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Test Your NBA Knowledge: 120 Challenging Trivia Questions and Answers
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- Test Your NBA Knowledge: 120 Challenging Trivia Questions and Answers
With nearly a billion fans worldwide, the National Basketball Association is one of the most popular sports
to watch. But who really knows their stuff? Find out by checking out these NBA
basketball trivia
questions and answers.
The NBA has always been exciting to watch with players like Jordan
, Magicand Kobeof the past, and Lebron
, James Hardenand Kyrie Irvingof the present. All have been vital in forming basketball
into what it is today—pure entertainment! The dunks! The rejections! What's not to love?
But seriously, how well do you think you know the sport? We may just stump even the most hardened NBA fan into learning something new about basketball. (They, of course, can then take that knowledge and stump all of their friends!)
So, sit back and read through our comprehensive list of 120 NBA trivia questions
, along with their answers—and see if you, yourself, can claim the title of "NBA superfan."
Related: Test Yourself With These 120 WNBA Trivia Questions and Answers
Best NBA Trivia Questions and Answers
1. Who is the only team to defeat the Celtics at Boston (Madison Square) Garden during the 1985-1986 season?
Answer: Portland Trail Blazers
2. George Gervin's 'most points scored in a quarter' record was broken in 2015 by this player—who still holds the record today. (Bonus points if you know how many points he scored!)
Answer: Klay Thompson (37 points)
3. The first NBA game was played between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies in what year?'
Answer: 1946
4. Not only was he the first African American drafted into the NBA, but he was also the first official NBA player by a signed contract.
Answer: Chuck Cooper
5. The National Basketball Association was originally called what?
Answer: The Basketball Association of America
6. Held in Boston Madison Square Garden Club, the first NBA All-Star game took place in what year?
Answer: 1951
Related: Caitlin Clark's Net Worth and How Much the WNBA Star Makes Compared to Her Male Peers
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Trivia Questions and Answers About NBA Finals
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7. Which NBA team has made the most appearances in the finals?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers (32 appearances)
8. Which NBA team has won 18 Championships?
Answer: Boston Celtics
9. Who is the only active NBA franchise with multiple Final appearances with no losses?
Answer: Chicago Bulls
10. In 1995, this 6-seed was the lowest-seeded team in NBA history to win a Championship.
Answer: Houston Rockets
11. The first and only team based outside the United States to win an NBA title or reach the NBA Finals.
Answer: Toronto Raptors
12. Which player has the most career blocks in the Finals?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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13. This player has the most turnovers in the Finals.
Answer: LeBron James
14. In one series, who had the most steals?
Answer: Isaiah Thomas (20) 1988
15. This player had the most 3-point field goals during one series of the Finals.
Answer: Steph Curry
(32) 2016
16. Who is the player that led in overall career point tally in the Finals?
Answer: Jerry West (1,679)
17. What NBA team has made the most franchise Final appearances without winning a title?
Answer: Phoenix Suns
18. Who is the only player to have won Finals MVP as a rookie?
Answer: Magic Johnson
19. They are the only franchise to move from the ABA to the NBA and subsequently win a championship.
Answer: San Antonio Spurs
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20. Which player managed to win the NBA Finals MVP Award, even though they were on the losing team?
Answer: Jerry West
21. Which was the first team to make it to the NBA finals 10 years running?
Answer: Boston Celtics (1959-1969)
22. A legendary player, he had the most NBA Finals appearances. **(Bonus: How many of those were championships?)
Answer: Bill Russell (12) **(Bonus: He had 11 championships!)
23. The last team to sweep their opponent in the Finals.
Answer: Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 (2018)
24. This team has the best winning percentage in the Finals.
Answer: Chicago Bulls 24-11 (.686 winning percentage)
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25. During the finals, this player held the highest points per game (ppg) average (calculated from a minimum of 10 games). (Hint: It wasn't Michael Jordan
!)
Answer: Rick Barry
26. Which team won the first NBA Championship?
Answer: Philadelphia Warriors (1946-47)
27. This player scored 48 points against the Kobe-Shaq Lakers in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals, handing Los Angeles their only loss in that season's playoffs.
Answer: Allen Iverson
Related: MVP of Life! These 50 Inspirational Michael Jordan Quotes Prove He's the GOAT
Trivia Questions and Answers About NBA Teams
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28. Name one of the two possible teams with the most MVPs awarded.
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics - (Both with 17)
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29. What NBA team was the first to win 70 games in one season?
Answer: Chicago Bulls
30. The first team to hire a woman on their coaching staff?
Answer: San Antonio Spurs (Becky Hammon, 2014)
31. In 2004, an altercation occurred mid-game between two teams in an incident that became known as 'Malice at the Palace.' Which two teams were involved?
Answer: Indiana Pacers & Detroit Pistons
32. How many championships did the Boston Celtics win from 1957 to 1969?
Answer: The Boston Celtics (11 championships in 13 seasons)
33. This Miami team joined the NBA in 1988.
Answer: Heat
34. What team plays at the Target Center?
Answer: Minnesota Timberwolves
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35. Known as the Chicago Packers until 2008, when they became this NBA franchise?
Answer: Washington Wizards
36. Name one of the two original roster NBA teams to have neverchanged names or moved location.
Answer: Boston Celtics or New York Knicks
37. Which team did Larry Bird coach during the 1997-98 season?
Answer: Indian Pacers
38. This famous rapper is often seen courtside at which NBA team's games?
Answer: Drake
, Toronto Raptors
39. Kevin Garnett, in the 1990s
, was the first player in 20 years drafted straight from high school by this team
Answer: Minnesota Timberwolves
40. Which team beat the 1996 Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins in a season?
Answer: Golden State Warriors (2016)
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41. The Golden State Warriors were originally from what city?
Answer: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
42. The Detroit Pistons were originally called what?
Answer: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
43. What is the name of the arena that hosts both LA-based teams?
Answer: Crypto.com Arena
44. What team ended the Phoenix Suns' run and knocked them out of the 2006 NBA Playoffs?
Answer: Dallas Mavericks
45. What was the team famously named that America sent to the 1992 Olympics when professionals were allowed to play?
Answer: The Dream Team
46. Which 8th-seeded team became the only team to reach the NBA Finals?
Answer: New York Knicks
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47. The Los Angeles Lakers' hopes for a historic four-peat were shattered when this team eliminated them in Round 2 of the 2003 playoffs.
Answer: San Antonio Spurs
Related: 'Brack to the Future' and 'Hoop, There It Is'—We've Got 75 Funny NCAA March Madness Bracket Names
Trivia Questions and Answers About NBA Players
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48. Who was the shortest player to ever win the Slam Dunk contest?
Answer: Spud Webb (5' 6")
49. Which player attempted a record number of free throws (39) in an NBA postseason game?
Answer: Shaquille O'Neal
50. Who was the first player to win the MVP in consecutive seasons?
Answer: Bill Russell (1961-62 & 1962-63 seasons)
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51. Who was the legendary player known as "The Mailman"?
Answer: Karl Malone
52. Which basketball players retired from the NBA with the highest career-scoring PPG average?
Answer: Michael Jordan
(30.12 ppg)
53. Which basketball player is credited with the introduction of the one-handed shot?
Answer: Hank Luisetti
54. Who was the first to receive the NBA "Rookie of the Year" award?
Answer: Don Meineke—Fort Wayne Piston (1952-53)
55. Ah, the headband. Who was the player credited with starting the iconic trend?
Answer: Nate "Tiny" Archibald
56. Which player was nicknamed "Flash"?
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Answer: Dwyane Wade
57. Who was the first player in the NBA to hit an elusive triple-double season?
Answer: Oscar Robertson (1961-62)
58. The first NBA athlete to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year titles in the same season?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain
59. In 1993, this NBA player took a break from basketball to play baseball
in the minors, returning in 1995 to the NBA. Who was it?
Answer: Michael Jordan
60. During the 2005-2006 season, Kobe Bryant averaged an astounding 35.4 ppg and delivered the second greatest scoring performance in NBA history by dropping 81 points in a game—but he did not win that season's MVP award. Who did?
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Answer: Steve Nash
61. Out of the following NBA players, which one did NOTwin the Rookie of the Year award: Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson or David Robinson?
Answer: Magic Johnson
62. Who said, "If all I'm remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I've done a bad job with the rest of my life."
Answer: Isiah Thomas
63. What active NBA player holds the single-game record for the most shot attempts without making a basket?
Answer: Tim Hardaway
64. Back in 1993, the Dallas Mavericks had the 'Triple J's'. Who were these three players?
Answer: Jason Kidd, Jim Jackson, Jamal Mashburn.
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65. Current NBA player with the highest 3-point field goal percentage?
Answer: Luke Kennard (43.7%)
66. Who is the player who still holds the scoring record for a single game, set by making 100 points?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain
67. This player played the fewest minutes in an NBA game before fouling out.
Answer: Bubba Wells (3 minutes!)
68. Who was the most recent player to reach the 70-point range in a game?
Answer: Luka Dončić
69. Who has won the most MVPs with six total?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
70. Only three players have averaged 36 ppg or more in a single season. Who are they?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, James Harden
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71. Which player holds the record for the most technical fouls received in a single season?
Answer: Rasheed Wallace (41 technical fouls in the 2000-2001 season)
Related: Michael Jordan's Net Worth and How Much He Made From Nike, the NBA and More
Hard Trivia Questions and Answers About NBA Team Owners
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72. Who owns the New York Knicks?
Answer: James Dolan
73. Who owns the Los Angeles Lakers?
Answer: Jeanie Buss
74. Who owns the Boston Celtics?
Answer: Wyc Grousbeck
75. Who owns the Chicago Bulls?
Answer: Jerry Reinsdorf
76. Who owns the San Antonio Spurs?
Answer: Peter Holt
77. Who owns the Golden State Warriors?
Answer: Joe Lacob
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78. Who owns the Houston Rockets?
Answer: Tilman Fertitta
79. Who owns the Philadelphia 76ers?
Answer: Joshua Harris
80. Who owns the Phoenix Suns?
Answer: Mat Ishbia
81. Who owns the Portland Trail Blazers?
Answer: Paul Allen
82. Who owns the Milwaukee Bucks?
Answer: Marc Lasry, Jamie Dinan, Jimmy Haslam and Junior Bridgeman
83. Who owns the Atlanta Hawks?
Answer: Tony Ressler
84. Who owns the Brooklyn Nets?
Answer: Joseph Tsai
85. Who owns the Charlotte Hornets?
Answer: Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall
86. Who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Answer: Dan Gilbert
87. Who owns the Denver Nuggets?
Answer: Stanley Kroenke
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88. Who owns the Detroit Pistons?
Answer: Tom Gores
89. Who owns the Orlando Magic?
Answer: Rich DeVos
90. Who owns the Dallas Mavericks?
Answer: Mark Cuban
Related: Charles Barkley's Net Worth Is a Slam Dunk
Trivia Questions and Answers About NBA Basketball Rules and Regulations
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91. How many personal fouls does it take to get ejected from an NBA basketball game?
Answer: Six
92. When was the shot clock introduced into NBA regulation?
Answer: 1954-55 season
93. The three-point line is how many feet from the hoop?
Answer: 23'9"
94. How tall is the hoop in the NBA?
Answer: 10 feet
95. How long does a team have to get the ball into play from out-of-bounds?
Answer: Five seconds
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96. Once a team has inbounded the ball and play begins, how much time do they have to advance the ball past half-court?
Answer: 10 seconds
97. What is it called if a player interferes with a ball's downward trajectory after it has been shot?
Answer: Goaltending
98. A player may not linger in the "paint" or "key" area under the basket for more than how many seconds?
Answer: Three seconds
99. Each team is entitled to one Coach's Challenge per game. When does a team get a second Challenge?
Answer: When their first Challenge is successful.
100. Which team gets to choose which basket they shoot at in the first half?
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Answer: Visiting team
101. What is the penalty for illegal contact?
Answer: Personal foul
102. A personal foul that has gotten to the point of causing harm to another player is then called what?
Answer: Flagrant foul
103. How many team time-outs does a team get in an overtime period?
Answer: Two
104. There is no limit to how many overtime periods are played between teams, but each overtime session is limited to how many minutes each?
Answer: Five minutes
105. When a team is granted a time-out, play will resume only when?
Answer: The time-out clock has expired
106. What occurs after two opposing players hold onto the ball and end up in a stalemate?
Answer: Jump ball.
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107. Progressing in any direction in excess of the prescribed limits, normally two steps, while holding the ball, is called?
Answer: Traveling
108. A strategy used by a team based on speed is called?
Answer: Fastbreak
109. How much is a player fined for his first technical foul of the regular season?
Answer: $2,000
110. Which manufacturer is the official supplier of the NBA's game ball?
Answer: Wilson Sporting Goods
Basketball Trivia Questions and Answers
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111. When was basketball invented?
Answer: 1891
112. Who invented the sport of basketball?
Answer: James Naismith
113. What's it called when someone throws the ball close to the net, and another player dunks it in?
Answer: An alley-oop
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114. How many points is a free-throw worth?
Answer: One point
115. What happens after a player double-dribbles?
Answer: The other team gets the ball
116. What is a "brick" in basketball?
Answer: A shot that bounces off the rim or backboard and does not go in
117. When was basketball first introduced into the Olympics?
Answer: 1936
118. When basketball was first invented, what were the baskets that were used?
Answer: Two half-bushel peach baskets.
119. What is the average length of a basketball game?
Answer: Around two hours (although each quarter is 12 minutes)
120. What was the title of the first-ever basketball video game, released for the Magnavox Odyssey in 1973?
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Answer: Basketball!
And there you have it!
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Life section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
