Looking back at the 2021-22 NBA regular season, I can't help but feel it was one of those special campaigns that will be remembered for generations. As someone who's followed the league for over two decades, I've seen my share of remarkable seasons, but this one had that unique blend of unpredictability and narrative richness that separates truly great seasons from merely good ones. What struck me most was how even the games between teams at the bottom of the standings carried genuine significance - a phenomenon that reminds me of that crucial matchup between Terrafirma and Blackwater where the winner would escape the cellar. These seemingly minor contests often reveal the heart of what makes basketball compelling.
The season's opening months immediately set the tone with the Golden State Warriors' stunning resurgence. After two difficult years in the wilderness, watching Steph Curry break the all-time three-point record in December felt like witnessing history in real time. I remember thinking during that Madison Square Garden spectacle - where he surpassed Ray Allen with his 2,974th career three - that we were watching one of those iconic moments that would be replayed for decades. The Warriors finishing with a 53-29 record after their recent struggles demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change in this league, especially when you have a generational talent like Curry who put up 25.5 points per game while shooting 38% from deep.
What made this season particularly fascinating from my perspective was the emergence of the Memphis Grizzlies as legitimate contenders. Ja Morant's leap to superstardom wasn't just statistically impressive - his 27.4 points and 6.7 assists per game - but it was the sheer audacity of his play that captured the imagination. I've rarely seen a player so dramatically shift a team's identity in such a short time. Their 56-26 record, good for second in the brutal Western Conference, signaled the arrival of a new powerhouse built around one of the most electrifying young cores I've witnessed in years.
The Chicago Bulls' first-half surge provided another compelling storyline, with DeMar DeRozan's consecutive game-winning three-pointers in late December standing out as one of my personal highlights. His vintage scoring outbursts - including that incredible stretch where he averaged 35.6 points over eight games - felt like watching an artist rediscovering his masterpiece. The Bulls' 46-36 finish might not have matched their early-season dominance, but it marked their return to relevance after years of mediocrity.
Meanwhile, the MVP race developed into one of the most memorable in recent history. Nikola Jokic's historic campaign - averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists - wasn't just about the numbers. Watching him orchestrate the Nuggets' offense without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. felt like observing basketball genius at work. His player efficiency rating of 32.8 ranks among the highest I've ever seen, and his impact transcended traditional statistics. The debate between Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo created endless discussion among analysts and fans alike, each making compelling cases that could have justified the award in most other seasons.
The play-in tournament, now in its second year, added another layer of drama that kept more teams invested deeper into the season. I particularly appreciated how it maintained competitive intensity for teams that in previous years might have tanked once their playoff hopes dimmed. This created scenarios reminiscent of that Terrafirma-Blackwater dynamic where even eliminated teams played with purpose. The Minnesota Timberwolves' dramatic play-in victory over the LA Clippers, culminating in Patrick Beverley's emotional celebration, exemplified how every game mattered until the very end.
LeBron James becoming the first player to reach 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists provided one of those milestone moments that remind us we're watching all-time greatness. At 37, he averaged 30.3 points - the highest of his career since 2008 - which from my viewpoint defies normal basketball aging curves. His longevity alone would have made this season memorable, but combined with all the other narratives, it added to the season's historical significance.
The Phoenix Suns' franchise-record 64 wins established them as the team to beat, with Chris Paul's steady leadership and Devin Booker's scoring brilliance creating a perfect basketball symbiosis. Their 18-game winning streak between October and December demonstrated a level of consistency I haven't seen from many teams in the regular season. What impressed me most was how they maintained their intensity throughout, never seeming to take nights off despite their substantial lead in the standings.
As the season progressed, the battle for scoring title between Embiid (30.6 PPG) and LeBron (30.3 PPG) added another compelling subplot. Embiid becoming the first center since Shaquille O'Neal to average 30 points felt particularly significant in today's perimeter-oriented game. Having watched the evolution of big men throughout NBA history, I found his blend of traditional post play and modern skills particularly fascinating - he attempted nearly 12 free throws per game while also making 37% of his three-pointers, a combination I've never seen from a player his size.
The season's final weeks provided the usual playoff positioning drama, but with added intensity due to the play-in tournament. Teams like Brooklyn and Cleveland, who might have comfortably made the playoffs in previous years, found themselves fighting for their postseason lives until the final games. This created a sense of urgency that extended deep into the standings, ensuring meaningful basketball well after many teams had been eliminated from championship contention.
Reflecting on the entire 2021-22 campaign, what stands out to me is how it balanced individual brilliance with compelling team stories across the entire league landscape. From the Warriors' return to prominence to the Grizzlies' emergence, from historic individual performances to the continued evolution of how we determine playoff qualification, this season offered something for every basketball fan. The fact that even matchups between bottom-tier teams carried significance - much like that Terrafirma-Blackwater game where escaping the cellar meant everything - speaks to a league where engagement and competition exist at every level. In my years covering the NBA, I've learned that the most memorable seasons aren't just about who wins the championship, but about the journey there, and the 2021-22 regular season provided one of the richest, most engaging journeys I can remember.