NBA 1981/82

National Basketball Association
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Duration		October 30, 1981 - April 18, 1982
Season games per team		82
Number of teams		23
Regular season
Best record		Boston Celtics
Season MVP		Moses Malone
Playoffs
Eastern - Champion		Philadelphia 76ers
Runner-up team		Boston Celtics
Western - Champion		Los Angeles Lakers
Runner-up team		San Antonio Spurs
Finals
NBA champions		Los Angeles Lakers
Runner-up		Philadelphia 76ers
Finals MVP		Magic Johnson

The 1981-82 NBA season was the National Basketball Association's 36th season . The regular season began on October 30, 1981 and ended on April 18, 1982. This was followed by the NBA playoffs on April 20, 1982, which ended in early June with the NBA finals . The championship won the Los Angeles Lakers with a 4-2 in the series against the Philadelphia 76ers .

Draft

The 1981 NBA Draft took place in New York City on June 9, 1981 . In first position, Mark Aguirre was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks .

All-Star Game

The 1982 All-Star Game was played on January 31, 1982 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford . The East won with 120 to 118. For MVP was Larry Bird selected.

Final results

S = wins, N = defeats, PCT = percentage of wins, P = deficit on division leaders

The placements in the seed lists of the respective conference playoffs are listed in brackets.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Boston Celtics (1) 63 19th .768 - 2 Philadelphia 76ers (3) 58 24 .707 5 3 New Jersey Nets (4) 44 38 .537 19th 4th Washington Bullets (5) 43 39 .524 20th 5 New York Knicks 33 49 .402 30th Central Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Milwaukee Bucks (2) 55 27 .671 - 2 Atlanta Hawks (6) 42 40 .512 13 3 Detroit Pistons 39 43 .476 16 4th Indiana Pacers 35 47 .427 20th 5 Chicago Bulls 34 48 .415 21st 6th Cleveland Cavaliers 15th 67 .183 40

Western Conference Midwest Division # team S. N PCT P 1 San Antonio Spurs (2) 48 34 .585 - 2 Denver Nuggets (4) 46 36 .561 2 3 Houston Rockets (6) 46 36 .561 2 4th Kansas City Kings 30th 52 .366 18th 5 Dallas Mavericks 28 54 .341 20th 6th Utah Jazz 25th 57 .305 23 Pacific Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Los Angeles Lakers (1) 57 25th .695 - 2 Seattle SuperSonics (3) 52 30th .634 5 3 Phoenix Suns (5) 46 36 .561 11 4th Golden State Warriors 45 37 .549 12 5 Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 15th 6th San Diego Clippers 17th 65 .207 40

NBA awards

• Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone , Houston Rockets
• Rookie of the Year: Buck Williams , New Jersey Nets
• Coach of the Year: Gene Shue , Washington Bullets
• All-NBA First Team:
  • F - Larry Bird , Boston Celtics
  • F - George Gervin , San Antonio Spurs
  • C - Julius Erving , Philadelphia 76ers
  • G - Moses Malone , Houston Rockets
  • G - Gus Williams , Seattle SuperSonics
• All-NBA Second Team:
  • F - Bernard King , Golden State Warriors
  • F - Alex English , Denver Nuggets
  • C - Robert Parish , Boston Celtics
  • G - Magic Johnson , Los Angeles Lakers
  • G - Sidney Moncrief , Milwaukee Bucks
• All-NBA Rookie Team:
  • Buck Williams , New Jersey Nets
  • Jay Vincent , Dallas Mavericks
  • Kelly Tripucka , Detroit Pistons
  • Isiah Thomas , Detroit Pistons
  • Jeff Ruland , Washington Bullets
• NBA All-Defensive First Team:
  • Michael Cooper , Los Angeles Lakers
  • Dennis Johnson , Phoenix Suns
  • Bobby Jones , Philadelphia 76ers
  • Caldwell Jones , Philadelphia 76ers
  • Dan Roundfield , Atlanta Hawks
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
  • Larry Bird , Boston Celtics
  • Quinn Buckner , Milwaukee Bucks
  • Sidney Moncrief , Milwaukee Bucks
  • Lonnie Shelton , Seattle SuperSonics
  • Jack Sikma , Seattle SuperSonics

Playoffs

In the first round, the teams started on the third to sixth seed list. The two top teams at the conferences only entered the playoffs in the second round. The first round was played in the best-of-three system , from the second round onwards in the best-of-seven system.

	First round					Conference semifinals					Conference Finals					NBA finals
						1	los Angeles	4th
						5	Phoenix	0
	4th	Denver	1
	5	Phoenix	2
											1	los Angeles	4th
	Western Conference
											2	San Antonio	0
	3	Seattle	2
	6th	Houston	1
						3	Seattle	1
						2	San Antonio	4th
																W1	los Angeles	4th
																E3	Philadelphia	2
						1	Boston	4th
						5	Washington	1
	4th	New Jersey	0
	5	Washington	2
											1	Boston	3
	Eastern Conference
											3	Philadelphia	4th
	3	Philadelphia	2
	6th	Atlanta	0
						3	Philadelphia	4th
						2	Milwaukee	2

Web links

The 1981/82 season at basketball-reference.com