By: Patrick J. Kiger
2 min
Image: Focus on Sport/Getty Images/Andrew Brusso/Neal Preston/© Corbis
About This Quiz
Welcome to the ultimate NBA Trivia Quiz! Test your knowledge of the NBA's greatest moments, including the thrilling NBA Finals, jaw-dropping Slam Dunk Contest, and the illustrious history of NBA championships.
From iconic performances in the Finals to gravity-defying dunks, this quiz will challenge your understanding of NBA history and celebrate the unforgettable milestones that have shaped the league. Get ready to dive into the world of basketball and showcase your expertise in this exciting journey through the NBA's legacy!
In what city were the Los Angeles Lakers initially based?
Detroit, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rochester, New York
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Before moving to Los Angeles in 1960, the Lakers were based in Minneapolis.
Wilt Chamberlain once scored 100 points in a game. Which player has the second-highest total points in a single game?
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
Who guarded Michael Jordan when he made his buzzer-beater against Cleveland in the 1989 playoffs?
Bryon Russell
Charles Barkley
Craig Ehlo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Craig Ehlo was guarding Jordan when he made "the shot," as basketball fans call it.
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How long is a regulation NBA game?
40 minutes
48 minutes
60 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The NBA has tested out shorter times, like a 44-minute game.
Has a player ever averaged a triple-double for an entire season?
yes
no
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Oscar Robertson of the Cincinnati Royals averaged a triple-double in the 1961-62 season.
How many seconds does an NBA team get to shoot?
10 seconds
24 seconds
30 seconds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The NBA's 24-second shot clock debuted in 1954.
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Which of these players has a father who also played in the NBA?
Steph Curry
LeBron James
Kristaps Porzingis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Steph Curry's father, Dell Curry, also played in the NBA.
Who was the first Mexican-born player in the NBA?
Eduardo Najera
Carlos Delfino
Horacio Llamas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
In 1997, Phoenix Suns center Horacio Llamas became the first Mexican-born player in the NBA.
Which NBA team has won the most titles?
Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
Boston Celtics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA titles, the most of any team.
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What former player was the inspiration for the NBA logo?
Wilt Chamberlain
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Alan Siegel, who designed the logo in 1969, says it's based on a photograph of Jerry West.
Which of these players went straight to the NBA from high school?
John Wall
Monta Ellis
Kevin Durant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Monta Ellis was drafted by the Golden State Warriors as soon as he graduated from high school in 2005.
What were the New Orleans Pelicans previously called?
Hornets
Bullets
Royals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The New Orleans Pelicans, formerly known as the Hornets, changed their name in 2013.
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In what season did the NBA adopt the 3-point shot?
1969-70
1979-80
1991-92
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The NBA started using the 3-point shot in the 1979-80 season.
In the last two minutes, where can a team inbound after a timeout?
frontcourt
backcourt only
under the opponent's basket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
In an inbounds play in the last two minutes, the offensive team can move the ball to midcourt or take it at the spot.
What was the late NBA player Darryl Dawkins’ nickname?
Clyde
All-World
Chocolate Thunder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Backboard-shattering dunker Darryl Dawkins was known as Chocolate Thunder.
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What former NBA player became famous for marketing a brand of $15 sneakers?
Stephon Marbury
Charles Barkley
Michael Jordan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Former NBA player Stephon Marbury endorsed Starbury, a signature line of inexpensive sneakers.
How long does an NBA team have to get the ball across the midcourt line?
eight seconds
24 seconds
30 seconds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
An NBA team must get the ball across midcourt in eight seconds or less.
Who can overturn referee calls based on video replays during a game?
league officials
fans
head referee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
League officials in Secaucus, New Jersey can overturn some calls after reviewing the instant-replay video.
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What percentage of corner 3-pointers do NBA teams make, on average?
25 percent
30 percent
40 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
NBA teams make almost 40 percent of their corner 3-pointers, one of the best risk-reward shots.
How long can a defensive player stay in the key area if he is not guarding an opponent?
one second
three seconds
10 seconds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The three-second count starts when it is evident the offensive team controls frontcourt.
Who is the youngest player to score 25,000 points in his career?
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
Wilt Chamberlain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
LeBron James recently became the youngest player, at 30, to score 25,000 points.
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What manufacturer makes the official NBA game ball?
Wilson
Nike
Spalding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Spalding has been the official game ball of the NBA since 1983.
What is the average height of an NBA player?
6 feet, 3 inches (2 meters)
6 feet, 7 inches
6 feet, 11 inches
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The average NBA player is more than 9 inches (23 centimeters) taller than the average American man.
Who won the highest-scoring NBA game ever?
Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Clippers
Dallas Mavericks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186 to 184 in 1983.
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How long is an NBA overtime period?
two minutes
five minutes
24 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The NBA allows 130 seconds before any five-minute overtime period.
What player has the record for most offensive rebounds in a game?
Zaza Pachulia
Moses Malone
Kevin Garnett
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Milwaukee's Zaza Pachulia set a record in a 2015 game with 18 offensive rebounds.
Who was the first foreign-born NBA player to become league MVP?
Toni Kukoc
Dirk Nowitzki
Pau Gasol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks was the first foreign-born player to become MVP in 2007.
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At the buzzer, a shot is good if it already has done what?
gone through the net
left the shooter's hand
appeared on the scoreboard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Instant replay can be used to verify whether a buzzer beater left the shooter's hand before the game clock expired.
What player became famous for his “skyhook”?
Larry Bird
George Mikan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The skyhook is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's signature shot. Shaquille O'Neal said it's "one of the most effective shots" in the history of basketball.
Who is the shortest player in NBA history?
Earl Boykins
Keith Jennings
Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Muggsy Bogues was only 5 feet 3 inches (1.6 meters) tall, but he was drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1987.
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Focus on Sport/Getty Images/Andrew Brusso/Neal Preston/© Corbis
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