The NBA season that broke the coaching cycle
In short: In 2017, the NBA experienced a historic anomaly. For the first time since the 1975–76 season, the league entered a new season without a single coaching change. This period of unprecedented stability lasted 536 days, spanning from a dismissal in Memphis to a firing in Phoenix.
The 2017–18 NBA season, the league's 72nd, was defined by structural shifts and roster volatility. To reduce the physical toll of back-to-back games, the regular season began early on October 17, 2017. While the front offices remained unusually static, the players and rosters were in constant motion. The season saw a flurry of high-profile trades, including the Los Angeles Clippers sending five-time All-Star Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in January 2018 in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, and Boban Marjanović. The league also saw the Milwaukee Bucks acquire Tyler Zeller from Brooklyn in February 2018. Additionally, the Chicago Bulls moved Nikola Mirotić to New Orleans during that same month.
The era was also marked by the conclusion of several legendary careers. Veterans like Paul Pierce, who officially retired as a Celtic in July 2017, and Tayshaun Prince, who moved into management with the Grizzlies, transitioned away from the court. Even the league's global footprint expanded, with the Brooklyn Nets playing regular-season games in Mexico City and the Boston Celtics facing the Philadelphia 76ers at London's O2 Arena. The season's global reach extended to China, where the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors competed in preseason matches in Shenzhen and Shanghai. During the All-Star festivities on February 18, 2018, LeBron James earned the night's Most Valuable Player honors.
Ultimately, the season culminated in a championship clash between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The playoffs, which began on April 14, 2018, featured a rare intensity; for the first time since 1979, both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals reached a decisive Game 7. The Warriors eventually secured the title on June 8, 2018, marking a definitive end to a season of historic transitions. The playoffs concluded with the Cleveland Cavaliers serving as the Finals runner-up. The entire regular season schedule concluded on April 11, 2018.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2017–18 NBA season
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