The 2023-24 NBA season was a rollercoaster of trades, signings, and memorable moments, culminating in the Boston Celtics emerging as NBA champions. Before the season even began, teams were already shaking things up with key roster moves.
One of the biggest trades saw Marcus Smart leaving the Celtics to join the Grizzlies, while the Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to bolster their lineup. The Dallas Mavericks signed Derrick Jones Jr. to add some diversity to their offense, while the Golden State Warriors brought in Chris Paul for veteran leadership. The Rockets added Dillon Brooks, Aaron Holiday, and Fred Vanfleet as free agents, and the New York Knicks secured Donte DiVincenzo to join former Villanova teammates Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson. And in a surprising move, Damian Lillard parted ways with the Portland Trail Blazers after 10 seasons to join the Milwaukee Bucks.
But it wasn’t just the trades and signings that made headlines during the season. The NBA introduced the In-Season Tournament, giving teams the chance to compete for another championship in the middle of the regular season. The Los Angeles Lakers emerged as the inaugural champions, with LeBron James earning the title of In-Season Tournament MVP.
As the season progressed, young stars like Luka Doncic continued to shine. Doncic finished as the leading scorer of the season, with an impressive 2,370 points and averaging 33.9 points per game. His standout performance came on Jan. 26 when he dropped 73 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks, tying for the fourth-most points in NBA history.
But Doncic wasn’t the only player making headlines with big scoring performances. Just four days earlier, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers scored 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs, breaking a team record previously held by Wilt Chamberlain.
The trade deadline saw teams adding depth in preparation for the playoffs. The Mavericks acquired P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, the Knicks added Bojan Bogdanovic, and the Celtics brought in Xavier Tillman.
The 2023-24 NBA season was full of excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments. And in the end, it was the Boston Celtics who emerged victorious as NBA champions, capping off an incredible year in basketball.
