Basketball History
Instructions: How well do you know the history of basketball, the NBA, and its legendary players?
- 1.
Who invented the game of basketball?
AJames NaismithBMichael JordanCAbe SapersteinDRed Auerbach - 2.
How many players from each team are on the court during a basketball game?
A7B4C6D5 - 3.
Who holds the NBA record for most points scored in a single game?
ALeBron JamesBMichael JordanCWilt ChamberlainDKobe Bryant - 4.
Which NBA team has won the most championships?
AChicago BullsBLos Angeles LakersCGolden State WarriorsDBoston Celtics - 5.
What year was the NBA founded?
A1966B1946C1956D1936 - 6.
Which player is known for his 'skyhook' shot?
AHakeem OlajuwonBKareem Abdul-JabbarCShaquille O'NealDBill Russell - 7.
Which NBA team did Michael Jordan lead to six championships in the 1990s?
ANew York KnicksBDetroit PistonsCChicago BullsDLos Angeles Lakers - 8.
What is the height of an official NBA basketball hoop?
A12 feetB9 feetC10 feetD11 feet - 9.
Which player scored 81 points in a single game in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history?
ATracy McGradyBAllen IversonCLeBron JamesDKobe Bryant - 10.
What is a 'triple-double' in basketball?
ADouble-digit totals in three statistical categories in one gameBPlaying three full games in a weekCScoring 30+ points three games in a rowDMaking three consecutive three-pointers - 11.
Which team featured the famous 'Dream Team' at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics?
AYugoslaviaBUnited StatesCSoviet UnionDSpain - 12.
What is the three-point line distance in the NBA?
A22 feetB23 feet 9 inchesC20 feet 9 inchesD25 feet - 13.
Who broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record in 2023?
AStephen CurryBLeBron JamesCKevin DurantDJames Harden - 14.
Which basketball league was the predecessor to professional women's basketball in the US?
AABLBWNBACWBLDWABA - 15.
Which NBA player was nicknamed 'The Big Aristotle'?
ATim DuncanBShaquille O'NealCDavid RobinsonDPatrick Ewing
Answer Key
Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian-American physical education instructor, invented basketball in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, using peach baskets as goals.
Each team has five players on the court at a time. The positions are typically point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center.
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game on March 2, 1962, playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. This record has never been broken.
The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships with 18 titles, including their most recent championship in 2024. The Los Angeles Lakers are close behind with 17 titles.
The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 to form the NBA.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his unstoppable skyhook shot. He retired as the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, a record that stood until 2023.
Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships (1991-1993, 1996-1998), winning the Finals MVP award each time.
An official NBA basketball hoop is 10 feet (3.05 meters) above the floor. This height has remained the same since James Naismith first hung peach baskets in 1891.
Kobe Bryant scored 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006, the second-highest single-game total after Wilt Chamberlain's 100.
A triple-double is when a player accumulates double-digit totals in three of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) in a single game.
The 1992 US Olympic basketball team, dubbed the 'Dream Team,' featured NBA stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley. They won gold, averaging 117 points per game.
The NBA three-point line is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 meters) from the basket at most points, and 22 feet in the corners. The three-point line was introduced to the NBA in 1979.
LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record of 38,387 points on February 7, 2023, during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) was founded in 1996 and began play in 1997. While the ABL existed briefly (1996-1998), the WNBA became the premier women's league.
Shaquille O'Neal gave himself the nickname 'The Big Aristotle,' one of many self-given nicknames. The dominant center won four NBA championships and was a 15-time All-Star.