2020-21 NBA Season
The 2020-21 season will also be a quick recap as I try to catch up with my current state of the franchise, in which I’m in the 2023-24 season.
The New Orleans Pelicans, finally healthy, tore their way to a 62-win season, tied with Miami for the best record in basketball. Zion erupted in his sophomore season earning Most Improved Player and leading the league with 32.1 points to go with 9.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists. His 34.8 efficiency was second in the NBA behind only Giannis’ 44.4. His 31.3 PER was tied for third behind Anthony Davis and Giannis.
Golden State, with the Splash Brothers back and healthy, won 54 games, good for the two seed in the West. The Warriors utilized their Trade Exception over the summer to acquire James Johnson from Minnesota. They then flipped Johnson and an unprotected 2021 first round pick in exchange for Aaron Gordon and a 2024 first. The move gave the Warriors a defensive boost off the bench as they look to improve on defense.
Luka Doncic suffered a torn ACL in January, missing the remainder of the season. The loss of Luka sent the Mavs out of the playoff race, as they finished with 39 wins, one game behind Portland who went 40-42 and got the eight seed.
The Lakers struggled, winning just 41 games and finishing as the seven seed. Anthony Davis was named Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 27.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and a league-leading 2.7 blocks.
Giannis was named league MVP yet again. The Greek Freak led the league in Efficiency (44.4) and PER (36.2) while averaging 31.5 points, 17.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks while leading the Bucks to a 58-24 record.
Giannis and Rudy Gobert became the first players since David Robinson in 1993-94 to average more than 17 rebounds a game. Along with Robinson, the duo joined a list of Dennis Rodman, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell to average 17+ RPG.
Trey Burke was among the feel good stories of the season. The 28-year-old averaged 17.8 points and 5.1 assists on 44.2% shooting from deep for Miami. Prior to his big season, Burke had never averaged more than 12.8 points per game in any season.
DeMarcus Cousins also experienced a resurgent year. Playing for the Cavaliers, the veteran big man averaged 20.8 points per game before being traded to the Lakers at the trade deadline. Cousins’ great year would be rewarded with a Sixth Man of the Year award, as he finished the year averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds with 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks.
LaMelo Ball was named Rookie of the Year while averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
NBA Standings
| NBA Standings - Updated: Apr 19, 2021 |
| EAST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB |
| Miami Heat | 62 | 20 | -- |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 58 | 24 | 4 |
| Boston Celtics | 53 | 29 | 9 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 52 | 20 | 10 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | 17 |
| Toronto Raptors | 44 | 38 | 18 |
| Chicago Bulls | 42 | 40 | 20 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 41 | 41 | 21 |
| Washington Wizards | 40 | 42 | 22 |
| Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | 26 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 35 | 47 | 27 |
| Detroit Pistons | 34 | 50 | 28 |
| New York Knicks | 33 | 49 | 29 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 32 | 50 | 30 |
| Orlando Magic | 27 | 55 | 35 |
| WEST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 62 | 20 | -- |
| Golden State Warriors | 54 | 28 | 8 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 50 | 32 | 12 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 46 | 36 | 16 |
| Utah Jazz | 43 | 39 | 19 |
| Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | 19 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 41 | 41 | 21 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | 22 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 40 | 42 | 22 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 39 | 43 | 23 |
| Phoenix Suns | 38 | 44 | 24 |
| Houston Rockets | 28 | 54 | 34 |
| Sacramento Kings | 28 | 54 | 34 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 23 | 59 | 39 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 61 | 41 |
NBA Awards
|
| Award | Player | Pos | Team |
| Most Valuable Player | Giannis Antetokounmpo | SF | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Rookie of the Year | LaMelo Ball | PG | Detroit Pistons |
| Sixth Man of the Year | DeMarcus Cousins | C | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Anthony Davis | PF | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Most Improved Player | Zion Williamson | PF | New Orleans Pelicans |
| All-NBA 1st Team |
| All-NBA 1st Team | Kyrie Irving | PG | Brooklyn Nets |
| Damian Lillard | PG | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | SF | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Kawhi Leonard | SF | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Joel Embiid | C | Philadelphia 76ers |
| All-NBA 2nd Team |
| All-NBA 2nd Team | Zach LaVine | SG | Chicago Bulls |
| Bradley Beal | SG | Washington Wizards |
| Jayson Tatum | SF | Boston Celtics |
| Anthony Davis | PF | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | C | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| All-NBA 3rd Team |
| All-NBA 3rd Team | James Harden | SG | Houston Rockets |
| Klay Thompson | SG | Golden State Warriors |
| LeBron James | SF | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Zion Williamson | PF | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Nikola Jokic | C | Denver Nuggets |
| All-Defensive 1st Team |
| All-Defensive 1st Team | Ben Simmons | PG | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Dejounte Murray | PG | San Antonio Spurs |
| Kawhi Leonard | SF | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Anthony Davis | PF | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Rudy Gobert | C | Utah Jazz |
| All-Defensive 2nd Team |
| All-Defensive 2nd Team | Matisse Thybulle | SG | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Jrue Holiday | SG | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Jonathan Isaac | SF | Orlando Magic |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | SF | MIlwaukee Bucks |
| Andre Drummond | C | Cleveland Cavaliers |