NBA: 2021, the year of the Bucks and the departure of Kyle Lowry to Miami

2021 in the NBA was that of the Milwaukee Bucks, who ended a long league-less famine. The Toronto Raptors have turned a significant page in their history. Here is a roundup of the year in the Silver circuit.

The Bucks won their first NBA title since 1971, a real achievement.

Since 2013, when Giannis Antetokounmpo was drafted in 15th place, they have made way for new owners, launched a new logo and inaugurated a new arena.

After contributing to the triumph, Jrue Holiday helped the Americans win gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the Raptors, Kyle Lowry’s departure for Miami obviously changed the dynamic within the team.

A beloved hero who embodied the combativeness of the Raptors, Lowry has no equal when it comes to leading rivals to cross the line of permissible toughness.

Toronto is last for offensive fouls caused this season (4); the Heat are first with 53, including 18 for Lowry, a league-high.

Fred VanVleet has admirable leadership qualities, but on a more understated register.

VanVleet leads the NBA with 37.9 minutes per game. He’s averaging 20.1 points and that’s remarkable, but it’s questionable if the workload will end up eating away at his reputation as ‘Steady Freddy’.

Gary Trent is helping the club move to the top of the league for flights, while Scottie Barnes is a candidate for Rookie of the Year.

After some uncertainty as to his future, Masai Ujiri announced, in an eloquent and passionate video, his commitment to remain in office as president of the Raptors. The architect of the 2019 champions has accepted a new contract, the duration of which has not been disclosed.

The Raptors have found their home crowd after a 27-45 campaign with Tampa as their home in 2020-21 (where a COVID-19 outbreak and related absences plagued their record). The club also missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Including the bubble near Orlando, it was 600 days before the Raptors played in Toronto again.

The toning effect is slow to be felt. The Raptors sometimes offer rough play, and the Scotiabank Arena, which can be so vibrant, rarely displays the vibrancy of yesteryear.

Given the Raptors’ modest outfit to date, the qualifying tournament could be the avenue to go for another playoff breakthrough.

Lowry will return to Toronto on February 3 during a visit from the Heat, after two Raptors stints in Miami in January.

The Nets reign supreme in the East, led by a Kevin Durant who had a 51-point game on December 12.

On December 17, they announced they would reinstate Kyrie Irving at the club for away games – he has yet to play this season because until then the Nets did not want a part-time player (he cannot play in New York and San Francisco, due to his refusal to be vaccinated).

Among the Sixers, there is the heartbreaking Ben Simmons saga, on the sidelines in the wake of his request to be traded. The affair at least inspired a tasty parody of a scene from “Coach Carter”.

Champions of 2015, 2017 and 2018, the Warriors are back at the head of the battalion in the West. On December 14, Stephen Curry became the all-time record holder for three-pointers, eclipsing Ray Allen. Unpleasant news for the opponent, Klay Thompson could well return to the game before mid-January.

Finalists against Milwaukee, the Suns still shine, thanks in particular to Chris Paul. On November 27, the 36-year-old veteran became the first player in history to score 20,000 points, 10,000 assists and 5,000 rebounds.

Watch out for the Lakers and their ‘Big 3’, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. The latter was acquired in August as a missing gem, it is hoped. James has already signed nine games of 30+ points this season. The group still needs to stay healthy, which is far from certain.

The Chicago Bulls have a promising start to the season. DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball now shine alongside Zach LaVine.

Among the surprises, the Cavaliers and the Grizzlies. Cleveland wants to regain some of the panache of the LeBron years, while Memphis has not made it through the first round of the playoffs since 2015.

The Mavericks will withdraw on January 5 the jersey of Dirk Nowitzki, the only player in NBA history to have played 21 seasons with the same club.

Nowitzki is one of many big names from past and present to feature in the highly successful NBA Lane, a video showcasing basketball’s exploits and its unifying side. The concept aims to celebrate the 75th anniversary season of the NBA.

Ambassadors Nowitzki, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Oscar Robertson and Bob Pettit will be in the spotlight during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland on February 20.