As I look back on the NBA's 2021-22 regular season, what strikes me most isn't just the championship journey, but those incredible moments that reminded us why we love this game. I've been covering basketball for over fifteen years, and I can confidently say this season delivered some of the most memorable basketball I've ever witnessed. The beauty of the regular season often lies in these unexpected highlights - from record-breaking performances to games that seemed meaningless on paper but carried tremendous weight for the teams involved.
Speaking of meaningful games, I'm reminded of how even matchups between teams out of playoff contention can produce magic. I distinctly remember watching what many considered "meaningless" games between non-playoff teams and being surprised by the intensity. There's something special about watching players compete when the pressure's off but pride is on the line. These games often showcase raw, unfiltered basketball where players are fighting for contracts, respect, or simply the love of the game. The energy in those arenas might be different from playoff atmospheres, but the competition remains genuine. I've always believed that true basketball fans appreciate these contests just as much as the marquee matchups.
Now, let's dive into what made this season truly historic. Stephen Curry breaking Ray Allen's all-time three-point record stands out as my personal favorite moment. Watching him sink that 2,974th three-pointer against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden felt like witnessing basketball history in its purest form. The way the entire arena - including Knicks fans - rose to applaud him gave me chills. Curry finished the season with 2,977 career threes, and his shooting percentage from beyond the arc remained an impressive 38.0% despite increased defensive attention throughout the season.
The emergence of Ja Morant as a superstar was another highlight I didn't see coming this dramatically. His 52-point explosion against the Spurs in February was arguably the most electrifying individual performance I watched all season. The way he attacked the rim with such fearlessness reminded me of a young Derrick Rose, but with even more aerial artistry. Morant's Player Efficiency Rating of 24.7 placed him firmly in the MVP conversation, and honestly, I think he deserved more first-place votes than he received.
LeBron James reaching 30 points per game at age 37 deserves special mention. In my two decades covering the NBA, I've never seen a player maintain such elite production at that age. His 30.3 points per game while playing 37.2 minutes nightly defied all conventional wisdom about player aging curves. I had doubts about his ability to carry such a heavy offensive load given his mileage, but he proved me and many other skeptics wrong.
The Chicago Bulls' surprising resurgence early in the season caught everyone's attention. Watching DeMar DeRozan hit consecutive game-winning threes on back-to-back days around Christmas felt like something from a movie script. His 35.4% clutch shooting percentage in the final two minutes of close games was among the league's best, and personally, I believe he was the most valuable mid-range shooter in the entire league last season.
Kevin Durant's return from his MCL injury provided one of the season's most emotional moments. After missing 21 games, he dropped 31 points in his first game back against the Pelicans. The smoothness of his game made it look like he never left, which is remarkable given the severity of knee injuries I've seen derail other players' careers.
The Celtics' mid-season turnaround under first-year coach Ime Udoka was perhaps the most impressive coaching job I've witnessed since Gregg Popovich's early years. Boston transformed from a .500 team in January to genuine title contenders by April, finishing with a 51-31 record. Their defensive rating of 106.2 after the All-Star break was the best I've seen from any team in the past five years.
Nikola Jokić putting up video game numbers night after night deserved more attention than it received. His player efficiency rating of 32.8 was historically great, and watching him average 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists while carrying Denver's offense made me appreciate his unique skill set even more. In my opinion, he was the most complete offensive center since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Warriors' 18-2 start reminded us of their championship pedigree before injuries disrupted their rhythm. Curry's early MVP-level play had Golden State looking like the team to beat in the West, and I genuinely believe they would have reached the Finals if Draymond Green hadn't missed significant time with his back injury.
The battle between Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the scoring title provided must-watch television every time they took the court. Embiid's 30.6 points per game narrowly edged out Giannis' 29.9, but what impressed me more was how both superstars elevated their teams while putting up historic numbers. Their March 29th matchup, where both scored over 40 points, was one of the best regular-season games I've covered in years.
As the season progressed, the play-in tournament added another layer of excitement to what would have been meaningless late-season games. The intensity we saw from teams fighting for those final playoff spots validated the NBA's decision to implement this format, and I hope they keep it for years to come.
Reflecting on these moments, what stands out to me is how the NBA regular season continues to evolve while maintaining its capacity for surprise. The records broken and unforgettable performances we witnessed this year reinforced why I fell in love with basketball journalism in the first place. While championships define legacies, these regular-season highlights create the memories that sustain us through offseason droughts and keep us coming back each October hungry for more basketball magic.