Vintage Basketball Pioneers

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Dribble through the decades and remember the basketball trailblazers who transformed the game from the 1940s through the 1980s!

1.
Wilt Chamberlain scored an astonishing 100 points in a single NBA game in 1962 playing for which team?
A
Boston Celtics
B
Los Angeles Lakers
C
Philadelphia Warriors
D
San Francisco Warriors
2.
Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to how many NBA championships during his 13-year career?
A
9
B
10
C
11
D
8
3.
Which Celtics coach guided the team through its dynasty years in the 1950s and 1960s?
A
Jack Ramsay
B
Red Auerbach
C
Bill Sharman
D
John Kundla
4.
Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for an entire NBA season in 1961-62. What was his nickname?
A
Mr. Triple Double
B
The Big O
C
The King
D
Mr. Basketball
5.
The Minneapolis Lakers dominated early professional basketball in the late 1940s and 1950s led by which center?
A
Dolph Schayes
B
Bob Pettit
C
Neil Johnston
D
George Mikan
6.
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's rivalry began at which level of basketball before continuing in the NBA?
A
Olympic team
B
High school
C
College
D
AAU
7.
Which player, nicknamed 'Pistol Pete,' was famous for his flashy ball-handling and dazzling passes?
A
Earl Monroe
B
Pete Maravich
C
Walt Frazier
D
Jerry West
8.
The NBA logo silhouette is widely believed to be based on which player?
A
Bill Russell
B
Jerry West
C
Wilt Chamberlain
D
Oscar Robertson
9.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his unstoppable signature shot. What was it called?
A
The Skyhook
B
The Finger Roll
C
The Bank Shot
D
The Fadeaway
10.
Before changing his name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was known by what name during his college years at UCLA?
A
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor
B
Lewis Ferdinand
C
Kareem Jabbar
D
Lew Alcindor
11.
The Harlem Globetrotters, famous for their entertaining basketball, were originally formed in which city?
A
Philadelphia
B
Harlem
C
New York City
D
Chicago
12.
Which Boston Celtics guard was known as 'Hondo' and played alongside Bill Russell during the dynasty years?
A
John Havlicek
B
Sam Jones
C
Tom Heinsohn
D
Bob Cousy
13.
The ABA (American Basketball Association), known for its red, white, and blue ball, merged with the NBA in what year?
A
1978
B
1972
C
1974
D
1976
14.
Julius Erving, known as 'Dr. J,' was famous for his spectacular dunks. He played in which league before joining the NBA?
A
ABA
B
ABL
C
CBA
D
NBL
15.
Which point guard, known as 'The Cooz,' was famous for his behind-the-back dribbling with the Boston Celtics in the 1950s?
A
Bill Sharman
B
K.C. Jones
C
Bob Cousy
D
Sam Jones

Answer Key

Question 1

C. Philadelphia Warriors

Question 2

C. 11

Question 3

B. Red Auerbach

Question 4

B. The Big O

Question 5

D. George Mikan

Question 6

C. College

Question 7

B. Pete Maravich

Question 8

B. Jerry West

Question 9

A. The Skyhook

Question 10

D. Lew Alcindor

Question 11

D. Chicago

Question 12

A. John Havlicek

Question 13

D. 1976

Question 14

A. ABA

Question 15

C. Bob Cousy

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