1994–95 NBA season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the 49th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Houston Rockets defeating the Orlando Magic 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals to repeat as champions.

Notable occurrences

• The Houston Rockets became the lowest seeded team to ever win the NBA Finals, winning as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
• The Portland Trail Blazers played their final season at Memorial Coliseum.
• The 1995 NBA All-Star Game was played at America West Arena (now known as US Airways Center) in Phoenix, Arizona, with the West defeating the East 139-112. Mitch Richmond of the Sacramento Kings was named the game's MVP (Most Valuable Player).
• Midway through the season, Michael Jordan returns to the Chicago Bulls after a failed attempt at a minor-league baseball career. His announcement consists of a two word fax: "I'm Back". Since the Bulls had already retired his number 23, he returned wearing number 45. However, he changed back to 23 during the playoffs after being criticized of "playing like a 45-year-old".
• An era comes to an end as the Boston Celtics play their final season at the historic Boston Garden.
• The Chicago Bulls play their first game at the United Center.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers play their first game at Gund Arena (now known as Quicken Loans Arena).
• Due to extensive renovations to the Seattle Center Coliseum (now known as KeyArena), the Seattle SuperSonics play their home games at the Tacoma Dome, in nearby Tacoma, Washington.
• Grant Hill became the first rookie in professional sports to lead fan balloting for the NBA All-Star Game.
• The Orlando Magic become the first of the four late 1980s expansion franchises to reach the NBA Finals. They are swept in four straight by the defending-champion Houston Rockets.
• Lenny Wilkens passes Red Auerbach to become the NBA all time leader in wins.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

C - NBA Champions

1994-95 NBA statistics leaders

NBA awards

• Most Valuable Player: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
• Rookies of the Year: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks and Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
• Defensive Player of the Year: Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
• Sixth Man of the Year: Anthony Mason, New York Knicks
• Most Improved Player: Dana Barros, Philadelphia 76ers
• Coach of the Year: Del Harris, Los Angeles Lakers
• All-NBA First Team:
  • F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
  • F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
  • C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  • G - John Stockton, Utah Jazz
  • G - Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
• All-NBA Second Team:
  • F - Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns
  • F - Shawn Kemp, Seattle SuperSonics
  • C - Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic
  • G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
  • G - Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
• All-NBA Third Team:
  • F - Detlef Schrempf, Seattle SuperSonics
  • F - Dennis Rodman, San Antonio Spurs
  • C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  • G - Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
  • G - Clyde Drexler, Houston Rockets
• NBA All-Defensive First Team:
  • F - Dennis Rodman, San Antonio Spurs
  • F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
  • C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  • G - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
  • G - Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
  • F - Derrick McKey, Indiana Pacers
  • F - Horace Grant, Orlando Magic
  • C - Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
  • G - Nate McMillan, Seattle SuperSonics
  • G - John Stockton, Utah Jazz
• All-NBA Rookie First Team:
  • Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  • Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
  • Eddie Jones, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Brian Grant, Sacramento Kings
  • Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee Bucks
• All-NBA Rookie Second Team:
  • Juwan Howard, Washington Bullets
  • Donyell Marshall, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Eric Montross, Boston Celtics
  • Wesley Person, Phoenix Suns
  • Jalen Rose, Indiana Pacers
  • Sharone Wright, Philadelphia 76ers

Note: All information on this page were obtained on the History section on NBA.com

See also