NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge
Winners
Table:
Season

Player(s)

Team(s)

Time

2002–03

Jason Kidd

New Jersey Nets

35.1 seconds

2003–04

Baron Davis

New Orleans Hornets

31.6 seconds

2004–05

Steve Nash

Phoenix Suns

25.8 seconds

2005–06

Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat

26.1 seconds

2006–07

Dwyane Wade (2)

Miami Heat (2)

26.4 seconds

2007–08

Deron Williams

Utah Jazz

25.5 seconds[a]

2008–09

Derrick Rose

Chicago Bulls

35.3 seconds

2009–10

Steve Nash (2)

Phoenix Suns (2)

29.9 seconds

2010–11

Stephen Curry

Golden State Warriors

28.2 seconds

2011–12

Tony Parker

San Antonio Spurs

32.8 seconds

2012–13

Damian Lillard

Portland Trail Blazers

29.8 seconds

2013–14

Damian Lillard (2)
Trey Burke

Portland Trail Blazers (2)
Utah Jazz (2)

45.2 seconds

2014–15

Patrick Beverley

Houston Rockets

—

2015–16

Karl-Anthony Towns

Minnesota Timberwolves

—

2016–17

Kristaps Porziņģis

New York Knicks

—

2017–18

Spencer Dinwiddie

Brooklyn Nets (2)

—

2018–19

Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics

—

Using the provided table as well as the passages provided at the end.

Solve the question: What year did the player who played for a team found in Philadelphia and had a time below 29 seconds ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

The 2002-03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals . This would be Michael Jordan 's last season in the NBA .
Jason Frederick Kidd ( born March 23 , 1973 ) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . Previously a point guard in the NBA , Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star , a five-time All-NBA First Team member , and a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member . He won an NBA Championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks , and was a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner during his pro career , as part of Team USA in 2000 and 2008 . He was inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . Kidd played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft . He was named co-NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Mavericks . Then , from 1996 to 2001 , Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns and later for the New Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008 . He led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 . In the middle of the 2007-08 season , Kidd was traded back to Dallas . At age 38 , Kidd won his only NBA championship when Dallas defeated Miami in the 2011 NBA Finals . He finished his playing career in 2013 with the New York Knicks . The following season , he became the head coach of the Nets , who had relocated from New Jersey to Brooklyn .
The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn . The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference . The team plays its home games at Barclays Center . They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City ; the other is the New York Knicks . The team was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBA 's rival league , the American Basketball Association ( ABA ) . They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season , before moving to Long Island in 1968 and changing their name to the New York Nets . During this time , the Nets won two ABA championships ( in 1974 and 1976 ) . In 1976 , the ABA merged with the NBA , and the Nets were absorbed into the NBA along with three other ABA teams ( the San Antonio Spurs , Indiana Pacers , and Denver Nuggets , all of whom remain in the league today ) . In 1977 , the team returned to New Jersey and played as the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012 . During this time , the Nets won two consecutive Eastern Conference championships ( in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons ) , but failed to win a league title . In the summer of 2012 , the team moved to Barclays Center , and took its current geographic name .
The 2003-04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association . The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the 2004 NBA Finals .
Baron Walter Louis Davis ( born April 13 , 1979 ) is an American former professional basketball player who is a studio analyst for The NBA on TNT . He is a two-time NBA All-Star . He was drafted with the third overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets . He also played in the NBA for the New Orleans Hornets , Golden State Warriors , Los Angeles Clippers , Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks . Davis played college basketball for UCLA , where he was an All-American honoree before turning professional after his sophomore year . He was a star high school player while at Crossroads School .
The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans . The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Western Conference Southwest Division . The team plays their home games in the Smoothie King Center . The Pelicans were established as the New Orleans Hornets in the 2002-03 season when then-owner of the Charlotte Hornets , George Shinn , relocated the franchise to New Orleans . Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , the franchise temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City , where they spent two seasons officially known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets . The team returned to New Orleans full-time for the 2007-08 season . On January 24 , 2013 , the franchise announced it would rename itself the Pelicans , effective after the conclusion of the 2012-13 season . The Charlotte Hornets ' name , history , and records from 1988 to 2002 were returned to its original city to be used by the then Charlotte Bobcats franchise , which subsequently became the Charlotte Hornets , starting May 20 , 2014 . In 16 seasons of play since the original franchise relocated from North Carolina , the Louisiana franchise has achieved an overall regular season record of 610-686 , and has qualified for the playoffs seven times . Their achievements include two playoff series victories and one division title .
The 2004-05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . It began on November 2 , 2004 and ended June 23 , 2005 . The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating the defending-champion Detroit Pistons , 4-3 , in the NBA Finals .
Stephen John Nash OC OBC ( born 7 February 1974 ) is a Canadian former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He was an eight-time NBA All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection . Twice , Nash was named the NBA Most Valuable Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns . He currently serves as senior advisor of the Canadian men 's national team and as a player development consultant for the Golden State Warriors . After a successful high school basketball career in British Columbia , Nash earned a scholarship to Santa Clara University in California . In his four seasons with the Broncos , the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances , and he was twice named the West Coast Conference ( WCC ) Player of the Year . Nash graduated from Santa Clara as the team 's all-time leader in assists and was taken as the 15th pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns . He made minimal impact and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998 . By his fourth season with the Mavericks , he was voted to his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection . Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley , Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season . He became a free agent after the 2003-04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns . In the 2004-05 season , Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals and was named the league 's MVP .
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix , Arizona . The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Western Conference Pacific Division , and are the only team in their division not based in California . The Suns play their home games at the Talking Stick Resort Arena . The franchise began play in 1968 as an expansion team , and their early years were shrouded in mediocrity , but their fortunes changed in the 1970s , where , after partnering long-term guard Dick Van Arsdale and center Alvan Adams with Paul Westphal , the Suns reached the 1976 NBA Finals , in what is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in NBA history . However , after failing to capture a championship , the Suns would rebuild around Walter Davis for a majority of the 1980s , until the acquisition of Kevin Johnson in 1988 . Under Johnson , and after trading for perennial NBA All-Star Charles Barkley , and combined with the output of Tom Chambers and Dan Majerle , the Suns reached the playoffs for a franchise-record thirteen consecutive appearances and remained a regular title contender throughout the 1990s , and reached the 1993 NBA Finals . However , the team would again fail to win a championship , and entered into another period of mediocrity until the early part of the 2000s . In 2004 , the Suns reacquired Steve Nash , and immediately returned into playoff contention . With Nash , Shawn Marion , and Amar ' e Stoudemire , and under head coach Mike D'Antoni , the Suns became renowned worldwide for their quick , dynamic offense , which led them to tie a franchise record in wins in the 2004-05 season . Two more top two Conference placements followed , but the Suns again failed to attain an NBA championship , and were forced into another rebuild . The Suns own the NBA 's seventh-best all-time winning percentage , and have the second highest winning percentage of any teams to have never won an NBA championship . 10 Hall of Famers have played for Phoenix , while two Suns , Barkley and Nash , have won the NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) award while playing for the team .
The 2005-06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association . The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals , four games to two .
Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. ( /dweɪn/ dwayn ; born January 17 , 1982 ) is an American former professional basketball player . Wade spent the majority of his 16-year career playing for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . After a successful college basketball career with the Marquette Golden Eagles , Wade was drafted fifth overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Heat . In his third season , Wade led the Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history and was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP . At the 2008 Summer Olympics , Wade led the United States men 's basketball team , commonly known as the Redeem Team , in scoring and helped them capture the gold medal . In the 2008-09 season , Wade led the league in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title . With LeBron James and Chris Bosh , Wade helped guide Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2014 , winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 . After playing for the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers , Wade finished his playing career with Miami in 2018 . A 13-time NBA All-Star , Wade is Miami 's all-time leader in points , games , assists , steals , shots made , and shots taken .
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami . The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Southeast Division . The Heat play their home games at American Airlines Arena , and have won three NBA championships . The franchise began play in the 1988-89 NBA season as an expansion team . After a period of mediocrity , the Heat would gain relevance during the 1990s following the appointment of former head coach Pat Riley in the role of team president . Riley would construct the high-profile trades of Alonzo Mourning in 1995 , and of Tim Hardaway in 1996 , which immediately propelled the team into playoff contention . Mourning and Hardaway would eventually lead the Heat to four division titles , prior to their departures in 2001 and 2002 , respectively . As a result , the team struggled , and entered into a rebuild in time for the 2002-03 season . Led by Dwyane Wade , and following a trade for former NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Shaquille O'Neal , Miami advanced to play in the NBA Finals in 2006 , where they clinched their first championship , led by Riley as head coach . After the departure of O'Neal two years later , the team entered into another period of decline for the remainder of the 2000s . This saw the resignation of Riley as head coach , who returned to his position as team president , and was replaced by Erik Spoelstra . In 2010 , after creating significant cap space , the Heat partnered Wade with former league MVP LeBron James , and perennial NBA All-Star Chris Bosh , creating the Big Three .
The 2006-07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association . The San Antonio Spurs were crowned the champions after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals .
The 2007-08 NBA season was the 62nd season of the National Basketball Association . The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 to win the 2008 NBA Finals , four games to two . The 2007 NBA draft was held on June 28 , 2007 and Greg Oden was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers . However , he missed the entire season due to knee surgery . This season was notable for being one of the most competitive Western Conference playoff races in NBA history . Up until April 4 , 2008 , not a single Western Conference team had secured a playoff spot , and the 8th-seeded team was a mere 6.5 games behind the 1st seed . Additionally , the quality of the teams ensured that the Golden State Warriors finished with the highest winning percentage of any non-playoff team in NBA history since the switch to the eight-team playoff format , beating out the 2000-01 Houston Rockets . The all-time record is held by the 1971-72 Phoenix Suns ( 49-33 ) , which was during the four-team playoff era .
Deron Michael Williams ( /ˈdɛrən/ DERR-ən ; born June 26 , 1984 ) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent . He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini before being drafted third overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz . The three-time NBA All-Star has also played for Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League during the 2011 NBA lockout , and was a gold medal winner on the United States national team at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics .
The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City . The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Western Conference , Northwest Division . Since 1991 , the team has played its home games at Vivint Smart Home Arena . The franchise began play as an expansion team in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz ( as a tribute to New Orleans ' history of originating Jazz music ) . The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City in 1979 . The Jazz were one of the most successful teams in the league in their early years . Although 10 seasons elapsed before the Jazz qualified for their first playoff appearance in 1984 , they did not miss the playoffs again until 2004 . During the late 1980s , John Stockton and Karl Malone arose as the franchise players for the team , and formed one of the most famed point guard-power forward duos in NBA history . Led by coach Jerry Sloan , who took over from Frank Layden in 1988 , they became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s , culminating in two NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998 , where they lost both times to the Chicago Bulls , led by Michael Jordan . Both Stockton and Malone moved on in 2003 . After missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons the Jazz returned to prominence under the on-court leadership of point guard Deron Williams . However , partway through the 2010-11 season , the Jazz began restructuring after Sloan 's retirement and Williams ' trade to the New Jersey Nets .
The 2008-09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals , four games to one . The 2008 NBA draft was held on June 28 , 2008 , and Derrick Rose was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls and eventually awarded the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year Award . The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was hosted at the US Airways Center in Phoenix . The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 146-119 . The All-Star Game co-MVPs were Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant . This was the first NBA season since 1966-67 without a Seattle franchise , as the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City , Oklahoma in July 2008 and became the Oklahoma City Thunder .
Derrick Martell Rose ( born October 4 , 1988 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He played one year of college basketball for the Memphis Tigers before being drafted first overall by his hometown Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA draft . He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and also became the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2011 at age 22 . Rose was born and raised in Chicago , and attended Simeon Career Academy . He was highly recruited by colleges , eventually choosing to join the University of Memphis under coach John Calipari . Rose led the Tigers to the most wins in NCAA history ( a 38-2 record ) , their first number 1 ranking in 25 years , and an appearance in the NCAA championship game . In 2009 , an NCAA investigation revealed that Rose 's SAT scores had been invalidated , and as a result , the NCAA vacated Memphis ' entire 2007-08 season . Rose has struggled with significant knee injuries since his 2010-11 MVP campaign . In the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers , Rose tore his ACL in his left knee . Rose required surgery and was subsequently sidelined for the entire 2012-13 season . Rose returned to play in 2013-14 . However , on November 22 , 2013 , during a regular season game against the Portland Trail Blazers , Rose injured his right meniscus which caused him to miss the remainder of the season .
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago . The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Central Division . The team was founded on January 16 , 1966 and played its first game later that year . The Bulls play their home games at the United Center , an arena on Chicago 's west side shared with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . The Bulls saw their greatest success during the 1990s when they played a major part in popularizing the NBA worldwide . They are known for having one of the NBA 's greatest dynasties , winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats . All six of their championship teams were led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan , Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson . The Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships while never losing an NBA Finals series in their history . The Bulls won 72 games during the 1995-96 NBA season , setting an NBA record that stood until the Golden State Warriors won 73 games during the 2015-16 NBA season . The Bulls were the first team in NBA history to win 70 games or more in a single season , and the only NBA franchise to do so until the 2015-16 Warriors . Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose have both won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award while playing for the Bulls , for a total of six MVP awards . The Bulls share rivalries with the Cleveland Cavaliers , Detroit Pistons , Miami Heat and the New York Knicks .
The 2009-10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The 1,230-game regular season ( 82 games for each of the 30 teams ) began on Tuesday , October 27 , 2009 , and ended on Wednesday , April 14 , 2010 . The 2009 NBA draft was held on June 25 , 2009 , and Blake Griffin was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers . The Dallas Mavericks hosted the 59th Annual All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington , Texas , on February 14 , 2010 . For the second time in NBA history , all eight Western Conference playoff teams won at least 50 games , and only 7 wins separated the Western Conference # 1 seed from # 8 seed . Both of these events first occurred in 2008 . Cleveland 's league-leading 61 wins was the lowest win total to lead the league since the Indiana Pacers won 61 games in 2003-04 . The New Jersey Nets became the fifth team in NBA history to lose 70 games in a season .
The 2010-11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20 , 2011 , at Staples Center in Los Angeles . The season concluded with the Dallas Mavericks defeating the Miami Heat in six games , 4 games to 2 , to win their first NBA title , and Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP . Chicago 's Derrick Rose was named the 2010-11 NBA MVP . This would also be the final season of Shaquille ONeal .
Wardell Stephen Steph Curry II ( /ˈstɛfən/ STEF-ən ; born March 14 , 1988 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . A six-time NBA All-Star , Curry has been named the NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) twice and won three NBA championships with the Warriors . Many players and analysts have called him the greatest shooter in NBA history . He is credited with revolutionizing the game of basketball by inspiring teams to regularly utilize the three-point shot . The son of former NBA player Dell Curry and older brother of current NBA player Seth , Curry played college basketball for the Davidson Wildcats . There , he was twice named Southern Conference Player of the Year and set the all-time scoring record for both Davidson and the Southern Conference . During his sophomore year , Curry also set the single-season NCAA record for three-pointers made , and was then selected by the Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft . In 2014-15 , Curry won his first MVP award and led the Warriors to their first championship since 1975 . The following season , he became the first player in NBA history to be elected MVP by a unanimous vote and to lead the league in scoring while shooting above 50-40-90 . That same year , the Warriors broke the record for the most wins in an NBA season en route to reaching the 2016 NBA Finals , which they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers . Curry helped the Warriors return to the NBA Finals in 2017 , 2018 and 2019 , winning back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 . During the 2012-13 season , Curry set the NBA record for three-pointers made in a regular season , with 272 .
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco . The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Western Conference Pacific Division . Founded in 1946 in Philadelphia , the Warriors moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1962 and took the city 's name , before changing its geographic moniker to Golden State in 1971 . [ b ] They play their home games at the Chase Center . The Warriors won the inaugural Basketball Association of America ( BAA ) championship in 1947 , [ c ] and won again in 1956 , led by Hall of Fame trio Paul Arizin , Tom Gola , and Neil Johnston . After a brief rebuilding period after the trade of star Wilt Chamberlain , the team moved to San Francisco . In 1975 , star players Jamaal Wilkes and Rick Barry powered the Warriors to their third championship , largely considered one of the biggest upsets in NBA history . The team struggled in the 1980s , then became playoff regulars at the turn of the decade with stars Tim Hardaway , Mitch Richmond , and Chris Mullin , nicknamed Run TMC . The team returned to championship glory in 2015 , led by Stephen Curry , Klay Thompson , and Draymond Green ; they won again in 2017 and 2018 , with the help of former MVP Kevin Durant . Nicknamed the Dubs as a shortening of W 's , the Warriors hold several NBA records : best regular season , most wins in a season ( regular season and postseason combined ) , and best postseason run . Curry and Thompson are among the greatest backcourts of all time . Only the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have more NBA championships .
The 2011-12 NBA season was the 66th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , began with the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement ( CBA ) between the owners of the 30 NBA teams and the NBA 's players . The previous CBA , which was ratified in 2005 , expired at 12:01 AM EDT on July 1 , 2011 , resulting in a lockout . With the new deal in place , the regular season was shortened from the normal 82 games per team to 66 , because of nearly two months of inactivity . The season began on December 25 , 2011 , and ended on April 26 , 2012 . The playoffs started on April 28 and ended on June 21 when the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of their series , 121-106 , winning the Finals , 4-1 and to capture the franchise 's second NBA title . LeBron James was named both the season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP .
William Anthony Parker Jr. ( born 17 May 1982 ) is a French-American former professional basketball player and majority owner of ASVEL Basket in LNB Pro A . The son of a professional basketball player , Parker played for two years for Paris Basket Racing in the French basketball league , before joining the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He was selected by the Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft , and quickly became their starting point guard . Parker won four NBA championships ( 2003 , 2005 , 2007 , and 2014 ) , all of which were with the Spurs . He also played for ASVEL Basket in France during the 2011 NBA lockout , and finished his career after one season with the Charlotte Hornets . Parker was named to six NBA All-Star games , three All-NBA Second Teams , and an All-NBA Third Team . He was also the 2007 NBA Finals MVP . A severe injury to his left quadriceps tendon in Game 2 in the second round of the 2017 playoffs ended his season . While playing with the French national team , Parker was named the MVP of EuroBasket 2013 , following his team 's victory over Lithuania in the final . He finished as the tournament 's top scorer , with an average of 19 points per game . In 2015 , he became the all-time leading scorer in the EuroBasket competition , a record that was broken by Pau Gasol two years later .
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio . The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Western Conference Southwest Division . The team plays its home games at the AT & T Center in San Antonio . The Spurs are one of four former American Basketball Association ( ABA ) teams to remain intact in the NBA after the 1976 ABA-NBA merger and are the only former ABA team to have won an NBA championship . The franchise has won NBA championships in 1999 , 2003 , 2005 , 2007 , and 2014 . As of May 2015 , the Spurs had the highest winning percentage among active NBA franchises . As of May 2017 , the Spurs had the best winning percentage of any franchise in the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada over the previous three decades . From 1999-2000 to 2016-17 , the Spurs won 50 games each season , setting a record of 18 consecutive 50-win seasons . In the 2018-19 season , the Spurs matched an NBA record for most consecutive playoff appearances with 22 . The team 's recent success has coincided with the tenure of current head coach Gregg Popovich and with the playing careers of Spurs icons David Robinson ( 1989-2003 ) and Tim Duncan ( 1997-2016 ) .
The 2012-13 NBA season was the 67th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The regular season began on Tuesday , October 30 , 2012 , when the 2011-12 NBA Champions Miami Heat started the season by hosting the Boston Celtics . The 2013 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 17 , 2013 , at Toyota Center in Houston , Texas . The regular season ended on Wednesday , April 17 , 2013 , and the playoffs began on Saturday , April 20 , 2013 and ended on June 20 , 2013 , with the Miami Heat defeating the San Antonio Spurs in seven games to win the 2013 NBA Finals .
Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. ( born July 15 , 1990 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012 . After being selected by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft , Lillard was unanimously voted the NBA Rookie of the Year . He has received five NBA All-Star selections and is one of two players in Trail Blazers franchise history , along with Clyde Drexler , to become a five-time All-Star .
The Portland Trail Blazers , commonly known as the Blazers , are an American professional basketball team based in Portland , Oregon . The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Western Conference Northwest Division . The team played its home games in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to Moda Center in 1995 ( called the Rose Garden until 2013 ) . The franchise entered the league as an expansion team in 1970 , and has enjoyed a strong following : from 1977 through 1995 , the team sold out 814 consecutive home games , the longest such streak in American major professional sports at the time , and only since surpassed by the Boston Red Sox . The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team based in the bi-national Pacific Northwest , after the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis and became the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 and the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008 . The team has advanced to the NBA Finals three times , winning the NBA championship once in 1977 . Their other NBA Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992 . The team has qualified for the playoffs in 34 seasons of their 48-season existence , including a streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 through 2003 , tied for the second longest streak in NBA history . The Trail Blazers ' 34 playoff appearances rank third in the NBA only behind the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs since the team 's inception in 1970 . Six Hall of Fame players have played for the Trail Blazers ( Lenny Wilkens , Bill Walton , Clyde Drexler , Dražen Petrović , Arvydas Sabonis , and Scottie Pippen ) . Bill Walton is the franchise 's most decorated player ; he was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1977 , and the regular season MVP the following year . Four Blazers ' rookies ( Geoff Petrie , Sidney Wicks , Brandon Roy and Damian Lillard ) have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award .
The 2013-14 NBA season was the 68th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The regular season began on Tuesday , October 29 , 2013 , with the Indiana Pacers hosting a game against the Orlando Magic followed by the 2012-13 NBA champions Miami Heat hosting a game against the Chicago Bulls followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting a game against the Los Angeles Clippers . The 2014 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16 , 2014 , at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans . Cleveland 's Kyrie Irving won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award . The regular season ended on April 16 , 2014 , and the playoffs began on Saturday , April 19 , 2014 , and ended on June 15 , 2014 , with the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Miami Heat in five games to win the 2014 NBA Finals .
Alfonso Clark Trey Burke III ( born November 12 , 1992 ) is an American basketball player . He was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft and immediately traded to the Utah Jazz . He has also played with the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks . He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines where in the 2012-13 season , he earned National Player of the Year and led the 2012-13 Wolverines to the championship game of the 2013 NCAA Men 's Division I Basketball Tournament . Shortly after the tournament he declared his eligibility for the draft . As a freshman at Michigan , he earned the 2011-12 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year award and was named to the 2011-12 All-Big Ten 2nd team . He was selected as a 2012 NCAA Men 's Basketball All-American by CBSSports.com ( second team ) and the Associated Press - sometimes AP - ( honorable mention ) . He led the 2011-12 team in points , assists , steals and blocked shots . As a sophomore , Burke was a consensus first team 2013 NCAA Men 's Basketball All-American . He also earned Big Ten Conference Men 's Basketball Player of the Year in 2013 and was a unanimous 2012-13 All-Big Ten 1st team selection . He also earned almost all the possible National Player of the Year awards ( Wooden , AP , NABC , Naismith , Robertson and Sports Illustrated ) as well as the Bob Cousy Award . As a sophomore , he led the Big Ten in assists and set the Michigan single-season assists record .
The 2014-15 NBA season was the 69th season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The NBA draft took place on June 26 , 2014 , at Barclays Center in Brooklyn , where Andrew Wiggins was selected first overall . The regular season began on Tuesday , October 28 , 2014 , when the defending NBA champions San Antonio Spurs hosted the first game against the Dallas Mavericks . The 2015 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday , February 15 , 2015 , at Madison Square Garden in New York City , with the West defeating the East 163-158 . Oklahoma City 's Russell Westbrook won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award . The regular season ended on Wednesday April 15 , 2015 and the playoffs began on Saturday , April 18 , 2015 and ended with the 2015 NBA Finals on June 16 , 2015 , after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games to win their fourth NBA title . The Charlotte Bobcats played their first official game as the Charlotte Hornets since 2002 .
Patrick Beverley ( born July 12 , 1988 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He played college basketball for Arkansas before spending three and a half seasons overseas in Ukraine , Greece , and Russia . In January 2013 , he joined the Houston Rockets and quickly cemented himself as the team 's starting point guard . In June 2017 , he was traded to the Clippers .
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston . They compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member team of the league 's Western Conference Southwest Division . The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center , located in Downtown Houston . The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles . The team was established in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets , an expansion team originally based in San Diego . In 1971 , the Rockets moved to Houston . The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season as a franchise in 1967 . In the 1968 NBA draft , the Rockets were awarded the first overall pick and selected power forward Elvin Hayes , who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in his rookie season . The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record for almost a decade until the 1976-77 season , when they traded for All-Star center Moses Malone . Malone went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) award twice while playing with the Rockets and led Houston to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year with the team . During the 1980-81 season , the Rockets finished the regular season with a 40-42 record . Despite their losing record , they qualified for the playoffs .
The 2015-16 NBA season was the 70th season of the National Basketball Association . The regular season began on Tuesday , October 27 , 2015 at the United Center , home of the Chicago Bulls , with their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers . The 2016 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto , Ontario , Canada on February 14 , 2016 . The regular season ended on April 13 , 2016 . The playoffs started on April 16 , 2016 and ended with the 2016 NBA Finals on June 19 , 2016 , with the Cleveland Cavaliers becoming NBA Champions for the first time in franchise history after defeating the Golden State Warriors in seven games .
Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. ( born November 15 , 1995 ) is a Dominican-American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats . Towns was named to the Dominican Republic national team as a 16-year-old . He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves , and went on to be named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2015-16 season . He has received two All-Star selections .
The Minnesota Timberwolves ( also commonly known as the Wolves ) are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis . The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Western Conference Northwest Division . Founded in 1989 , the team is owned by Glen Taylor who also owns the WNBA 's Minnesota Lynx . The Timberwolves play their home games at Target Center , their home since 1990 . Like most expansion teams , the Timberwolves struggled in their early years , but after the acquisition of Kevin Garnett in the 1995 NBA draft , the team qualified for the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons from 1997 to 2004 . Despite losing in the first round in their first seven attempts , the Timberwolves won their first division championship in 2004 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals that same season . Garnett was also named the NBA Most Valuable Player for that season . The team then went into rebuilding mode for more than a decade after missing the postseason in 2005 , and trading Garnett to the Boston Celtics in 2007 . Garnett returned to the Timberwolves in a February 2015 trade and finished his career there , retiring in the 2016 offseason . The Timberwolves ended a 14-year playoff drought when they returned to the postseason in 2018 .
The 2016-17 NBA season was the 71st season of the National Basketball Association . The regular season began on October 25 , 2016 , with the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the New York Knicks . The 2017 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans , Louisiana , on February 19 , 2017 , with the West defeating the East 192-182 . Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans was named the All Star Game MVP after breaking Wilt Chamberlain 's record by scoring 52 points in the All Star Game . The original host of the game , Charlotte 's Spectrum Center , was removed as the host on July 21 , 2016 due to the league 's opposition against North Carolina 's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act . The regular season ended on April 12 , 2017 , and the playoffs began on April 15 , 2017 and ended on June 12 , 2017 , with the Golden State Warriors going 16-1 in the playoffs and beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games during their third consecutive matchup in the NBA Finals .
Kristaps Porziņģis ( Latvian pronunciation : [ ˈkris.taps ˈpuɔr.ziɲ.ɟis ] ; born 2 August 1995 ) is a Latvian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He is one of the tallest active players in the NBA , standing at 7 ft 3 in ( 2.21 m ) tall , and plays both the power forward and center positions . Born in Liepāja , Porziņģis began his professional career with EuroLeague team Sevilla in 2011 . Porziņģis quickly rose through the team 's youth ranks and became the figurehead of the senior team by 2013 . He subsequently won the EuroCup Basketball Rising Star award in 2015 , where , at age 18 , he became the youngest ever recipient of the award . The following summer , he declared for the NBA draft , where he was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks . In New York , Porziņģis shone as the team 's star , but , after disagreements with the front office , was traded to Dallas in 2019 .
The New York Knickerbockers , more commonly referred to as the Knicks , are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan . The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference . The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden , an arena they share with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City ; the other team is the Brooklyn Nets . Alongside the Boston Celtics , the Knicks are one of two original NBA teams still located in its original city . The team , established by Ned Irish in 1946 , was one of the founding members of the Basketball Association of America ( BAA ) , which became the NBA after merging with the rival National Basketball League ( NBL ) in 1949 . The Knicks were successful during their early years and were constant playoff contenders under the franchise 's first head coach Joe Lapchick . Beginning in 1950 , the Knicks made three consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals , all of which were losing efforts . Lapchick resigned in 1956 and the team subsequently began to falter . It was not until the late 1960s when Red Holzman became the head coach that the Knicks began to regain their former dominance . Holzman successfully guided the Knicks to two NBA championships , in 1970 and 1973 . The Knicks of the 1980s had mixed success that included six playoff appearances ; however , they failed to participate in the NBA Finals .
The 2017-18 NBA season was the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The regular season began on October 17 , 2017 , earlier than previous seasons to reduce the number of back-to-back games teams were scheduled to play , with the 2017 Eastern Conference champion ( and Finals runner-up ) Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland , Ohio . The 2018 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 18 , 2018 , at the Staples Center in Los Angeles , California . LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player . The regular season ended on April 11 , 2018 . The playoffs began on April 14 , 2018 and ended on June 8 with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals .
Spencer Gray Dinwiddie ( born April 6 , 1993 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes and earned first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a sophomore in 2013 . He missed most of his junior year after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) . Dinwiddie recovered and was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft . After two seasons with the Pistons , he joined the Nets in December 2016 . In December 2018 he signed a three-year contract extension with the Nets .
The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn . The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference . The team plays its home games at Barclays Center . They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City ; the other is the New York Knicks . The team was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBA 's rival league , the American Basketball Association ( ABA ) . They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season , before moving to Long Island in 1968 and changing their name to the New York Nets . During this time , the Nets won two ABA championships ( in 1974 and 1976 ) . In 1976 , the ABA merged with the NBA , and the Nets were absorbed into the NBA along with three other ABA teams ( the San Antonio Spurs , Indiana Pacers , and Denver Nuggets , all of whom remain in the league today ) . In 1977 , the team returned to New Jersey and played as the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012 . During this time , the Nets won two consecutive Eastern Conference championships ( in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons ) , but failed to win a league title . In the summer of 2012 , the team moved to Barclays Center , and took its current geographic name .
The 2018-19 NBA season was the 73rd season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The regular season began on October 16 , 2018 and ended on April 10 , 2019 . The 2019 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 17 , 2019 , at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte , North Carolina . The playoffs began on April 13 , 2019 and ended on June 13 with the Toronto Raptors defeating the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals , becoming NBA champions for the first time in franchise history .
Jayson Christopher Tatum ( born March 3 , 1998 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . A native of St. Louis , Missouri , Tatum attended hometown Chaminade College Preparatory School , where he was rated a five-star recruit and regarded as one of the top players in the Class of 2016 by recruiting services . He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils , before entering the 2017 NBA draft , and was selected with the third overall pick by the Boston Celtics . He won the 2019 Skills Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend .
The Boston Celtics ( /ˈsɛltɪks/ SEL-tiks ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston . The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division . Founded in 1946 as one of the league 's original eight teams , the Celtics play their home games at TD Garden , which they share with the National Hockey League ( NHL ) 's Boston Bruins . The Celtics are regarded as the most successful basketball team in NBA history ; the franchise has won the most championships in the NBA with 17 ( accounting for 23.9 percent of all NBA championships since the league 's founding ) , and currently hold the record for the most recorded wins of any NBA team . The Celtics have a notable rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers , who have won 16 NBA championships , second behind the Celtics . The rivalry was heavily highlighted throughout the 1960s and 1980s . The franchise has played the Lakers a record 12 times in the NBA Finals ( including their most recent appearances in 2008 and 2010 ) , of which the Celtics have won nine . Four Celtics players ( Bob Cousy , Bill Russell , Dave Cowens and Larry Bird ) have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for an NBA record total of 10 MVP awards . Both the nickname Celtics and their mascot Lucky the Leprechaun are a nod to Boston 's historically large Irish population . The Celtics ' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s , after acquiring center Bill Russell in a draft day trade in 1956 , who would become the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty . Led by Russell and superstar point guard Bob Cousy , the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957 . Russell , along with a talented supporting cast of future Hall of Famers including John Havlicek , Tom Heinsohn , K. C. Jones , Sam Jones , Satch Sanders , and Bill Sharman , would usher the Celtics into the greatest period in franchise history , winning eight consecutive NBA championships throughout the 1960s .