The regular-season ran until mid to late-April for the first time.
The 1982 NBA All-Star Game was played at the new Brendan Byrne Arena (now the Izod Center) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the East defeating the West 120–118. Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics wins the game's MVP Award. This season also marked the New Jersey Nets first season in the new arena.
Magic Johnson secures his second NBA Finals MVP award several months before his 23rd birthday.
The Los Angeles Lakers begin a string of nine consecutive seasons as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Final standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Boston Celtics
63
19
.768
-
Philadelphia 76ers
58
24
.707
5
New Jersey Nets
44
38
.537
19
Washington Bullets
43
39
.524
20
New York Knicks
33
49
.402
30
Central Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Milwaukee Bucks
55
27
.671
-
Atlanta Hawks
42
40
.512
13
Detroit Pistons
39
43
.476
16
Indiana Pacers
35
47
.427
20
Chicago Bulls
34
48
.415
21
Cleveland Cavaliers
15
67
.183
40
Western Conference[]
Midwest Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
San Antonio Spurs
48
34
.585
-
Houston Rockets
46
36
.561
2
Denver Nuggets
46
36
.561
2
Kansas City Kings
30
52
.366
18
Dallas Mavericks
28
54
.341
20
Utah Jazz
25
57
.305
23
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Los Angeles Lakers C
57
25
.695
-
Seattle SuperSonics
52
30
.634
5
Phoenix Suns
46
36
.561
11
Golden State Warriors
45
37
.549
12
Portland Trail Blazers
42
40
.512
15
San Diego Clippers
17
65
.207
40
C - NBA Champions
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
George Gervin
San Antonio Spurs
32.3
Rebounds per game
Moses Malone
Houston Rockets
14.7
Assists per game
Johnny Moore
San Antonio Spurs
9.6
Steals per game
Magic Johnson
Los Angeles Lakers
2.7
Blocks per game
George Johnson
San Antonio Spurs
3.1
FG%
Artis Gilmore
Chicago Bulls
65.2
FT%
Kyle Macy
Phoenix Suns
89.9
3FG%
Campy Russell
New York Knicks
43.9
NBA awards[]
Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone, Houston Rockets
Rookie of the Year: Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets
