The 1999–2000 NBA season was the 54th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA championship, beating the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2 in the 2000 NBA Finals.
The 2000 NBA All-Star Game held in Oakland, California. The West won 137–126. Tim Duncan from the San Antonio Spurs and Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers shared the game's MVP honors. The Slam Dunk Contest returned after a two-year absence, with Vince Carter winning the title.
Both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers played their first games at the Staples Center. The Lakers would also go on to win 19 consecutive games between February 4, 2000 and March 16, 2000, the fifth-longest winning streak in NBA history.
Staples Center's first season saw its tenants at two opposite ends of the league: the Lakers finished with a regular season record of 67–15 and won the NBA title, while the Clippers finished 15–67, the worst record of the season.
The Denver Nuggets played their first game at the Pepsi Center.
The Indiana Pacers played their first game at the Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Indiana Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The Atlanta Hawks played their first game at the Philips Arena.
The Miami Heat started the season playing their home games at Miami Arena. In January, they played their first game at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Toronto Raptors played their first full season at the Air Canada Centre. They also made the playoffs for the first time becoming the first Canadian team to do so.
During Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers held a 15-point lead over the Los Angeles Lakers with 10:28 left to play. During the fourth quarter, the Blazers would miss thirteen consecutive shots, allowing the Lakers to claw back and take the game, 89–84. The game was capped off with a famous alley-oop pass to Shaquille O'Neal from Kobe Bryant.
Two players are killed in automobile accidents within four months of each other. On January 12, Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets was killed in reckless driving while racing against teammate David Wesley. On May 20, Malik Sealy of the Minnesota Timberwolves was driving home from a birthday party being held for Kevin Garnett, when a drunk-driver driving on the wrong side, struck his SUV.
The Boston Celtics officially retired their trademark parquet floor on December 22, 1999 after 54 years. The floor would be replaced by a replica combining elements of the old floor and new wooden sections.
The season marked Patrick Ewing's last in a New York Knicks uniform. He was traded during the 2000 offseason to the Seattle Supersonics in a three-team deal.
Hall of Fame player Wilt Chamberlain passed away on October 12, 1999 at age 63. Wilt's former teams, the Lakers, Sixers, and Warriors honored him by sporting black patches for the rest of the season.
Final standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Miami Heat
52
30
.634
-
New York Knicks
50
32
.610
2
Philadelphia 76ers
49
33
.598
3
Orlando Magic
41
41
.500
11
Boston Celtics
35
47
.427
17
New Jersey Nets
31
51
.378
21
Washington Wizards
29
53
.354
23
Central Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Indiana Pacers
56
26
.683
-
Charlotte Hornets
49
33
.598
7
Toronto Raptors
45
37
.549
11
Detroit Pistons
42
40
.512
14
Milwaukee Bucks
42
40
.512
14
Cleveland Cavaliers
32
50
.390
24
Atlanta Hawks
28
54
.341
28
Chicago Bulls
17
65
.207
39
Western Conference[]
Midwest Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Utah Jazz
55
27
.671
-
San Antonio Spurs
53
29
.646
2
Minnesota Timberwolves
50
32
.610
5
Dallas Mavericks
40
42
.488
15
Denver Nuggets
35
47
.427
20
Houston Rockets
34
48
.415
21
Vancouver Grizzlies
22
60
.268
33
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Los Angeles Lakers C
67
15
.817
-
Portland Trail Blazers
59
23
.720
8
Phoenix Suns
53
29
.646
14
Seattle SuperSonics
45
37
.549
22
Sacramento Kings
44
38
.537
23
Golden State Warriors
19
63
.232
48
Los Angeles Clippers
15
67
.183
52
C – NBA Champions
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
Shaquille O'Neal
Los Angeles Lakers
29.7
Rebounds per game
Dikembe Mutombo
Atlanta Hawks
14.1
Assists per game
Jason Kidd
Phoenix Suns
10.1
Steals per game
Eddie Jones
Charlotte Hornets
2.7
Blocks per game
Alonzo Mourning
Miami Heat
3.7
FG%
Shaquille O'Neal
Los Angeles Lakers
57.4
FT%
Jeff Hornacek
Utah Jazz
95.0
3FG%
Hubert Davis
Dallas Mavericks
49.1
NBA awards[]
Most Valuable Player: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls; Steve Francis, Houston Rockets
Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
Sixth Man of the Year: Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns
