NBA fans and basketball lovers, start doing those mental stretches, because these NBA trivia questions are really going to test your NBA knowledge.
The National Basketball Association, or NBA, has become the household name of basketball all over the world.
While their fan base is truly global, the NBA is made purely of North American teams. In fact, did you know that all but one of the teams is based in the USA? This list of NBA trivia questions will help you be the MVP on your next trivia team.
With 30 teams and over 70 years of history, there is a lot to know about NBA! For example, did you know that one player didn’t skip a game for over 1,000 consecutive matches? Or that one player has had three sons all go on to join the league?
Or did you know that the 3 point shot was not in the original rules? Read through these basketball trivia questions to find out all sorts of interesting NBA facts!
If you can already shout out the names of all the players, list their career figures and state title holders, you can use these NBA trivia questions to stretch your mental muscles and test your knowledge.
Or if you’re planning a trivia night and you’re wanting to add in a sports trivia round or two, these basketball trivia questions have got you covered.
NBA Trivia Questions
1. What is the real first name of Magic Johnson?
2. In a single game, which NBA player scored 100 points?
3. The first NBA (then called BAA) game took place in November 1946. Which teams played this game?
4. One NBA player took a break from basketball in 1993 to play minor league baseball, but then returned again in 1995. Which player was this?
5. 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?
6. The NBA draft a lot of fresh talent. Who was the youngest player to be drafted?
7. In the name New York Knicks, Knicks is short for what word?
8. Which NBA team was the first to win 70 or more games in a single season?
9. Larry Bird stayed on with the same team for his whole NBA career. Which team was this?
10. Which city are the Golden State Warriors based in?
11. Who was the first player in NBA history to successfully play 1,000 straight games?
12. In which year did the NBA introduce the 3-point shot?
13. In which country was Rick Fox born?
14. Before merging with the National Basketball League in 1949, the NBA was known as the BAA. What did BAA stand for?
15. Who was the youngest player to reach 30,000 points in their career?
16. Which was the NBA championship winning team in the 2000–01 season?
17. Of the 30 teams in the NBA, 29 are based in the United States. What is the name of the team based in another country?
18. Which player managed to win the NBA Finals MVP Award, even though they were on the losing team?
19. California is the only state to have 4 teams in the NBA. Which state has 3 teams?
20. Which was the first team to make it to the NBA finals ten years running?
21. There is only one NBA player who has had 3 sons go on to play in the league. Which player is this?
22. The first NBA all-star game was held at the Boston Madison Square Garden Club in which year?
23. Which player was the first to win a second MVP award?
24. In the original naming contest of NBA team Miami Heat, which name came in second place?
25. The nickname ‘Chocolate Thunder’ was given to which NBA player?
Plan your own quiz night
If you’re looking for some recommendations, these are a few of our favorite quiz books to buy. We use these when planning fun trivia nights with family and friends!
NBA Trivia Questions and Answers
1. What is the real first name of Magic Johnson?
Earvin
2. In a single game, which NBA player scored 100 points?
Wilt Chamberlain
3. The first NBA (then called BAA) game took place in November 1946. Which teams played this game?
The New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies. The Knicks won 68–66.
4. One NBA player took a break from basketball in 1993 to play minor league baseball, but then returned again in 1995. Which player was this?
5. 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?
Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons
6. The NBA draft a lot of fresh talent. Who was the youngest player to be drafted?
Andrew Bynum, who was 17 years old when the Los Angeles Lakers selected him. His debut at 18 years old also made him the youngest person to play in the NBA.
7. In the name New York Knicks, Knicks is short for what word?
Knickerbockers
8. Which NBA team was the first to win 70 or more games in a single season?
The Chicago Bulls in the 1995-96 season.
9. Larry Bird stayed on with the same team for his whole NBA career. Which team was this?
The Boston Celtics
10. Which city are the Golden State Warriors based in?
San Francisco
11. Who was the first player in NBA history to successfully play 1000 straight games?
A.C.Green, he reached this epic milestone in March 1999 while playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
12. In which year did the NBA introduce the 3-point shot?
1979
13. In which country was Rick Fox born?
Canada
14. Before merging with the National Basketball League in 1949, the NBA was known as the BAA. What did BAA stand for?
Basketball Association of America
15. Who was the youngest player to reach 30,000 points in their career?
LeBron James, who was 33 years and 24 days when he reached this milestone.
16. Which was the NBA championship winning team in the 2000 – 01 season?
Los Angeles Lakers
17. Of the 30 teams in the NBA, 29 are based in the United States. What is the name of the team based in another country?
Toronto Raptors, who are based in Toronto, Canada. There was a second Canadian team, the Vancouver Grizzlies, however they moved to Memphis in the 2001-02 season.
18. Which player managed to win the NBA Finals MVP Award, even though they were on the losing team?
Jerry West, while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969.
19. California is the only state to have 4 teams in the NBA. Which state has 3 teams?
Texas. The Dallas Mavericks, The Houston Rockets and The San Antonio Spurs.
20. Which was the first team to make it to the NBA finals ten years running? Boston Celtics
21. There is only one NBA player who has had 3 sons go on to play in the league. Which player is this?
Rick Barry, his sons are Brent, Drew and John.
22. The first NBA all-star game was held at the Boston Madison Square Garden Club in which year?
1951
23. Which player was the first to win a second MVP award?
Willis Reed, he received his first in 1970 and his second in 1973.
24. In the original naming contest of NBA team Miami Heat, which name came in second place?
Miami Vice
25. The nickname ‘Chocolate Thunder’ was given to which NBA player?
Darryl Dawkins
How do you think you got on? Were you the MVP winning the championship, or did you flop?
If you think you have more NBA knowledge than your friends, share this quiz with them and see how they do. We reckon you’ll be the champion though, right?
