The 2022-23 NBA season marked the 77th campaign of the league, delivering historic scoring milestones, dramatic playoff upsets, and a first-ever championship for the franchise in the Mile High City. From opening night on October 18, 2022, through the conclusion of the NBA Finals in June 2023, the league showcased unprecedented offensive outputs alongside tactical shifts driven by deep-dive tracking analytics.
If you're looking for a definitive breakdown of how the 2022-23 campaign unfolded, this retrospective covers the regular season powerhouse performances, major individual awards, postseason shakeups, and the defining moments that shaped the Larry O'Brien Trophy chase.
Regular Season Landscape and Standings
The 82-game regular season produced fierce battles across both conferences, highlighted by high-powered offenses that rewrote historical efficiency metrics.
In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks secured the top seed with a stellar 58-24 record, anchored by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Right behind them, the Boston Celtics finished at 57-25, continuing their dominance behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Philadelphia 76ers (54-28) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31) rounded out the top four seeds in the East, while teams like the New York Knicks showed unexpected resilience to capture the fifth seed.
Out West, the Denver Nuggets claimed the number one seed with a calculated, efficient 53-29 run, allowing them to rest key players down the stretch. The Western Conference race was famously congested, where a single-digit win difference separated seeds four through ten. The Sacramento Kings snapped their historic playoff drought by capturing the third seed with a fast-paced offensive attack, while traditional powerhouses like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors fought through mid-season struggles to secure postseason berths via the play-in tournament.
For official historical data and complete box scores, you can review the comprehensive records on Basketball Reference.
Major Individual Awards
Individual brilliance defined the 2022-23 campaign, with several players putting up video-game numbers night after night.
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): Joel Embiid captured his first MVP award after leading the league in scoring with 33.1 points per game, adding 10.2 rebounds and anchoring the Philadelphia 76ers defense.
- Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic lived up to his number-one overall draft billing, averaging 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game to claim the honor unanimously.
- Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies earned the award by pacing the league in blocks per game and serving as an elite rim protector.
- Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon provided vital perimeter scoring and playmaking off the bench for the Boston Celtics.
- Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen broke out in his first season with the Utah Jazz, transforming into an All-Star starter.
The Play-In Tournament and Postseason Surprises
The play-in tournament, established to keep more teams competitive late into the spring, delivered immediate drama. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves fought through the elimination rounds, with Minnesota ultimately advancing to face Denver.
Once the official 16-team playoff bracket tipped off, the postseason delivered immediate chaos. In the Eastern Conference, the eighth-seeded Miami Heat pulled off a historic run. After surviving the play-in games, Miami stunned the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games, largely due to Jimmy Butler's otherworldly scoring performances. The Heat continued their momentum by defeating the New York Knicks in the second round and eventually outlasting the Boston Celtics in a grueling seven-game Eastern Conference Finals.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference playoffs belonged to the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray dismantled opposing defenses with a surgical two-game masterclass, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals to punch the franchise's first ticket to the NBA Finals.
To read official league announcements and track ongoing basketball developments, check out NBA.com.
The 2023 NBA Finals: Denver's Ascent
The 2023 NBA Finals pitted the West-leading Denver Nuggets against the resilient, eighth-seeded Miami Heat. While Miami fought hard behind Erik Spoelstra's tactical adjustments and Butler's grit, Denver's depth, size, and offensive chemistry proved insurmountable.
Nikola Jokic dominated the series, averaging a triple-double and controlling the tempo with pinpoint passing and efficient scoring. Jamal Murray chipped in with crucial perimeter shot-making and playmaking. The Nuggets captured the title in five games, culminating in a 94-89 victory on their home floor in Game 5. Jokic was named the NBA Finals MVP, capping off a historic postseason run where he broke records for most triple-doubles in a single playoff year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2022-23 NBA Championship?
The Denver Nuggets won the 2022-23 NBA championship, defeating the Miami Heat in five games to secure the first title in franchise history.
Who won the regular season MVP award in 2023?
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers won the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player award after averaging a league-high 33.1 points per game.
What was notable about the Sacramento Kings' season?
The Sacramento Kings ended the longest active postseason drought in major American professional sports by clinching the third seed in the Western Conference and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Who was the top draft pick entering the 2022-23 season?
Paolo Banchero was selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic and went on to win the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year award.
