2005–06 NBA season

2005–06 NBA season
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Duration	November 1, 2005 – April 19, 2006 April 22 – June 3, 2006 (Playoffs) June 8 – 20, 2006 (Finals)
Number of games	82
Number of teams	30
TV partner(s)	ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV
Draft
Top draft pick	Andrew Bogut
Picked by	Milwaukee Bucks
Regular season
Top seed	Detroit Pistons
Season MVP	Steve Nash (Phoenix)
Top scorer	Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
Playoffs
Eastern champions	Miami Heat
Eastern runners-up	Detroit Pistons
Western champions	Dallas Mavericks
Western runners-up	Phoenix Suns
Finals
Champions	Miami Heat
Runners-up	Dallas Mavericks
Finals MVP	Dwyane Wade (Miami)

The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006. The Miami Heat were crowned NBA champions, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, 4–2.

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes

Offseason
Team	2004–05 coach	2005–06 coach
Cleveland Cavaliers	Brendan Malone	Mike Brown
Detroit Pistons	Larry Brown	Flip Saunders
Los Angeles Lakers	Frank Hamblen	Phil Jackson
Milwaukee Bucks	Terry Porter	Terry Stotts
Minnesota Timberwolves	Kevin McHale	Dwane Casey
New York Knicks	Herb Williams	Larry Brown
Orlando Magic	Chris Jent	Brian Hill
Philadelphia 76ers	Jim O'Brien	Maurice Cheeks
Portland Trail Blazers	Kevin Pritchard	Nate McMillan
Seattle SuperSonics	Nate McMillan	Bob Weiss
In-season
Team	Outgoing coach	Incoming coach
Miami Heat	Stan Van Gundy	Pat Riley
Seattle SuperSonics	Bob Weiss	Bob Hill

• A new league dress code was put into effect at the beginning of the year by commissioner David Stern.
• The Miami Heat win their first NBA championship in franchise history. They become the third franchise (joining the 1969 Boston Celtics, 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, and 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers) to win the NBA Finals after losing the first two games. They are also the first of the four 1988/89 expansion franchises to win a championship.
• The All-Star Game was played on February 19, 2006 at the Toyota Center in Houston with the East beating the West 122–120. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers won the game's MVP honors.
• This season marked the first season of the Charlotte Bobcats in their new arena in downtown Charlotte.
• Due to the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Hornets played 32 regular season games in the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, 6 games at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and just 3 games at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans in March.^[1] Due to the split, the team was officially referred to as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.
• This season marked the first under the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement, agreed upon by the owners and the player union on June 21.
• The season was marked by the 30th anniversary of the absorption of four American Basketball Association members into the league: The Indiana Pacers, the New Jersey Nets, the Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs all joined in 1976.
• On January 22, 2006, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. This was the second-highest single game scoring total in league history, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.
• Scottie Pippen (Bulls), Karl Malone (Jazz), and Reggie Miller (Pacers) had their numbers retired by their respective franchises.
• The NBA held the Hardwood Classics program for the fifth straight season. The Bulls, Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Nets, Knicks, Magic, Suns, Sonics, and Wizards all took part by wearing throwback jerseys for select games.
• On the last day of the regular season, Ray Allen broke the single season record for most three-pointers, at 269.^[2]
• The NBA Finals was jokingly referred to as the "American Airlines" series since both competing teams played in an arena sponsored by the same airline. The Miami Heat play their games at American Airlines Arena while the Dallas Mavericks reside in the American Airlines Center.
• All five teams in the Central Division made the playoffs, marking the first time all teams in a division made the playoffs since the entire Midwest Division made it 20 years before.
• The Los Angeles Clippers made it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1997 and won their first playoff series since 1976 when they were still known as the Buffalo Braves.
• The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves sport a patch in their warmups in memory of Hall of Fame player George Mikan, who died June 1, 2005 at the age of 80.
• On June 20, 2006, the Miami Heat clinched the NBA Finals, with Wade being the Finals MVP, averaging the third highest points per game in finals history, at 34.7, the highest points per a four-game stretch in finals history, at 39.3, and the highest PER in finals history, at 33.8.

Final standings

By division

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div y-New Jersey Nets 49 33 .598 - 29–12 20–21 10–6 Philadelphia 76ers 38 44 .463 6 23–18 15–26 10–6 Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 12 21–20 12–29 10–6 Toronto Raptors 27 55 .329 14 15–26 12–29 6–10 New York Knicks 23 59 .280 23 15–26 8–33 4–12 Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div y-Detroit Pistons 64 18 .780 - 37–4 27–14 13–3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 50 32 .610 14 31–10 19–22 11–5 x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 23 27–14 14–27 6–10 x-Chicago Bulls 41 41 .500 23 21–20 20–21 4–12 x-Milwaukee Bucks 40 42 .488 24 25–16 15–26 6–10 Southeast Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div y-Miami Heat 52 30 .634 - 31–10 21–20 13–3 x-Washington Wizards 42 40 .512 10 27–14 15–26 8–8 Orlando Magic 36 46 .439 16 26–15 10–31 9–7 Charlotte Bobcats 26 56 .317 26 17–24 9–32 5–11 Atlanta Hawks 26 56 .317 26 18–23 8–33 5–11

Western Conference Northwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div y-Denver Nuggets 44 38 .537 - 26–15 18–23 10–6 Utah Jazz 41 41 .500 3 22–19 19–22 11–5 Seattle SuperSonics 35 47 .427 9 22–19 13–28 10–6 Minnesota Timberwolves 33 49 .402 11 24–17 9–32 6–10 Portland Trail Blazers 21 61 .256 23 15–26 6–35 3–13 Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div y-Phoenix Suns 54 28 .659 - 31–10 23–18 10–6 x-Los Angeles Clippers 47 35 .573 7 27–14 20–21 7–9 x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 9 27–14 18–23 9–7 x-Sacramento Kings 44 38 .537 10 27–14 17–24 10–6 Golden State Warriors 34 48 .415 20 21–20 13–28 4–12 Southwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div y-San Antonio Spurs 63 19 .768 - 34–7 29–12 13–3 x-Dallas Mavericks 60 22 .732 3 34–7 26–15 13–3 x-Memphis Grizzlies 49 33 .598 14 30–11 19–22 6–10 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets 38 44 .463 25 24–17 14–27 7–9 Houston Rockets 34 48 .415 29 15–26 19–22 1–15

By conference

Eastern Conference # Team W L PCT GB 1 z-Detroit Pistons 64 18 .780 - 2 y-Miami Heat 52 30 .634 12 3 y-New Jersey Nets 49 33 .598 15 4 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 50 32 .610 14 5 x-Washington Wizards 42 40 .512 22 6 x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 23 7 x-Chicago Bulls 41 41 .500 23 8 x-Milwaukee Bucks 40 42 .488 24 9 Philadelphia 76ers 38 44 .463 26 10 Orlando Magic 36 46 .439 28 11 Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 31 12 Toronto Raptors 27 55 .329 37 13 Charlotte Bobcats 26 56 .317 38 14 Atlanta Hawks 26 56 .317 38 15 New York Knicks 23 59 .280 41

# Western Conference Team W L PCT GB 1 c-San Antonio Spurs 63 19 .768 - 2 y-Phoenix Suns 54 28 .659 9 3 y-Denver Nuggets 44 38 .537 19 4 x-Dallas Mavericks 60 22 .732 3 5 x-Memphis Grizzlies 49 33 .598 14 6 x-Los Angeles Clippers 47 35 .573 16 7 x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 18 8 x-Sacramento Kings 44 38 .537 19 9 Utah Jazz 41 41 .500 22 10 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets 38 44 .463 25 11 Seattle SuperSonics 35 47 .427 28 12 Golden State Warriors 34 48 .415 29 13 Houston Rockets 34 48 .415 29 14 Minnesota Timberwolves 33 49 .402 30 15 Portland Trail Blazers 21 61 .256 42

Notes

• z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
• c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
• x – Clinched playoff spot
• y – Clinched division title

Playoffs

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.

	First Round					Conference Semifinals					Conference Finals					NBA Finals
	1	Detroit	4
	8	Milwaukee	1
						1	Detroit	4
						4	Cleveland	3
	4	Cleveland	4
	5	Washington	2
											1	Detroit	2
	Eastern Conference
											2	Miami	4
	3	New Jersey	4
	6	Indiana	2
						3	New Jersey	1
						2	Miami	4
	2	Miami	4
	7	Chicago	2
																E2	Miami	4
																W4	Dallas	2
	1	San Antonio	4
	8	Sacramento	2
						1	San Antonio	3
						4	Dallas	4
	4	Dallas	4
	5	Memphis	0
											4	Dallas	4
	Western Conference
											2	Phoenix	2
	3	Denver	1
	6	L.A. Clippers	4
						6	L.A. Clippers	3
						2	Phoenix	4
	2	Phoenix	4
	7	L.A. Lakers	3

Statistics leaders

Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points per game	Kobe Bryant	Los Angeles Lakers	35.4
Rebounds per game	Kevin Garnett	Minnesota Timberwolves	12.7
Assists per game	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	10.5
Steals per game	Gerald Wallace	Charlotte Bobcats	2.51
Blocks per game	Marcus Camby	Denver Nuggets	3.29
FG%	Shaquille O'Neal	Miami Heat	.600
FT%	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	.921
3FG%	Richard Hamilton	Detroit Pistons	.458

Awards

Yearly awards

• Most Valuable Player: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
• Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
• Rookie of the Year: Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
• Sixth Man of the Year: Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies
• Most Improved Player: Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns
• Coach of the Year: Avery Johnson, Dallas Mavericks
• Executive of the Year: Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Clippers
• Sportsmanship Award: Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers

All-NBA First Team: F LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers F Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks C Shaquille O'Neal – Miami Heat G Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers G Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns NBA All-Defensive First Team: Bruce Bowen – San Antonio Spurs Ben Wallace – Detroit Pistons Andrei Kirilenko – Utah Jazz Ron Artest – Sacramento Kings Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers Jason Kidd – New Jersey Nets NBA All-Rookie First Team: Chris Paul – New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets Charlie Villanueva – Toronto Raptors Andrew Bogut – Milwaukee Bucks Deron Williams – Utah Jazz Channing Frye – New York Knicks

All-NBA Second Team: F Elton Brand – Los Angeles Clippers F Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs C Ben Wallace – Detroit Pistons G Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat G Chauncey Billups – Detroit Pistons NBA All-Defensive Second Team: Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs Chauncey Billups – Detroit Pistons Kevin Garnett – Minnesota Timberwolves Marcus Camby – Denver Nuggets Tayshaun Prince – Detroit Pistons NBA All-Rookie Second Team: Danny Granger – Indiana Pacers Raymond Felton – Charlotte Bobcats Luther Head – Houston Rockets Marvin Williams – Atlanta Hawks Ryan Gomes – Boston Celtics

All-NBA Third Team: F Shawn Marion – Phoenix Suns F Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets C Yao Ming – Houston Rockets G Allen Iverson – Philadelphia 76ers G Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards

Players of the month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.

Month	Eastern Conference	Western Conference	Ref.
1October – November	James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/2)	Brand, EltonElton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers) (1/1)
2December	Carter, VinceVince Carter (New Jersey Nets) (1/1)	Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) (1/1)
3January	Billups, ChaunceyChauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons) (1/1)	Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/2)
4February	Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (1/1)	Marion, ShawnShawn Marion (Phoenix Suns) (1/1)
4March	James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/2)	Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (1/1)
5April	Howard, DwightDwight Howard (Orlando Magic) (1/1)	Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (2/2)

Rookies of the month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.

Month	Eastern Conference	Western Conference	Ref.
01October – November	Frye, ChanningChanning Frye (New York Knicks) (1/1)	Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets) (1/6)
02December	Villanueva, CharlieCharlie Villanueva (Toronto Raptors) (1/1)	Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets) (2/6)
03January	Bogut, AndrewAndrew Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks) (1/1)	Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets) (3/6)
04February	Felton, RaymondRaymond Felton (Charlotte Bobcats) (1/3)	Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets) (4/6)
05March	Felton, RaymondRaymond Felton (Charlotte Bobcats) (2/3)	Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets) (5/6)
06April	Felton, RaymondRaymond Felton (Charlotte Bobcats) (3/3)	Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets) (6/6)

References

1. ESPN – Hornets will play three March games in New Orleans – NBA
2. NBA.com