110 NBA Basketball Trivia Questions and Answers for True Fans
Test your knowledge with memorable nicknames, iconic feats and historic league milestones.
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Basketball enthusiasts and sports trivia buffs—test your skills with this ultimate set of NBA trivia! Whether you’re looking to quiz your friends or challenge your own knowledge, these questions span NBA championships, legendary players, memorable moments, team records, statistical achievements, and unique basketball facts. Dive deep and see how many you can answer correctly, from Starter to All-Star level!
General NBA History Trivia
- What year was the NBA founded?
1946 - How many teams are currently in the NBA?
30 - Which team has won the most NBA championships?
Boston Celtics (18 titles) - Who holds the record for most points scored in a single NBA game?
Wilt Chamberlain (100 points) - What team originally drafted Kobe Bryant?
Charlotte Hornets (traded to Lakers on draft night) - Who is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?
LeBron James - What year was the three-point line introduced in the NBA?
1979 - Which player has won the most NBA MVP awards?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) - Which team has the longest championship drought?
Sacramento Kings (last won in 1951 as Rochester Royals) - Who coached the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships in the 1990s?
Phil Jackson - Who is known as “The Greek Freak”?
Giannis Antetokounmpo
NBA Finals Facts & Trivia
- Which NBA team has made the most appearances in the NBA Finals?
Los Angeles Lakers (32 appearances) - Which NBA team has won 18 Championships?
Boston Celtics - Name the only active NBA franchise with multiple Finals appearances but no losses in the Finals.
Chicago Bulls - Which sixth-seed team was the lowest-seeded in NBA history to win a Championship, in 1995?
Houston Rockets - Who was the first and only team based outside the United States to win an NBA title?
Toronto Raptors - Who has the most career blocks in the NBA Finals?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Who has the most career turnovers in the NBA Finals?
LeBron James - In a single Finals series, who recorded the most steals?
Isiah Thomas (20, in 1988) - Who had the most three-point field goals during one Finals series?
Stephen Curry (32, in 2016) - Which player has the highest total career points in NBA Finals history?
Jerry West (1,679) - What team has the most NBA Finals appearances without a championship?
Phoenix Suns
NBA Legends & Milestone Performances
- Who scored the second-highest number of points in a single NBA game, and how many?
Kobe Bryant (81 points against the Raptors in 2006) - Which NBA player scored 60 points in their final career game?
Kobe Bryant - Who was the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game?
Kobe Bryant (18 years, 2 months, 11 days) - Which player is the only one to win both an NBA championship and an Oscar?
Kobe Bryant (Oscar for Best Animated Short, 2018) - Who has won the most NBA MVP awards in history?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6 awards) - Name the only player to record a quadruple-double in NBA history.
Nate Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson share this distinction - Who is known as “The Mailman” in NBA history?
Karl Malone - Which player had the nickname “Dr. J”?
Julius Erving
Players, Teams & Notable Nicknames
- Who is nicknamed “The Answer”?
Allen Iverson - Which NBA player was called “The Big Fundamental”?
Tim Duncan - Who is called “CP3”?
Chris Paul - Which current NBA star is called “King James”?
LeBron James - Who is known as “Chef Curry”?
Stephen Curry - Which player is famously referred to as “The Brow”?
Anthony Davis
Record-Breaking Moments in NBA History
- Who holds the record for most assists in a single NBA game?
Scott Skiles (30 assists) - Which NBA player has the most career triple-doubles?
Russell Westbrook - Who holds the NBA record for most steals in a playoff game?
Allen Iverson (10 steals) - Which player recorded the most consecutive free throws made?
Micheal Williams (97 consecutive free throws) - Who was the shortest player ever to play in the NBA?
Muggsy Bogues (5’3″) - Who was the tallest NBA player ever?
Gheorghe Mureșan (7’7″)
NBA Team Records and Milestones
- Which team holds the best regular season record in NBA history?
Golden State Warriors (73-9, 2015-16 season) - Which franchise has had the longest winning streak in a single season?
Los Angeles Lakers (33 games in 1971-72) - What is the longest losing streak in NBA history?
Philadelphia 76ers (28 games, spanning 2015) - Who won the NBA’s very first championship?
Philadelphia Warriors (1947) - Which NBA team was the last to join the league (as of 2004)?
Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets)
NBA Playoffs and Clutch Moments
- Which player made “The Shot” over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 NBA Playoffs?
Michael Jordan - Who is the only player to have playoffs series-winning buzzer-beaters in three different NBA series?
Damian Lillard - Who is known for scoring eight points in nine seconds in a game?
Reggie Miller - Which team overcame a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals to win the Championship?
Cleveland Cavaliers (2016)
International NBA Records and Firsts
- Who was the first non-American to win the NBA MVP?
Hakeem Olajuwon - Which country has produced the most international NBA players?
Canada - Who was the first player born outside the U.S. to be drafted #1 overall?
Yao Ming (China) - Which team did Dirk Nowitzki spend his entire NBA career with?
Dallas Mavericks
NBA Rules, Courts, and Records
- What is the diameter of a standard NBA basketball hoop?
18 inches - How high is the NBA basketball hoop from the ground?
10 feet - What is the length of a regulation NBA court?
94 feet - How many personal fouls does it take for a player to foul out in the NBA?
6 - What is the maximum number of players a team can have on its roster during the regular season?
15 active, 2 inactive - How many points is a free throw worth?
1 point
Ultimate NBA Trivia Table: Record Holders
| Category | Record Holder | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Single-game points | Wilt Chamberlain | 100 points |
| All-time points leader | LeBron James | 40,000+ points (active) |
| NBA MVP awards (career) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 MVP awards |
| Most NBA championships (team) | Boston Celtics | 18 titles |
| Steals in one Finals series | Isiah Thomas | 20 steals (1988 Finals) |
| Career blocks (Finals) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 116 |
| Most consecutive wins (team) | LA Lakers | 33 |
Miscellaneous NBA Basketball Facts
- Who was the first African American coach in the NBA?
Bill Russell (player-coach, Boston Celtics) - Which player won the NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season?
Michael Jordan (1988), Hakeem Olajuwon (1994), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020) - Which NBA team played in the famous “Malice at the Palace” brawl?
Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons - Who holds the record for most technical fouls in an NBA career?
Karl Malone
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many teams are in the NBA?
A: There are 30 teams in total, split between the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Q: Who holds the record for the most points scored in a single NBA Finals game?
A: Elgin Baylor scored 61 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1962 NBA Finals.
Q: Which active player has the most NBA titles?
A: As of 2024, LeBron James holds four NBA championships, the most among active players.
Q: Who is known as “His Airness”?
A: Michael Jordan is widely known by the nickname “His Airness” due to his leaping ability and legendary career.
Q: What was the first non-U.S. team to win the NBA championship?
A: The Toronto Raptors in 2019 were the first team based outside the United States to win an NBA title.
Q: Who is the tallest player in NBA history?
A: Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol, both at 7-foot-7-inches.
Q: Which team has the most appearances in the NBA Finals?
A: The Los Angeles Lakers, with 32 NBA Finals appearances.
Q: What is a triple-double?
A: It refers to when a player accumulates double-digit numbers in three statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks) in a single game.
Q: Who was the first player to be unanimously voted NBA MVP?
A: Stephen Curry, in the 2015-16 season.
Q: What is the record for most steals in an NBA game?
A: Kendall Gill and Larry Kenon, with 11 steals each.
Looking for More?
If you’ve enjoyed exploring these NBA trivia questions, consider using them to host a basketball quiz night! With topics ranging from iconic games and player achievements to team statistics and rules, there’s something here to challenge every NBA fan, from rookies to Hall of Famers.
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