1995–96 NBA season

Infobox sports season
title =1995–96 NBA season
league =National Basketball Association
sport =Basketball
TV =NBC, TBS
season =Regular season
season_champ =Chicago Bulls
MVP =flagicon|USA Michael Jordan (Chicago)
MVP_link =NBA MVP
top_scorer =flagicon|USA Michael Jordan (Chicago)
playoffs =Playoffs
playoffs_link =1996 NBA Playoffs
conf1 =Eastern
conf1_link =Eastern Conference (NBA)
conf1_champ =Chicago Bulls
conf1_runner-up =Orlando Magic
conf2 =Western
conf2_link =Western Conference (NBA)
conf2_champ =Seattle SuperSonics
conf2_runner-up =Utah Jazz
finals =Finals
finals_link =1996 NBA Finals
finals_champ =Chicago Bulls
finals_runner-up =Seattle SuperSonics
finals_MVP =flagicon|USA Michael Jordan (Chicago)
finals_MVP_link =NBA Finals MVP
seasonslist =List of NBA seasons
seasonslistnames =NBA
prevseason_link =1994–95 NBA season
prevseason_year =1994–95
nextseason_link =1996–97 NBA season
nextseason_year =1996–97The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association, although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls defeating the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's 4th championship.

Notable occurrences

* The Chicago Bulls break the record for most wins in a season and highest winning percentage, going 72-10 (.878). They are the closest that any team has come to avoiding back-to-back losses in a season, allowing this just once in mid-season. They also lost only one game by more than 10 points, which is the closest that any team has come to avoiding a blowout loss in a season.
*The Bulls finish the season with a combined regular season and postseason record of 87-13, the best in NBA history.
* Michael Jordan became the only player to win the NBA Finals MVP Award at least four times.
*Michael Jordan won his NBA record 8th scoring title.
* The Boston Celtics play their first game at the Fleet Center (now TD Banknorth Garden).
* The NBA marks its return to Canada after almost 50 years as the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies make their debuts as the NBA's 28th and 29th franchises. The Grizzlies began play at GM Place while the Raptors set up shop at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre). In addition to that, both franchises emerge victorious in their debut games.
* The 1996 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, with the East defeating the West 129–118. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls was named the game's MVP.
* The Seattle SuperSonics play their first game at Key Arena.
* The Portland Trail Blazers play their first game at the Rose Garden.
* Referees were locked out to begin the season, but reached an agreement to return to work in December 1995.
* Magic Johnson comes out of retirement to play in 32 games for Los Angeles before retiring again at the end of the season.
*The Philadelphia 76ers play their final game at The Spectrum.
*Hakeem Olajuwon passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leader in blocked shots in the last game of the season.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

C - NBA Champions

1995-96 NBA statistics leaders

NBA awards

* Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
* Rookie of the Year: Damon Stoudamire, Toronto Raptors
* Defensive Player of the Year: Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
* Sixth Man of the Year: Toni Kukoč, Chicago Bulls
* Most Improved Player: Gheorghe Muresan, Washington Bullets
* Coach of the Year: Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls
* All-NBA First Team:
** F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
** F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
** C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
** G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
** G - Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
* All-NBA Second Team:
** F - Shawn Kemp, Seattle SuperSonics
** F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
** C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
** G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
** G - John Stockton, Utah Jazz
* All-NBA Third Team:
** F - Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns
** F - Juwan Howard, Washington Bullets
** C - Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic
** G - Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
** G - Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
* NBA All-Defensive First Team:
** F - Dennis Rodman, Chicago Bulls
** F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
** C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
** G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
** G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
* NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
** F - Horace Grant, Orlando Magic
** F - Derrick McKey, Indiana Pacers
** C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
** G - Bobby Phills, Cleveland Cavaliers
** G - Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
* All-NBA Rookie First Team:
** Damon Stoudamire, Toronto Raptors
** Joe Smith, Golden State Warriors
** Jerry Stackhouse, Philadelphia 76ers
** Antonio McDyess, Denver Nuggets
** Arvydas Sabonis, Portland Trail Blazers
** Michael Finley, Phoenix Suns
* All-NBA Rookie Second Team:
** Rasheed Wallace, Washington Bullets
** Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
** Bryant Reeves, Vancouver Grizzlies
** Brent Barry, Los Angeles Clippers
** Tyus Edney, Sacramento Kings

"Note: All information on this page were obtained on the History section on [http://www.nba.com NBA.com] "

ee also