2, 2015, Kenyon Martin officially announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the NBA. On July 22, 2015, Stephen Jackson officially announced his retirement after playing 14 seasons, winning an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003. On August 11, 2015, Elton Brand officially announced his retirement after playing 16 seasons in the NBA. On January 4, 2016, he returned to play for Philadelphia 76ers. On August 12, 2015, Mengke Bateer officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. Bateer played for three NBA teams during his 17-year playing career, winning an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003. On September 23, 2015, Jason Richardson officially announced his retirement after playing 14 seasons in the NBA. On November 13, 2015, Hedo Türkoğlu officially announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the NBA. On November 29, 2015, Kobe Bryant officially announced that the 2015–16 season would be his last after playing 20 seasons, winning five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant ended his career with a season-high 60 points in his final career game against the Utah Jazz.
Free agency Free agency negotiations began on July 1, 2015, while players would begin to sign starting on July 7, after the July moratorium ended.
Coaching changes + Coaching changesOff-seasonTeam2014–15 season2015–16 seasonOklahoma City ThunderScott BrooksBilly DonovanNew Orleans PelicansMonty WilliamsAlvin GentryChicago BullsTom ThibodeauFred HoibergOrlando MagicJames Borrego (interim)Scott SkilesDenver NuggetsMelvin Hunt (interim)Michael MaloneMinnesota TimberwolvesFlip Saunders (died)Sam MitchellIn-seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coachHouston RocketsKevin McHaleJ. B. Bickerstaff (interim)Brooklyn NetsLionel HollinsTony Brown (interim)Cleveland CavaliersDavid BlattTyronn LuePhoenix SunsJeff HornacekEarl WatsonNew York KnicksDerek FisherKurt Rambis (interim)
Off-season On April 22, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder fired head coach Scott Brooks after seven years with the team. On April 30, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder hired Billy Donovan as head coach. On May 12, 2015, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Monty Williams after five years with the team. On May 28, 2015, the Chicago Bulls fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after five years with the team. On May 29, 2015, the Orlando Magic hired Scott Skiles as head coach. On May 30, 2015, the New Orleans Pelicans hired Alvin Gentry as head coach. On June 2, 2015, the Chicago Bulls hired Fred Hoiberg as head coach. On June 15, 2015, the Denver Nuggets hired Michael Malone as head coach. On September 10, 2015, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced that assistant coach Sam Mitchell would take on the interim head coach role while Flip Saunders battled Hodgkin's lymphoma. Saunders died on October 25, thus making Mitchell the new, full-term head coach for the season afterwards. On October 1, 2015, the Golden State Warriors announced that assistant coach Luke Walton would take on the interim head coach role while Steve Kerr recovers from back pain issues that he had throughout the summer.
In-season On November 18, 2015, the Houston Rockets fired head coach Kevin McHale after five years with the team. Their assistant coach J. B. Bickerstaff would take on the interim head coach. On December 23, 2015, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that assistant coach Joe Prunty would take on the interim head coach role while Jason Kidd recovers after taking an indefinite leave to have hip surgery. On January 10, 2016, the Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Lionel Hollins after two years with the team. Assistant coach Tony Brown was named as interim head coach. On January 22, 2016, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr returned after complications following back surgery, taking over from Luke Walton, who led the Warriors to a 39–4 record. Walton returns as an assistant coach for Kerr. On January 22, 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt after one-and-a-half seasons with the team. Assistant coach Tyronn Lue was named the new head coach after signing a three-year deal with the Cavaliers. On January 26, 2016, Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd returned after complications following right hip surgery taking over from Joe Prunty who led the Bucks to an 8–9 record. On February 1, 2016, the Phoenix Suns fired head coach Jeff Hornacek after two and a half seasons with the team. Suns' assistant coach Earl Watson was named as interim head coach. On April 19, the Suns decided to promote Watson as their full-time coach for the next three years. On February 8, 2016, the New York Knicks fired head coach Derek Fisher after one-and-a-half seasons with the team. Knicks assistant coach Kurt Rambis was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Preseason The preseason began on October 2, 2015, and ended on October 23, 2015.
Regular season The regular season began on October 27, 2015, at the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls, who hosted a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8:00 p.m. EDT, then the Atlanta Hawks hosted the Detroit Pistons at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Finally, the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors hosted the New Orleans Pelicans at 10:30 p.m. EDT at the Oracle Arena. Christmas Day games were played on December 25, 2015. The regular season ended on April 13, 2016. The schedule was released at 6:00 p.m. EDT on August 12, 2015.
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 * – Division leader e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Tiebreakers
Eastern Conference Miami won the Southeast Division over Atlanta and Charlotte, by having the best record of the three teams in games against each other (5–3 record vs. ATL & CHA). By winning its division, Miami automatically won the tie-breaker against Boston. Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte were seeded based on record in games against each other (ATL: 6–2 | BOS: 3–4 | CHA: 2–5).
Western Conference Dallas clinched #6 seed over Memphis based on head-to-head record (3–1). Sacramento finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head record (3–0).
Playoffs
The 2016 NBA playoffs began on April 16, 2016, and ended with the 2016 NBA Finals which began on June 2, 2016, and ended on June 19, 2016, on ABC. ESPN broadcast the Eastern Conference Finals and TNT broadcast the Western Conference Finals. ABC broadcast the NBA Finals.
Bracket
Statistics
Individual statistic leaders Category Player Team Statistics Points per game Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 30.1 Rebounds per game Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons 14.8 Assists per game Rajon Rondo Sacramento Kings 11.7 Steals per game Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 2.14 Blocks per game Hassan Whiteside Miami Heat 3.68 Turnovers per game James Harden Houston Rockets 4.6 Fouls per game DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento Kings 3.6 Minutes per game James Harden Houston Rockets 38.1 FG% DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers 70.3% FT% Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 90.8% 3FG% JJ Redick Los Angeles Clippers 47.5% Efficiency per game Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 31.56 Double-doubles Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons 66 Triple-doubles Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 18
Individual game highs Category Player Team StatisticsPoints Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 60 Rebounds Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons 29 Assists Rajon Rondo Sacramento Kings 20 Steals Robert Covington Philadelphia 76ers 8 Ricky Rubio Minnesota Timberwolves Pablo Prigioni Los Angeles Clippers James Harden Houston Rockets Blocks Hassan Whiteside Miami Heat 11 Three Pointers Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 12
Team statistic leaders Category Team Statistics Points per game Golden State Warriors 114.9 Rebounds per game Oklahoma City Thunder 48.6 Assists per game Golden State Warriors 28.9 Steals per game Houston Rockets 10.0 Blocks per game Miami Heat 6.5 Turnovers per game Phoenix Suns 16.6 FG% Golden State Warriors 48.7% FT% New York Knicks 80.5% 3FG% Golden State Warriors 41.6% +/− Golden State Warriors 10.8
Awards
Yearly Awards Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs Rookie of the Year: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers Most Improved Player: CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors Executive of the Year: R. C. Buford, San Antonio Spurs Sportsmanship Award: Mike Conley Jr., Memphis Grizzlies J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Wayne Ellington, Brooklyn Nets Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award: Vince Carter, Memphis Grizzlies
All-NBA First Team: F Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers C DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers G Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
All-NBA Second Team: F Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder F Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors C DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings G Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers G Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
All-NBA Third Team: F Paul George, Indiana Pacers F LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs C Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons G Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors G Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
NBA All-Defensive First Team: F Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs F Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors C DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers G Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics G Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
NBA All-Defensive Second Team: F Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks F Paul George, Indiana Pacers C Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat G Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies G Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
NBA All-Rookie First Team: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves Kristaps Porziņģis, New York Knicks Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
NBA All-Rookie Second Team: Justise Winslow, Miami Heat D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
Players of the Week The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.