About This Quiz
Basketball is a sport which takes stamina and skill, but how well do you know its ins and outs? Test your basketball trivia knowledge with this HowStuffWorks quiz!Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the best shooting guard in NBA history. He also played these other two positions during his career, outfielder coming during a minor league stint with the White Sox.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored the most during his career. Over a 20-year career, he scored 38,387 points.
The New York Knicks beat the Toronto Huskies in the first NBA game. It took place on Nov. 1, 1946.
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The game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith, a physician. He put it together to help condition athletes during the cold winter months.
At 7'8'', Paul Sturgess is the tallest pro basketball player on earth. He has played in the British Basketball League.
In 2016, after he led the Golden State Warriors to a record-breaking season as guard, Stephen Curry was unanimously voted the NBA's MVP. This was the first time there had been a unanimous MVP in basketball history.
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Over the course of the 2010-2011 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers set a league record for most consecutive games lost. They lost 26 in a row.
Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics scored the first three-point basket in NBA history. It occurred on Oct. 12, 1979, in a winning game against Houston.
LeBron James was only 23 years and 59 days old when he scored 10,000 points. He was the youngest player to ever accomplish this.
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Vern Mikkelsen was one of the NBA's first power forwards. He was thrown out of a record 127 games.
The Lakers won 33 games in a row during the 1971-1972 season. This is the most in NBA history.
Wilt Chamberlain ended his NBA career by playing with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1968-1973. Before that, he had played for the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Wang Zhizhi became the first Chinese player to play in an NBA game on April 5, 2001. He played for the Dallas Mavericks.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most league MVPs of any player. He won it six times over the course of his career.
In his first game, LeBron James scored 25 points against the Sacramento Kings. This set an NBA record for most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in their first pro game.
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Point guard Muggsy Bogues stood at 5 ft 3 in tall. He was the shortest player in NBA history.
In the late 1800s, when basketball was invented, the original basketball hoops were intact peach baskets. Officials would have to get the ball after each basket.
Indiana Pacers player Ron Artest attacked fans after one threw a cup at him in 2004. He was suspended from 73 games and 13 playoff games, losing $7 million in salary.
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Magic Johnson unexpectedly retired on Nov. 7, 1991. He did so after letting it be known that he had tested positive for the HIV virus.
The Sacramento Kings were founded in 1923. This makes them the oldest NBA franchise. They started as the Rochester Royals.
Utah Jazz player Karl Malone holds the record for most free throws. He made 9,7,87 over the course of his career.
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Adidas manufactures the uniforms for every team in the NBA. Every player, whether they play with the Celtics, Lakers or Thunder wears uniforms made by this company.
The average NBA player weighs 220 pounds. They use about 760 calories during a 48-minute game.
Kobe Bryant was only 18.5 years old when he started an NBA game. This makes him the youngest player ever to do so.
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The Harlem Globetrotters have entertained fans in over 100 countries since being formed in 1926. They are, however, not a part of the NBA.
Magic Johnson was a point guard. At 6'9'', he was the tallest point guard in NBA history.
Given the height of the players and the jumping required, leg injuries are common. Ankles and knees bear the brunt of the punishment.
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Over the course of the 1995-1996 season, the Chicago Bulls won 72 games. This is an all-time record for an NBA team.
The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA championships. This includes 7 consecutive wins from 1960-1966.
Michael Jordan has won the most scoring titles of any player, with a total of 10. He won 7 of them consecutively.
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Robert Parrish had a 21-year career from 1976-1997. He played in 1,611 games.
The future is often bleak for retired NBA players. 60% are broke and bankrupt within 5 years of retiring.
Stephen Curry plays point guard for the Golden State Warriors. His career began in 2009.
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Michael Jordan's Air Jordans are the best-selling basketball shoe of all time. The NBA banned them and fined Michael Jordan for wearing them to play. He kept wearing them and paid the fine after every game.