The 2022-2023 NBA season has officially concluded, and what a year it has been. From breaking league records, to all-time great scoring performances, to the surprise rise of teams that people thought would be tanking for the draft–the 2023 season had it all.
Relive these amazing moments with us as we run down our highlights from the NBA season. Don’t miss out on the playoffs by streaming games through the NBA League Pass, powered by PLDT Home.
A new all-time scoring king
LeBron James made basketball history as he broke the the NBA’s all-time scoring record this past season, scoring 38,388 points over his entire career. “King James” dethroned Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whose excellent standing dominated the league for close to 40 years.
It speaks of LeBron’s immense talent, consistency, and longevity that he could reach the pinnacle as the league’s career all-time scorer.
70-point games, anyone?
There have only been six 70+ point games in the NBA’s 75-year history prior to this season. In its 76th year, we got to see two more, thanks to the amazing performances by two of the league’s best guards: Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers. Mitchell and Lillard both scored 71 points this season, and only over a month apart from one another. The league itself has seen a scoring boom this season, and if this trend continues, how many more 70-point performances are we going to see in the near future?
Better than expected
Coming into the 2022-2023 season, no one expected the Sacramento Kings to be playoff-bound. It was predicted that they’d more likely be in the running for the #1 draft pick than be in the race for the #1 seed in the Western Conference. Mike Brown, the team’s new head coach, didn’t let pre-season predictions set his team’s fate, and brought them to success–he led the Kings to a 40-win season for the first time in 15 years.
Will the Kings defy more expectations in the upcoming season? Whether they do or not, it’s safe to say the rise of the Kings have been incredible to watch all year.
A well-deserved jersey retirement across the league
A player’s number being retired is a way to honor the player who wore that jersey number for their contributions to a particular franchise over the course of their career.
For the first time in NBA history, a jersey number was permanently retired all across the league. No one is more fitting of the honor than 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell, formerly of the Boston Celtics. Adam Silver, the current NBA Commissioner, said, “Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way. Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.” With this, teams across the league will include a commemorative No. 6 patch on their jerseys, symbolizing the NBA’s preservation of his legacy.
Would this mean that LeBron James, and other NBA players, would have to switch jersey numbers? Well, they won’t have to unless they want to–not because they have to.
Relive every NBA moment on NBA League Pass powered by PLDT Home!
The Playoffs are upon us, now that the season’s over! Watch your favorite teams make a run at a championship, or relive these great moments on NBA League Pass, powered by PLDT Home Fiber Plus Plans. Enjoy speeds of up to +1000mbps so you can watch every game live and in high definition!
With additional reporting from Karess Rubrico.