Are You a Basketball Trivia Expert?

By: Isadora Teich
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Are You a Basketball Trivia Expert?
Image: YouTube

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!
Which of these positions did Michael Jordan play?
Shooting guard
Small forward
Outfielder
All of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Which player has the most points in a career?
Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shaquille O'Neal
Yao Ming
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored the most during his career. Over a 20-year career, he scored 38,387 points.

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Which team won the first-ever NBA game?
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Houston Rockets
New York Knicks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The New York Knicks beat the Toronto Huskies in the first NBA game. It took place on Nov. 1, 1946.

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Basketball was invented by:
A doctor
Kids in New York City
A scientist
A teacher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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How tall is the tallest pro basketball player ever?
6'
5'11''
7'8''
8'
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At 7'8'', Paul Sturgess is the tallest pro basketball player on earth. He has played in the British Basketball League.

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__________ was the first player in NBA history to be elected league MVP by unanimous vote.
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O'Neal
Carmelo Anthony
Stephen Curry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Which team holds the record for losing the most games in a row?
Philadelphia 76ers
Miami Heat
Cleveland Cavaliers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Who scored the first three-point basket in the history of the NBA?
Michael Jordan
LeBron James
Chris Ford
Lonzo Ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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The youngest player to score 10,000 points in the NBA was:
Wilt Chamberlain
Larry Bird
LeBron James
Stephen Curry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Which NBA player was thrown out of a record-breaking number of games?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Vern Mikkelsen
John Stockton
Magic Johnson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vern Mikkelsen was one of the NBA's first power forwards. He was thrown out of a record 127 games.

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Which team has had the longest winning streak in NBA history?
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
Chicago Bulls
Brooklyn Nets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Lakers won 33 games in a row during the 1971-1972 season. This is the most in NBA history.

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Wilt Chamberlain finished his NBA career with the _________.
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
New Orleans Pelicans
Boston Celtics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The first Chinese player to play in an NBA game was:
Wang Zhizhi
Ming Na
Zhou Qi
Zou Yuchen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wang Zhizhi became the first Chinese player to play in an NBA game on April 5, 2001. He played for the Dallas Mavericks.

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Which NBA player has won the most league MVPs?
LeBron James
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Michael Jordan
Wilt Chamberlain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most league MVPs of any player. He won it six times over the course of his career.

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How many points did LeBron James score during his first NBA game?
11
61
25
0
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Who was the shortest ever NBA player?
Larry Bird
Wilt Chamberlain
Muggsy Bogues
Kobe Bryant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Point guard Muggsy Bogues stood at 5 ft 3 in tall. He was the shortest player in NBA history.

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What were the first basketball hoops?
Hats
Empty vats
Peach baskets
Buckets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Which player had the longest-ever NBA suspension?
Kobe Bryant
Ron Artest
Kevin Durant
Shaquille O'Neal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Which NBA player shocked the sports world by retiring in 1991?
Magic Johnson
Kobe Bryant
Larry Bird
Mohamed Bamba
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Which is the oldest NBA franchise?
Chicago Bulls
San Antonio Spurs
New York Knicks
Sacramento Kings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Sacramento Kings were founded in 1923. This makes them the oldest NBA franchise. They started as the Rochester Royals.

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Who holds the record for most free throws?
Dennis Rodman
Karl Malone
LeBron James
Stephen Curry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Who makes all the NBA uniforms?
Nike
New Balance
Under Armor
Adidas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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How much does the average NBA player weigh?
180 lbs
250 lbs
220 lbs
150 lbs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The average NBA player weighs 220 pounds. They use about 760 calories during a 48-minute game.

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Who was the youngest player to ever start an NBA game?
Kobe Bryant
Magic Johnson
Bill Russell
Kevin Durant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Are the Harlem Globetrotters part of the NBA?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Harlem Globetrotters have entertained fans in over 100 countries since being formed in 1926. They are, however, not a part of the NBA.

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What position did Magic Johnson play?
Center
Swingman
Point guard
Power Forward
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Magic Johnson was a point guard. At 6'9'', he was the tallest point guard in NBA history.

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What is the most common basketball injury?
Head injury
Sprained ankle
Torn ACL
Cracked ribs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Which team has won the most games in a single season?
Chicago Bulls
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Over the course of the 1995-1996 season, the Chicago Bulls won 72 games. This is an all-time record for an NBA team.

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_________ have won the most NBA championships.
Golden State Warriors
New York Knicks
Boston Celtics
New Orleans Pelicans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA championships. This includes 7 consecutive wins from 1960-1966.

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Which player has won the most scoring titles?
Dennis Rodman
Michael Jordan
Jason Terry
Dirk Nowitzki
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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___________ played in more NBA games and seasons than any other player.
Allen Iverson
Robert Parrish
Wilt Chamberlain
Magic Johnson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Robert Parrish had a 21-year career from 1976-1997. He played in 1,611 games.

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What percentage of NBA players go broke after retiring?
10%
45%
60%
95%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The future is often bleak for retired NBA players. 60% are broke and bankrupt within 5 years of retiring.

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Stephen Curry is a:
Forward
Center
Tweener
Point guard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stephen Curry plays point guard for the Golden State Warriors. His career began in 2009.

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The shoes associated with which basketball player were banned by the NBA?
Michael Jordan
Shaquille O'Neal
Wilt Chamberlain
Allen Iverson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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How many years did Allen Iverson play?
3
25
6
14
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Allen Iverson played for 14 seasons, his last being the 2009-2010 season. He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers.

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You Got:
/35
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