The 2016–17 NBA season marked a historic turning point for league coaching stability
In short: While the 2016–17 NBA season is remembered for the Golden State Warriors' dominant playoff run, it also achieved a rare milestone in professional basketball history. For the first time since the 1963–64 season, no head coach was fired or replaced during the entire regular season, signaling a unique period of stability.
The 71st NBA season, which ran from October 25, 2016, to June 12, 2017, was defined by significant transitions. On the court, the Golden State Warriors secured the championship by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in their third consecutive Finals matchup, finishing the postseason with a remarkable 16–1 record. This season also marked the final year of Adidas jerseys before Nike took over the following year. Off the court, the league saw a wave of high-profile retirements, including legends like Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, who were the final active players from the 1995 and 1996 draft classes, respectively.
The coaching landscape underwent a massive overhaul during the preceding offseason. Between April and June 2016, numerous teams sought new leadership, resulting in a flurry of hires. For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers brought in Luke Walton, while the Sacramento Kings hired Dave Joerger shortly after his departure from the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite this intense period of turnover, the regular season itself remained remarkably calm. The absence of in-season coaching changes was a historic anomaly, occurring only for the fourth time in the league's existence.
Beyond coaching, the league navigated complex social and professional shifts. The 2017 All-Star Game, originally slated for Charlotte, was relocated to New Orleans due to the NBA's disapproval of North Carolina's legislation regarding public facility access. During the game, Anthony Davis set a new record by scoring 52 points, earning MVP honors. Meanwhile, the player market saw major movement, most notably Kevin Durant’s high-profile move to the Warriors and Dwyane Wade’s departure from the Miami Heat to the Chicago Bulls. These events collectively framed a season that balanced intense competitive dominance with a rare, quiet stability in its coaching ranks.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2016–17 NBA season
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