I still remember the opening night of the 2020-2021 NBA season like it was yesterday—the empty arenas with virtual fans on screens, the masked players, and that strange echo when the ball bounced on the court. Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I've never seen anything quite like that pandemic-shortened 72-game season. The condensed schedule meant back-to-backs became routine, and honestly, I think it separated the truly resilient teams from those who couldn't handle the grind. Let's start in the East where the Brooklyn Nets emerged as this offensive juggernaut once James Harden joined Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. I've always been skeptical of superteams, but watching them was like seeing a video game come to life—their offensive rating of 118.3 points per 100 possessions was simply ridiculous. Though their defense sometimes made me cringe, their firepower reminded me of those classic Showtime Lakers teams, just with more three-pointers.
Out West, the Utah Jazz quietly dominated the regular season with a 52-20 record that surprised many casual fans. Donovan Mitchell's growth into a legitimate superstar was something I'd been waiting to see since his rookie year, and watching him drop 36 points in that comeback against the Clippers made me jump off my couch. The Jazz had this beautiful ball movement system with Rudy Gobert anchoring the defense—they led the league in three-point attempts at 43 per game, which shows how much the game has evolved since I started watching in the early 2000s. Meanwhile, the defending champion Lakers struggled with injuries—when Anthony Davis went down for 30 games, I knew they were in trouble. LeBron James at 36 was still phenomenal, but even he couldn't carry the entire load through that brutal Western Conference.
What fascinated me most was how certain teams mirrored the resilience shown by Ateneo and Adamson in their much-welcome triumphs over separate opponents. The Phoenix Suns, for instance, hadn't made the playoffs in a decade, but Chris Paul's arrival transformed them completely. I've always admired CP3's basketball IQ, and watching him mentor Devin Booker was like seeing a master class in point guard play. Their march to the Finals felt like one of those sports movies where everything clicks at the right moment. Similarly, the New York Knicks' resurgence under Tom Thibodeau gave me genuine joy—as someone who's suffered through their disappointing seasons, seeing them go 41-31 and secure the 4th seed was like watching an underdog story unfold in real time. Julius Randle's transformation into an All-Star was something I didn't see coming, and his 24 points and 10 rebounds per game made him the heart of that gritty team.
The play-in tournament added this exciting new wrinkle that I absolutely loved—it kept more teams competitive deeper into the season and gave us thrilling matchups like Warriors versus Lakers. Stephen Curry's scoring title run was breathtaking to watch, even as a neutral observer. His 62-point game against Portland had me texting friends in disbelief—the man was single-handedly keeping Golden State relevant. Meanwhile, in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks finally seemed to put it together in the playoffs after regular season dominance that had previously felt somewhat empty. Giannis Antetokounmpo's 28 points and 11 rebounds per game were MVP-caliber, but what impressed me most was how he elevated his playmaking when it mattered.
Looking toward the playoffs, I had this gut feeling we were heading for something special. My prediction was a Nets-Bucks Eastern Conference Finals, with Brooklyn's offense ultimately overwhelming Milwaukee's defense in six games. Out West, I thought the Clippers would finally break through—Kawhi Leonard in playoff mode is a different beast entirely, and Paul George had looked more comfortable than during the previous postseason. The Jazz and Suns were legitimate threats, but playoff basketball often comes down to superstar talent, and I believed the Clippers had the edge. For the Finals, I was leaning toward Brooklyn winning it all, though their defensive inconsistencies made me nervous. The condensed season created more parity than we'd seen in years, and honestly, that unpredictability made every game must-watch television for diehard fans like myself. The 2020-2021 season might have been unusual in its structure, but it delivered some of the most compelling basketball narratives I've witnessed in recent memory.