The 2015–16 NBA season was the 70th season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on 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. Golden State's Stephen Curry became the first unanimous MVP in league history. 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 and ending the city's 52-year sports drought. This would also be the final season for Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
Transactions
Retirement
On June 18, 2015, Shawn Marion officially announced his retirement after playing 16 seasons, winning an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. On June 23, 2015, Andrei Kirilenko officially announced his retirement after playing 13 seasons in the NBA. On July 2, 2015, Kenyon Martin officially announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the NBA. On July 22, 2015, Stephen Jackson officially announced his retirement after playing 14 seasons, winning an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003. On August 11, 2015, Elton Brand officially announced his retirement after playing 16 seasons in the NBA. On January 4, 2016, he returned to play for Philadelphia 76ers. On August 12, 2015, Mengke Bateer officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. Bateer played for three NBA teams during his 17-year playing career, winning an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003. On September 23, 2015, Jason Richardson officially announced his retirement after playing 14 seasons in the NBA. On November 13, 2015, Hedo Türkoğlu officially announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the NBA. On November 29, 2015, Kobe Bryant officially announced that the 2015–16 season would be his last after playing 20 seasons, winning five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant ended his career with a season-high 60 points in his final career game against the Utah Jazz.
Free agency
Free agency negotiations began on July 1, 2015, while players would begin to sign starting on July 7, after the July moratorium ended.
Coaching changes
Off-season
On April 22, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder fired head coach Scott Brooks after seven years with the team. On April 30, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder hired Billy Donovan as head coach. On May 12, 2015, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Monty Williams after five years with the team. On May 28, 2015, the Chicago Bulls fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after five years with the team. On May 29, 2015, the Orlando Magic hired Scott Skiles as head coach. On May 30, 2015, the New Orleans Pelicans hired Alvin Gentry as head coach. On June 2, 2015, the Chicago Bulls hired Fred Hoiberg as head coach. On June 15, 2015, the Denver Nuggets hired Michael Malone as head coach. On September 10, 2015, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced that assistant coach Sam Mitchell would take on the interim head coach role while Flip Saunders battled Hodgkin's lymphoma. Saunders died on October 25, thus making Mitchell the new, full-term head coach for the season afterwards. On October 1, 2015, the Golden State Warriors announced that assistant coach Luke Walton would take on the interim head coach role while Steve Kerr recovers from back pain issues that he had throughout the summer.