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NBA Trivia Questions and Answers

40 NBA trivia questions with answers: the league's history, legends from Nigeria to Germany, records, rules and nicknames.

40 questions · tap “Show answer” under each one · Answer key

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Round 1

  1. James Naismith, who invented basketball in 1891, was born in which country?

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    Canada

    He grew up in Ontario and later taught in Massachusetts. Source

  2. The first game of the league that became the NBA, in 1946, was played in which city?

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    Toronto

    The New York Knickerbockers beat the home team, the Huskies, 68–66. Source

  3. Which player is widely said to be the silhouette in the NBA logo?

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    Jerry West

    The league has never officially confirmed it. Source

  4. How many teams play in the NBA?

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    30

    It reached 30 when the Charlotte Bobcats joined in 2004. Source

  5. Where did the Lakers play before moving to Los Angeles in 1960?

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    Minneapolis

    Minnesota calls itself the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes', hence the name. Source

  6. The Utah Jazz got their name in which city, before moving to Salt Lake City in 1979?

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    New Orleans

    Their first star was 'Pistol' Pete Maravich, who joined the new team in 1974. Source

  7. In which city was the first NBA All-Star Game played, in 1951?

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    Boston

    The East beat the West 111–94. Source

  8. Who was NBA commissioner for 30 years, from 1984 to 2014?

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    David Stern

    His deputy, Adam Silver, took over from him. Source

  9. How long is an NBA court?

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    94 feet (28.7 m)

    It is 50 feet (15.2 m) wide. Source

  10. How far is the free-throw line from the backboard?

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    15 feet (4.6 m)

    A free throw is worth one point. Source

Round 2

  1. In which season did the NBA add the three-point line?

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    1979–80

    Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics made the first one. Source

  2. How many personal fouls does it take to foul out of an NBA game?

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    6

    In FIBA games, such as the Olympics, it's 5. Source

  3. What is it called when a defender blocks a shot that is already on its way down to the basket?

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    Goaltending

    The basket counts anyway. Source

  4. How many games does each team play in an NBA regular season?

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    82

    41 at home and 41 away. Source

  5. How many wins does a team need to take the NBA Finals?

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    4

    The Finals are a best-of-seven series. Source

  6. Which NBA award goes to the best player who usually comes off the bench?

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    Sixth Man of the Year

    It was first given in 1983. Source

  7. The NBA Finals MVP trophy is named after which player?

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    Bill Russell

    It got his name in 2009. Source

  8. Which Nigerian-born center led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995?

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    Hakeem Olajuwon

    His spinning footwork move was called the 'Dream Shake'. Source

  9. Which German star won the 2011 NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks?

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    Dirk Nowitzki

    He played all 21 of his NBA seasons for Dallas. Source

  10. Which Chinese center was the first pick in the 2002 NBA draft?

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    Yao Ming

    He was 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in) tall. Source

Round 3

  1. Which Argentine star won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs?

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    Manu Ginóbili

    He also won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2004. Source

  2. Which French point guard was named NBA Finals MVP in 2007?

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    Tony Parker

    He was the first player born in Europe to win the award. Source

  3. When Denver picked Nikola Jokić 41st in the 2014 draft, what was TV showing instead of the pick?

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    A Taco Bell ad

    He won his first MVP award in 2021. Source

  4. Which shot-blocker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo wagged his finger after a block?

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    Dikembe Mutombo

    He was named Defensive Player of the Year four times. Source

  5. Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, comes from which country?

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    Cameroon

    He won the award playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Source

  6. Which Australian was picked first in the 2016 NBA draft?

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    Ben Simmons

    He was born in Melbourne. Source

  7. Which NBA guard played for the Philippines at the 2023 FIBA World Cup?

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    Jordan Clarkson

    The Philippines co-hosted that World Cup with Japan and Indonesia. Source

  8. Who is the shortest player in NBA history, at 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)?

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    Muggsy Bogues

    In 1987–88 he played for Washington alongside Manute Bol, one of the tallest. Source

  9. Which team won the first NBA draft lottery, in 1985, and used the pick on Patrick Ewing?

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    New York Knicks

    Ewing went on to play 15 seasons for them. Source

  10. How many points did Kobe Bryant score in one game against Toronto in January 2006?

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    81

    He scored 55 of them in the second half. Source

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Round 4

  1. What was Kobe Bryant's nickname?

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    The Black Mamba

    He wore 8 and then 24, and the Lakers retired both numbers. Source

  2. Which player won the first three NBA three-point contests, from 1986 to 1988?

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    Larry Bird

    Before one of them he asked the other shooters who was playing for second. Source

  3. Which 20-year-old rookie played center in the deciding game of the 1980 Finals and was named Finals MVP?

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    Magic Johnson

    He scored 42 points in that game. Source

  4. Which team drafted Kevin Durant in 2007, the year before it moved to Oklahoma City?

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    Seattle SuperSonics

    The team was renamed when it moved in 2008. Source

  5. Which team's tough late-1980s side was nicknamed the 'Bad Boys'?

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    Detroit Pistons

    They won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. Source

  6. Before he played basketball, what did Tim Duncan want to be?

    Show answer

    An Olympic swimmer

    Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-size pool on his island, St. Croix, in 1989. Source

  7. Which famous exhibition team mixes basketball with comedy tricks?

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    The Harlem Globetrotters

    Despite the name, they were founded in Chicago. Source

  8. Which company has made the official NBA game ball since 2021?

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    Wilson

    Spalding made it from 1983 to 2021. Source

  9. How wide is a basketball rim?

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    18 inches (45.7 cm)

    It is about twice as wide as the ball. Source

  10. Which 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) guard won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1986?

    Show answer

    Spud Webb

    He beat his Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins in the final. Source

Answer key

Round 1

  1. Canada
  2. Toronto
  3. Jerry West
  4. 30
  5. Minneapolis
  6. New Orleans
  7. Boston
  8. David Stern
  9. 94 feet (28.7 m)
  10. 15 feet (4.6 m)

Round 2

  1. 1979–80
  2. 6
  3. Goaltending
  4. 82
  5. 4
  6. Sixth Man of the Year
  7. Bill Russell
  8. Hakeem Olajuwon
  9. Dirk Nowitzki
  10. Yao Ming

Round 3

  1. Manu Ginóbili
  2. Tony Parker
  3. A Taco Bell ad
  4. Dikembe Mutombo
  5. Cameroon
  6. Ben Simmons
  7. Jordan Clarkson
  8. Muggsy Bogues
  9. New York Knicks
  10. 81

Round 4

  1. The Black Mamba
  2. Larry Bird
  3. Magic Johnson
  4. Seattle SuperSonics
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. An Olympic swimmer
  7. The Harlem Globetrotters
  8. Wilson
  9. 18 inches (45.7 cm)
  10. Spud Webb

Link to this page

Sources

  1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James Naismith
  2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto Huskies
  3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry West
  4. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National Basketball Association
  5. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History of the Minneapolis Lakers
  6. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah Jazz
  7. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1951 NBA All-Star Game
  8. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David Stern
  9. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball court
  10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free throw
  11. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point field goal
  12. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal foul (basketball)
  13. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goaltending
  14. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA regular season
  15. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA Finals
  16. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
  17. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
  18. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakeem Olajuwon
  19. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk Nowitzki
  20. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yao Ming
  21. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu Ginóbili
  22. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony Parker
  23. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola Jokić
  24. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dikembe Mutombo
  25. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel Embiid
  26. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben Simmons
  27. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan Clarkson
  28. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggsy Bogues
  29. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985 NBA draft
  30. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe Bryant's 81-point game
  31. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe Bryant
  32. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-Point Contest
  33. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic Johnson
  34. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle SuperSonics
  35. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad Boys (Detroit Pistons)
  36. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim Duncan
  37. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem Globetrotters
  38. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson Sporting Goods
  39. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball
  40. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud Webb

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