The 2013–14 NBA season was the 68th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 29, 2013, with the Indiana Pacers hosting a game against the Orlando Magic followed by the 2012–13 NBA champions Miami Heat hosting a game against the Chicago Bulls followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The 2014 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2014, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Cleveland's Kyrie Irving won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. The regular season ended on April 16, 2014, and the playoffs began on April 19, 2014, and ended on June 15, 2014, with the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Miami Heat in five games to win the 2014 NBA Finals.
The season has notoriety attached for the fact that heralded big-market franchises Lakers, Knicks and Celtics all failed to make the playoffs for the first time in NBA history.
Transactions
Free agency Free agency negotiation started on July 1, 2013, with players being able to sign starting July 10, after the July moratorium ended.
Coaching changes + Coaching changesOff-seasonTeam2012–13 season2013–14 seasonAtlanta HawksLarry DrewMike BudenholzerBoston CelticsDoc RiversBrad StevensBrooklyn NetsP. J. Carlesimo (interim)Jason KiddCharlotte BobcatsMike DunlapSteve CliffordCleveland CavaliersByron ScottMike BrownDenver NuggetsGeorge KarlBrian ShawDetroit PistonsLawrence FrankMaurice CheeksLos Angeles ClippersVinny Del NegroDoc RiversMemphis GrizzliesLionel HollinsDavid JoergerMilwaukee BucksJim Boylan (interim)Larry DrewPhiladelphia 76ersDoug CollinsBrett BrownPhoenix SunsLindsey Hunter (interim)Jeff HornacekSacramento KingsKeith SmartMichael MaloneIn-seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coachDetroit PistonsMaurice CheeksJohn Loyer (interim)
Off-season On April 18, 2013, Byron Scott was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers after three years with the team. On April 18, 2013, Lawrence Frank was fired by the Detroit Pistons after two years with the team. On April 18, 2013, Doug Collins resigned from the Philadelphia 76ers after three years with the team. On April 22, 2013, the Phoenix Suns fired GM Lance Blanks after three years with the team. On April 23, 2013, Mike Dunlap was fired by the Charlotte Bobcats after one season with the team. On April 24, 2013, Mike Brown was rehired by the Cleveland Cavaliers as head coach. On May 1, 2013, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that interim head coach Jim Boylan was not offered the full-time job. On May 5, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets announced that interim head coach P. J. Carlesimo was not offered the full-time position. On May 7, 2013, the Phoenix Suns named former Boston Celtics assistant general manager Ryan McDonough as the new general manager. On May 21, 2013, the Los Angeles Clippers announced that Vinny Del Negro will not return as head coach after three years with the team. On May 21, 2013, the Toronto Raptors announced that GM Bryan Colangelo will not be returning as general manager after several seasons with the team. On May 28, 2013, the Phoenix Suns replaced interim head coach Lindsey Hunter with former Suns player and Utah Jazz assistant coach Jeff Hornacek. On May 28, 2013, the Atlanta Hawks replaced Larry Drew, whose contract was not renewed, with former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer. On May 31, 2013, the Sacramento Kings announced that Keith Smart was fired as head coach. On May 31, 2013, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that Larry Drew replaced Jim Boylan as head coach. On June 2, 2013, the Sacramento Kings announced that Michael Malone will be the head coach for the 2013–14 season. On June 6, 2013, the Denver Nuggets announced that George Karl would not be returning as the head coach for 2013–14. On June 10, 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies announced that Lionel Hollins's contract was not renewed for 2013–14. On June 10, 2013, the Detroit Pistons named Maurice Cheeks the head coach for the 2013–14 season. On June 12, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets named Jason Kidd the head coach for the 2013–14 season. On June 25, 2013, the Denver Nuggets named Brian Shaw the head coach for the 2013–14 season. On June 25, 2013, the NBA approved a trade of an unprotected 2015 NBA first round draft pick, which included an anti-trade clause prohibiting the Clippers and Celtics from engaging in future transactions between each other, including the exchanging of players for the duration of the 2013–14 season, for the release of the contract of Doc Rivers from the Boston Celtics, freeing him up to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. On June 27, 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies named Dave Joerger the head coach for the 2013–14 season. On July 3, 2013, the Boston Celtics named Brad Stevens the head coach for the 2013–14 season. On August 14, 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers named Brett Brown the head coach for the 2013–14 season.
In-season On February 9, 2014, the Detroit Pistons fired Maurice Cheeks of his head coaching duties and replaced him with John Loyer on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.
Preseason The Preseason began on October 5, 2013, and ended on October 25, 2013. Earlier in March 2013, Commissioner David J. Stern announced that the NBA would be playing its first preseason game in the Philippines on October 10, 2013, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila featuring the Houston Rockets versus the Indiana Pacers. The arena was also the venue of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
Regular season The regular season began on October 29, 2013, with the Indiana Pacers hosting a game against the Orlando Magic. The regular season ended on April 16, 2014. The season featured the unveiling of national television games such as on Christmas Day along with Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks, Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, along with other highly anticipated games.
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 champion
Tiebreakers
Eastern Conference Toronto clinched #3 seed over Chicago as the Raptors won the Atlantic Division and the Bulls finished second in the Central Division. Washington clinched #5 seed over Brooklyn based on head-to-head record (3–0).
Western Conference Houston clinched #4 seed over Portland based on head-to-head record (3–1).
Playoffs
The 2014 NBA playoffs began on April 19, 2014, and concluded with the 2014 NBA Finals which began June 5, 2014. ESPN broadcast the Eastern Conference Finals, and TNT broadcast the Western Conference Finals.
Bracket
Statistics leaders
Individual statistic leaders Category Player Team Statistics Points per game Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder 32.0 Rebounds per game DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers 13.6 Assists per game Chris Paul Los Angeles Clippers 10.7 Steals per game Chris Paul Los Angeles Clippers 2.48 Blocks per game Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans 2.82 Turnovers per game Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 3.8 Fouls per game DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento Kings 3.8 Minutes per game Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks 38.7 FG% DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers 67.6% FT% Brian Roberts New Orleans Pelicans 94.0% 3FG% Kyle Korver Atlanta Hawks 47.2% Efficiency per game Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder 29.9 Double-doubles Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves 65 Triple-doubles Lance Stephenson Indiana Pacers 5
Individual game highs Category Player Team Statistics Points Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks 62 Rebounds Timofey Mozgov Denver Nuggets 29 Assists Brandon Jennings Detroit Pistons 18 Rajon Rondo Boston Celtics Steals Michael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 76ers 9 Blocks Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans 9 DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers Three Pointers Terrence Ross Toronto Raptors 10 Joe Johnson Brooklyn Nets C. J. Miles Cleveland Cavaliers Chandler Parsons Houston Rockets Trevor Ariza Washington Wizards J.R. Smith New York Knicks
Team statistic leaders Category Team Statistics Points per game Los Angeles Clippers 107.9 Rebounds per game Portland Trail Blazers 46.4 Assists per game San Antonio Spurs 25.2 Steals per game Philadelphia 76ers 9.3 Blocks per game New Orleans Pelicans 6.4 Turnovers per game Philadelphia 76ers 16.9 Fouls per game Denver Nuggets 23.0 FG% Miami Heat 50.1% FT% Portland Trail Blazers 81.5% 3FG% San Antonio Spurs 39.7% ± San Antonio Spurs 7.7
Awards
Yearly awards
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls Rookie of the Year: Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers Most Improved Player: Goran Dragić, Phoenix Suns Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs Executive of the Year: R. C. Buford, San Antonio Spurs Sportsmanship Award: Mike Conley Jr., Memphis Grizzlies J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Luol Deng, Cleveland Cavaliers Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
All-NBA First Team: F Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder F LeBron James, Miami Heat C Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls G James Harden, Houston Rockets G Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
All-NBA Second Team: F Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers F Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves C Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors G Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
All-NBA Third Team: F Paul George, Indiana Pacers F LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers C Al Jefferson, Charlotte Bobcats G Goran Dragić, Phoenix Suns G Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
NBA All-Defensive First Team: F Paul George, Indiana Pacers F Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder C Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls G Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors G Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
NBA All-Defensive Second Team: F Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs F LeBron James, Miami Heat C Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers G Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls G Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets
NBA All-Rookie First Team: Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic Trey Burke, Utah Jazz Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks
NBA All-Rookie Second Team: Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves Cody Zeller, Charlotte Bobcats Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Players of the week The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.