Tanned, rested, and ready. No rest for the weary. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
The league’s new player participation policy worked.
Kevin Durant played 75 games, the most since his final season with the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis played 76 games, the most since he was in New Orleans. Kawhi Leonard played 68, the most since San Antonio. Paul George played 74, the most since Oklahoma City. Stephen Curry played 74 games, the most in six seasons. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each played 73 games, the most in five seasons.
>> The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers to win the league’s first in-season tournament in Las Vegas. Joel Embiid scored 70 points in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs, and four nights later, Luka Doncic scored 73 in a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Adrian Griffin (30-13) and hired Doc Rivers, who closed the season 17-19. And Ol’ Man River, he keeps rolling along: LeBron James, 39 years old, became the first player to score 40,000 points.
>> Nuggets center Nikola Jokic will win his third MVP award in four seasons. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s best two-way player, and Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is the most exciting prospect since LeBron James.
TEAMS
Best record >> Boston Celtics, 64-18
>> Best margin of victory >> Boston Celtics, +11.3
Worst record >> Detroit Pistons, 14-68
>> Worst margin of victory >> Charlotte Hornets, -10.2
>> Had their worst season >> Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards
Home team >> Houston Rockets
Road team >> Memphis Grizzlies
Best offense >> Boston Celtics
Best defense >> Minnesota Timberwolves
Fastest pace >> Washington Wizards
Slowest pace >> New York Knicks
AWARDS
Player of the Year >> Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
3. Luka Doncic, Mavericks
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
5. Jalen Brunson, Knicks
Coach of the Year >> Mark Daigneault, Thunder
2. Chris Finch, Timberwolves
3. Jamahl Mosley, Magic
Rookie of the Year >> Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Sixth Man of the Year >> Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hawks
ALL-NBA >> FIRST TEAM
Forward >> Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
>> 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists
Forward >> Jayson Tatum, Celtics
>> 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists
Center >> Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
>> 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists
>> 63% 2-point shooting, 82% free throw shooting
Guard >> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
>> 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists
>> 87% free throw shooting, 2.0 steals
Guard >> Luka Doncic, Mavericks
>> 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists
ALL-NBA >> SECOND TEAM
Forward >> LeBron James, Lakers
>> 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists
>> 59% 2-point shooting, 41% 3-point shooting
Forward >> Paul George, Clippers
>> 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 52-41-91 shooting
Center >> Anthony Davis, Lakers
>> 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.3 blocks
Guard >> Jalen Brunson, Knicks
>> 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, 52-40-85 shooting
Guard >> Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
>> 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists
ALL-NBA >> THIRD TEAM
Forward >> Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
>> 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 57-42-89 shooting
Forward >> Kevin Durant, Suns
>> 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 57-41-86 shooting
Center >> Domantas Sabonis, Kings
>> 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, 8.2 assists
Guard >> Stephen Curry, Warriors
>> 26.4 points, 5.1 assists, 52-41-92 shooting
Guard >> Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
>> 20.1 points, 10.9 assists, 60% 2-point shooting
LEADERS
Games >> Buddy Hield, 84
Minutes >> DeMar DeRozan, 2,989
Scoring >> Luka Doncic, 33.9
Rebounding >> Domantas Sabonis, 13.7
Assists >> Tyrese Haliburton, 10.9
Steals >> De’Aaron Fox, 2.03
>> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2.00
Blocks >> Victor Wembanyama, 3.6
2-point percentage >> Daniel Gafford, 72.5
3-point percentage >> Grayson Allen, 46.1
Free throw percentage >> Klay Thompson, 92.7
>> Stephen Curry, 92.3
>> Bogdan Bogdanovic, 92.1
>> Damian Lillard, 92.0
Box Plus-Minus >> Nikola Jokic, 13.2
Estimated Plus-Minus >> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 8.8
Double-doubles >> Domantas Sabonis, 77
Triple-doubles >> Domantas Sabonis, 26
SUPERLATIVES
Iron man >> Mikal Bridges, Nets >> Hasn’t missed a game in six seasons.
Best backcourt >> Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Mavericks
Best young player >> Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
Best old player >> LeBron James, Lakers
Best prospect >> Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Best shooter >> Stephen Curry, Warriors
>> 3-pointers >> Stephen Curry, Warriors
>> Mid-range >> Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
>> At the rim >> Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo
>> Free throws >> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
>> Clutch >> Stephen Curry, Warriors
>> 50-40-90 >> Stephen Curry, Paul George