The following are the first chapter from the book “The Insane But True Basketball Trivia Book: A Fun Collection of 700 Timeless Trivia Quizzes To Satisfy The Curious Brains of Die-Hard NBA Fans!”
Chapter One
Basketball Beginnings, NBA Origins, and Franchises
The origins of basketball date back to the late 19th century as an indoor means to keep energetic YMCA gym students physically active during the harsh winter months. From there it grew and expanded into high schools and colleges around the United States and eventually led to the creation of pro leagues. There were barnstorming pro teams and several leagues came and went before the National Basketball Association gained a foothold.
Today, basketball is a world-wide sport, played from French Lick, Indiana, to Shanghai, China, from San Martin, Argentina to Dijon, France. NBA teams are now valued in the billions as is the March Madness college tournament television contract.
1. The game of basketball was invented in what city?
A. Cooperstown, New York
B. Rochester, New York
C. Springfield, Massachusetts
D. Canton, Ohio
2. Who is the person credited with inventing basketball?
A. James Naismith
B. Abner Doubleday
C. Abe Saperstein
D. George Halas
3. In what year was basketball invented?
A. 1890
B. 1891
C. 1902
D. 1910
4. What were first used as basketball goals when the game was created?
A. Cardboard boxes
B. Apple crates
C. Soccer goals
D. Peach baskets
5. How high were the first basketball goals?
A. 8 feet
B. 10 feet
C. 10.5 feet
D. 12 feet
6. Originally, there were 13 rules. One rule determined the number of players each team could have on the court at one time. How many players per side were allowed?
A. Five
B. Six
C. Eight
D. Nine
7. The National Basketball League was the first professional basketball league. What year was it founded?
A. 1893
B. 1898
C. 1900
D. 1910
8. Some of the early professional teams weren’t in leagues. Instead, they were barnstorming teams, traveling across the country to take on all comers. Which of these teams was NOT one of the early barnstorming teams?
A. Philadelphia SPHA’s
B. Original Celtics
C. Bristol Pile Drivers
D. New York Rens
9. Joe Lapchick and Nat Holman were stars of which early barnstorming team?
A. Harlem Globetrotters
B. New York Rens
C. Original Celtics
D. Philadelphia SPHA’s
10. Who was the founder and owner of the Harlem Globetrotters?
A. Goose Tatum
B. Abe Saperstein
C. Walter Kennedy
D. Maurice Podoloff
11. When were the Harlem Globetrotters founded?
A. 1926
B. 1928
C. 1930
D. 1933
12. True or False. Basketball teams and players were often referred to as cagers because the court often had to have chicken wire around the outside of the court to keep the rowdy fans from the players and referees.
13. What city hosted the very first NBA game on November 1, 1946?
A. New York City
B. Philadelphia
C. Boston
D. Toronto
14. Although now known as the National Basketball Association, the first three seasons, beginning in 1946-1947, what was the league called?
A. Basketball Association of America
B. Eastern Basketball League
C. Northern Basketball League
D. American Basketball League
15. True or False. The Basketball Association of America merged with the Midwest Basketball Association in 1949 and renamed the NBA.
16. What two teams played in the inaugural NBA game on November 1, 1946?
A. Toronto Raptors-New York Knicks
B. New York Knicks-Tri-Cities Blackhawks
C. Toronto Huskies-New York Knicks
D. Buffalo Bisons-Waterloo Hawks
17. Who scored the first points in NBA history?
A. Joe Lapchick
B. Oscar “Ossie” Schectman
C. Butch van Breda Kolff
D. Ed Sadowski
18. How many teams competed in the NBA’s first season in 1946-1947?
A. 17
B. 14
C. 15
D. 11
19. One of these teams was not a franchise in the NBA in the 1946-1947 season.
A. Providence Steamrollers
B. St. Louis Bombers
C. Chicago Stags
D. Cleveland Rebels
20. True or False. The Boston Celtics were not an original NBA franchise in 1946-1947.
21. The Pistons franchise began in what city?
A. Detroit
B. Sheboygan
C. Fort Wayne
D. Pittsburgh
22. The Sacramento Kings franchise began in another city and under another name. What was the franchise originally called?
A. Syracuse Nationals
B. Tri-Cities Blackhawks
C. Rochester Royals
D. St. Louis Bombers
23. What other cities did the Kings franchise play in before arriving in Sacramento?
A. Cincinnati
B. Kansas City
C. Omaha
D. All of the above
24. What season did the New York Knicks begin play in the NBA?
A. 1946-1947
B. 1950-1951
C. 1952-1953
D. 1960-1961
25. True or False. The Providence Steamrollers were one of the original franchises to play in the 1946-1947 season.
26. How many teams were in the league when it started its second season in 1947-1948?
A. 16
B. 12
C. 10
D. 8
27. The Chicago Bulls began playing in what season NBA season?
A. 1963-1964
B. 1966-1967
C. 1968-1969
D. 1970-1971
28. The Bulls were not the first NBA franchise in Chicago. One of these teams was NOT a previous unsuccessful NBA team in Chicago.
A. Chicago Stags
B. Chicago Staleys
C. Chicago Packers
D. Chicago Zephyrs
29. The Philadelphia 76ers franchise began play in another city and under another name. Name the city and team name.
A. Chicago Stags
B. Washington Capitols
C. Syracuse Nationals
D. New York Rens
30. In 1971, the NBA expanded by adding three teams. Which of these teams was NOT an expansion team that year?
A. Buffalo Braves
B. Cleveland Cavalier
C. Portland Trailblazers
D. St. Louis Bombers
31. The Lakers franchise began in what city?
A. St. Paul
B. Minneapolis
C. Milwaukee
D. Syracuse
32. In what season did the Lakers first play in Los Angeles?
A. 1958-1959
B. 1959-1960
C. 1960-1961
D. 1965-1966
33. Baltimore had a franchise in the NBA from 1947-1954. What was the team name?
A. Capitols
B. Presidents
C. Bullets
D. Senators
34. What year did the Pistons franchise first play in the NBA?
A. 1948-1949
B. 1949-1950
C. 1952-1953
D. 1955-1956
35. True or False. The Sheboygan Redskins was never a franchise in the NBA.
36. The Washington Wizards have gone under other names in other cities. Which of these were other names of the franchise?
A. Baltimore Bullets
B. Capitol Bullets
C. Chicago Zephyrs
D. All of the above
37. The Rockets were an expansion franchise for the 1967-1968 season. In what city did the franchise begin?
A. El Cajon
B. San Diego
C. San Francisco
D. San Antonio
38. Prior to Atlanta, the Hawks played in St. Louis. What was the team’s first season in Atlanta?
A. 1967-1968
B. 1968-1969
C. 1969-1970
D. 1972-1973
39. Even before playing in St. Louis, the Hawks played in yet another city for four seasons. Name the city.
A. Denver
B. Little Rock
C. Milwaukee
D. Hartford
40. What year did the Seattle Supersonics begin NBA play as an expansion team?
A. 1964-1965
B. 1966-1967
C. 1967-1968
D. 1968-1969
41. What is the franchise that began as the Seattle Supersonics now called?
A. Miami Heat
B. Los Angeles Clippers
C. Utah Jazz
D. Oklahoma City Thunder
42. The Warriors franchise has played in three different cities. Which one of these cities has not been a home of the Warriors?
A. San Francisco
B. Oakland
C. Santa Clara
D. Philadelphia
43. True of False. The Milwaukee Bucks entered the NBA in 1968.
44. Follow-up question. In what season did the Bucks win their first NBA championship?
A. 1969-1970
B. 1970-1971
C. 1973-1974
D. 1980-1981
45. For the 1978-1979 season the Buffalo Braves relocated to a new city and changed the team name. What was the new city and name?
A. Dallas Chapparals
B. San Diego Conquistadors
C. San Diego Clippers
D. Washington Generals
46. The Phoenix Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in what year?
A. 1968
B. 1969
C. 1971
D. 1975
47. The Jazz franchise was an expansion NBA team in what year?
A. 1970
B. 1972
C. 1974
D. 1975
48. In what city did the Jazz originally play in?
A. Jackson
B. Birmingham
C. New Orleans
D. Atlanta
49. The Grizzlies now play in Memphis. What city did they originally play in?
A. Seattle
B. Portland
C. Vancouver
D. Fort Wayne
50. True or False. Indianapolis once had a franchise in the NBA called the Olympians.
51. The NBA merged with the ABA for the 1976-1977 season. Four ABA teams joined the NBA for the start of that season. One of these teams did not join the NBA as part of the merger.
A. Denver Nuggets
B. San Antonio Spurs
C. Indiana Pacers
D. Carolina Cougars
52. The Miami Heat was an expansion team for the 1988-1989 season. What division did the team originally play in?
A. Atlantic
B. Central
C. Midwest
D. Pacific
53. One other team joined the NBA as an expansion team for the 1988-1989 season. Name the team.
A. Charlotte Hornets
B. Memphis Tams
C. Miami Floridians
D. Buffalo Bison
54. The Dallas Mavericks joined the NBA as an expansion team in what year?
A. 1976
B. 1978
C. 1980
D. 1985
55. After having a team in the early years of the league that eventually relocated, Minneapolis, Minnesota, finally got an expansion franchise in what year?
A. 1985
B. 1988
C. 1989
D. 1992
56. What is the name of the Minnesota franchise?
A. Twins
B. Timberwolves
C. Tundras
D. Devils
57. What was the Orlando Magic’s first NBA season?
A. 1989-1990
B. 1992-1993
C. 1995-1996
D. 2000-2001
58. Only three teams remain from the inaugural 1946-1947 NBA season. One of these teams did not play in the first NBA season.
A. Celtics
B. Knicks
C. Lakers
D. Warriors
59. The city of Toronto had a franchise in the first NBA season, but it folded after the season’s end. The NBA finally awarded Toronto an expansion franchise in what year?
A. 1991
B. 1992
C. 1995
D. 1997
60. Which team is considered the first dynasty of the NBA?
A. Boston Celtics
B. Minneapolis Lakers
C. Philadelphia Warriors
D. New York Knicks
61. New York is known as the Knicks, but that is an abbreviation of the full name. What is the official name of the New York team?
A. Knickerbockers
B. Knick-knacks
C. Knickers
D. Knicklebacks
62. Who was the first draft pick of the Tri-City Blackhawks in 1950?
A. Johnny Kerr
B. Bob Cousy
C. Vern Mikkelsen
D. Bob Pettit
63. The Chicago Packers were the first NBA expansion team in 1961. One of the players selected in the expansion draft would later become the long-time coach of the Indiana Pacers. Name the player.
A. Dave Budd
B. Gene Conley
C. Bobby “Slick” Leonard
D. Jerry Sloan
64. The next NBA expansion draft featured the subsequent Chicago franchise—the Bulls. One of the players chosen in that expansion draft would coach the team in its inaugural season. Name the player.
A. Johnny “Red” Kerr
B. Al Bianchi
C. Dick Motta
D. Norm Van Lier
65. This player has the ignominious distinction of being selected by expansion teams in three expansion drafts covering multiple years. Who was this player?
A. Len Chappell
B. George Wilson
C. John McGlocklin
D. Nate Bowman
66. The Nets franchise has played in multiple cities in and around the New York area. The team was never known as one of these names.
A. New York Nets
B. Brooklyn Nets
C. New Jersey Nets
D. Staten Island Nets
67. The Charlotte Hornets relocated to this city beginning with the 2002-2003 season.
A. St. Louis
B. New Orleans
C. Memphis
D. Portland
68. What is the name of the New Orleans franchise now?
A. Billikens
B. Jazz
C. Pelicans
D. Levies
69. For the 2004-2005 season, the NBA awarded Charlotte another franchise. What was the name of the team when it joined the league?
A. Wildcats
B. Huskies
C. Bees
D. Bobcats
70. Beginning in 2014, the Charlotte team changed the name of the franchise. What was it changed to?
A. Hornets
B. Stingrays
C. Blackhawks
D. Tar Heels
71. Dating back even before the birth of the NBA, which team is the oldest continuously operating team in the NBA?
A. Celtics
B. Hawks
C. Knicks
D. Kings
72. Several cities have had multiple NBA franchises (at separate times). One of these cities never had two separate franchises.
A. Minneapolis
B. Chicago
C. Detroit
D. Philadelphia
73. In addition to being head coach of the Boston Celtics for 16 seasons, he was also general manager for 34 years.
A. Danny Ainge
B. Arnold “Red” Auerbach
C. K.C. Jones
D. Tom Heinsohn
74. The owner of the Syracuse Nationals was responsible for developing the idea for the 24-second shot clock.
A. Al Bianchi
B. Ben Kerner
C. Daniel Biasone
D. Dolph Schayes
75. When did he NBA adopt the 24-second shot clock?
A. 1950-1951
B. 1954-1955
C. 1956-1957
D. 1959-1960
76. Jerry Colangelo became general manager of this franchise in 1968 and later became the principal owner.
A. Phoenix Suns
B. Milwaukee Bucks
C. Philadelphia 76ers
D. New York Knicks
77. As general manager, this individual was the architect of the great Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990s.
A. Billy McKinney
B. Jerry Krause
C. Mitch Kupchak
D. Louis Mohs
78. He was the first African-American to be hired as a general manager of an NBA franchise and has had a career as a team executive that spans nearly 50 years.
A. Joe Dumars
B. Elgin Baylor
C. Wayne Embry
D. Bob Lanier
79. This individual served as general manager/executive for the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic in his 51 years in the NBA.
A. Jerry West
B. Billy Knight
C. Pat Williams
D. Don Nelson
80. He holds the distinction of being the longest tenured general manager in the history of the Hawks franchise.
A. Pete Babcock
B. Marty Blake
C. Pat Williams
D. David Stern
81. Since the inception of the league in 1946, how many commissioners has the NBA had?
A. 12
B. 10
C. 8
D. 5
82. Who was the first NBA commissioner?
A. Ed Gottlieb
B. Walter Kennedy
C. Maurice Podoloff
D. Walter Brown
83. The NBA championship trophy is named for this commissioner.
A. Larry O’Brien
B. Walter Kennedy
C. Maurice Podoloff
D. David Stern
84. Through the 2020-2021 season, which franchise has the highest all-time NBA winning percentage, regular season and playoffs?
A. Boston Celtics
B. Los Angeles Lakers
C. Utah Jazz
D. San Antonio Spurs
85. Through the 2020-2021 season, which franchise has the lowest all-time NBA winning percentage, regular season and playoffs?
A. Los Angeles Clippers
B. Minnesota Timberwolves
C. Sacramento Kings
D. Memphis Grizzlies
86. What team has played the most regular season games in NBA history?
A. Boston Celtics
B. New York Knicks
C. Golden State Warriors
D. Detroit Pistons
87. In 1971-1972, the Los Angeles Lakers set the all-time record for consecutive regular season wins. How many consecutive games did the Lakers win?
A. 20
B. 25
C. 30
D. 33
88. Since the advent of the 24-second shot clock, which team has the highest season scoring average?
A. 1981-1982 Denver Nuggets
B. 1961-1962 Philadelphia Warriors
C. 1966-1967 Philadelphia 76ers
D. 1982-1983 Denver Nuggets
89. Since the advent of the 24-second shot clock, which team has the lowest season scoring average?
A. 2002-2003 Denver Nuggets
B. 1954-1955 Milwaukee Hawks
C. 1998-1999 Chicago Bulls
D. 1999-2000 Chicago Bulls
90. On November 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers played the lowest scoring game in NBA history. What was the final score?
A. 19-18
B. 25-24
C. 33-30
D. 35-34
91. One player from the lowest scoring NBA game had 15 of his team’s points. Name the player.
A. Vern Mikkelsen
B. Slater Martin
C. George Mikan
D. Larry Foust
92. On December 13, 1983, the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets played in the highest scoring game in NBA history. What was the final score?
A. 173-143
B. 169-147
C. 171-166
D. 186-184
93. Who was the leading scorer in the highest scoring game?
A. Kiki Vanderweghe
B. Alex English
C. Isiah Thomas
D. Kelly Tripuka
94. True or False. The Phoenix Suns hold the record for most points scored in one half with 107.
95. The Golden State Warriors set an all-time record for most regular season wins during the 2015-2016 season. What was the Warriors record that season?
A. 69-13
B. 70-12
C. 72-10
D. 73-9
96. Prior to the 2015-2016 Warriors, the 1995-1996 Bulls had the best single-season record. What was the Bulls record that season?
A. 68-13
B. 69-13
C. 70-12
D. 72-10
97. What team holds the record for the fewest wins during an 82-game regular season?
A. Charlotte Hornets
B. Philadelphia 76ers
C. Dallas Mavericks
D. Cleveland Cavaliers
98. The Portland Trailblazers have had the first pick in the NBA draft on four separate occasions. Which one of these players was not a first pick in the draft by the Trailblazers?
A. Bill Walton
B. LaRue Martin
C. Clyde Drexler
D. Greg Oden
99. What team(s) has the record for the best home single season record?
A. San Antonio Spurs
B. Chicago Bulls
C. Boston Celtics
D. A and C
100. The 1984 NBA draft is considered one of the best draft classes of all-time. Hakeem Olajuwon was the first pick in the draft and Michael Jordon was the third pick. Who was picked with the second pick in the draft?
A. Charles Barkley
B. Otis Thorpe
C. John Stockton
D. Sam Bowie
101. In 1959, the Philadelphia Warriors selected this player with their “territorial” pick in the first round of the NBA draft.
A. Nate Thurmond
B. Wilt Chamberlain
C. Dolph Schayes
D. Billy Cunningham
102. In 1960, the Cincinnati Royals selected this player with their “territorial” pick in the first round of the NBA draft.
A. Oscar Robertson
B. Connie Dierking
C. Bob Boozer
D. Jack Twyman
103. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James with what pick in the 2003 NBA draft?
A. First
B. Fourth
C. Sixth
D. Tenth
104. In 1969, these two teams flipped a coin to see who would get the first pick in the NBA draft and select Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
A. Phoenix/Milwaukee
B. Milwaukee/Seattle
C. Los Angeles/Milwaukee
D. Los Angeles/San Diego
105. Which team is considered the first dynasty of the NBA beginning with the 1951-1952 season?
A. Detroit Pistons
B. Minneapolis Lakers
C. Boston Celtics
D. Syracuse Nationals
106. Which team drafted Bill Russell in 1956 NBA draft?
A. Boston Celtics
B. St. Louis Hawks
C. Cincinnati Royals
D. Syracuse Nationals
107. The Cleveland Cavaliers had the first pick in the NBA draft in 2013 and 2014. Which players did they select?
A. Anthony Davis/Andrew Wiggins
B. Andrew Wiggins/Karl Anthony-Towns
C. Anthony Bennett/Andrew Wiggins
D. Anthony Bennett/Anthony Davis
108. Through the 2020-2021 season, what team holds the record for most 3-point shots made per game in a season?
A. Utah Jazz
B. Houston Rockets
C. Milwaukee Bucks
D. Portland Trailblazers
109. When was the 3-point shot first introduced in the NBA?
A. 1975-1976
B. 1977-1978
C. 1979-1980
D. 1983-1984
110. What player is credited with making the first 3-pointer in NBA history?
A. Kevin Grevey
B. Larry Bird
C. Chris Ford
D. Fred Brown
111. True or False. Stephen Curry was the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 3-point shots in a career.
112. Rick Barry was one of the best free throw shooters in the history of the game. What was unique about his free throw shooting style?
A. He stood three feet behind the foul line
B. He shot underhanded
C. He shot with one hand behind his back
D. He closed one eye
113. Name the player who also had an unusual free throw shooting style—he shot a jump shot.
A. LeBron James
B. James Harden
C. Doug Collins
D. Hal Greer
114. This team holds the record for the highest field goal percentage in a season, set in 1984-1985.
A. Los Angeles Lakers
B. Chicago Bulls
C. Indiana Pacers
D. Houston Rockets
115. This team set a league record for the lowest field goal percentage in a season, set in 1954-1955.
A. Milwaukee Bucks
B. St. Louis Hawks
C. Milwaukee Hawks
D. Atlanta Hawks
116. In what season did the NBA first start including blocks and steals as official statistical categories?
A. 1966-1967
B. 1970-1971
C. 1973-1974
D. 1980-1981
117. The Los Angeles Lakers used a territorial draft pick to select this UCLA guard in the 1964 NBA draft.
A. Walt Hazzard
B. Mike Warren
C. Jerry West
D. Tom Hawkins
118. The second NBA dynasty dominated the league from the mid-1950s through the end of the 1960s. Name the team.
A. Los Angeles Lakers
B. Philadelphia Warriors
C. Boston Celtics
D. New York Knicks
119. The Los Angeles Lakers selected another guard from UCLA with a “territorial” pick in the 1965 NBA draft. Who was he?
A. Rod Hundley
B. Tom Hawkins
C. Gail Goodrich
D. Pat Riley
120. What team was considered the NBA dynasty of the 1990s?
A. Detroit Pistons
B. Chicago Bulls
C. Los Angeles Lakers
D. Miami Heat
121. Who is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Warriors franchise?
A. Wilt Chamberlain
B. Rick Barry
C. Paul Arizin
D. Stephen Curry
122. Who is the all-time leading rebounder for the Phoenix Suns?
A. Amare Stoudemire
B. Alvan Adams
C. Charles Barkley
D. Tom Chambers
123. Who has played more games for the Portland Trailblazers than any other player?
A. Damian Lillard
B. Clyde Drexler
C. Terry Porter
D. Cliff Robinson
124. Name the player with the most career assists for the New Orleans Pelicans franchise.
A. Baron Davis
B. Jrue Holiday
C. Chris Paul
D. Lonzo Ball
125. Who is the all-time leading rebounder for the Hawks franchise?
A. Tree Rollins
B. Paul Silas
C. Bob Pettit
D. Zelmo Beatty
Answers
1. |
Basketball was first invented and played in Springfield, Massachusetts.
2. |
Dr. James Naismith, then working for the YMCA invented the rules for basketball as an indoor “athletic distraction” during the cold New England winter months.
3. |
Naismith invented this new game in 1890.
4. |
The first goals were peach baskets nailed to the wall.
5. |
The first peach basket basketball goals were 10 feet high, just at the height the goals remain today.
6. |
Naismith’s original rules allowed for nine players per side.
7. |
The first professional league, the National Basketball League, began play in 1898. It disbanded in 1904.
8. |
The Bristol Pile Drivers team was a member of the National Basketball League.
9. |
Joe Lapchick and Nat Holman played for the Original Celtics.
10. |
Abe Saperstein was the founder and owner of the Harlem Globetrotters.
11. |
Saperstein founded the Globetrotters in 1926.
12. |
True. Chicken wire and other fencing was often erected around the basketball court to keep players, coaches, and referees safe from unruly fans and the objects they may attempt to hurl onto the court.
13. |
Toronto hosted the very first National Basketball Association game.
14. |
The original name of the league was the Basketball Association of America (BAA).
15. |
False. The Basketball Association of America merged with the National Basketball League, which began play in 1937, in 1949, and was rebranded the National Basketball Association.
16. |
The New York Knicks battled the Toronto Huskies in the very first game in NBA history (then the BAA).
17. |
Oscar “Ossie” Schectman of the Knicks scored the first points in NBA history on a two-handed scoop shot.
18. |
There were 11 NBA teams for the first NBA season in 1946-1947.
19. |
The Chicago Stags were one of the original NBA franchises.
20. |
False. The Boston Celtics were one of the original 11 NBA teams.
21. |
The Pistons franchise began play as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons in the NBL. They were named after owner and founder Fred Zollner, who was an automobile piston magnate.
22. |
The Sacramento Kings franchise started out as the Rochester Royals.
23. |
The Rochester Royals relocated first to Cincinnati. The franchise later moved again to Kansas City and Omaha, splitting home games between the two cities for three seasons. They played exclusively in Kansas City before moving again to Sacramento for the 1985-1986 season.
24. |
The New York Knicks began play in 1946-1947 as one of the original NBA franchises.
25. |
True. The Providence Steamrollers were an original NBA franchise in 1946-1947.
26. |
The second NBA season in 1947-1948 had only eight franchises, losing three from the inaugural season.
27. |
The Chicago Bulls were an expansion team for the 1966-1967 season.
28. |
The Chicago Staleys were never a franchise in the NBA.
29. |
For the 1963-1964 season, the Syracuse National relocated to Philadelphia to become the 76ers.
30. |
The St. Louis Bombers were not one of the 1971-1972 NBA expansion teams.
31. |
The Lakers began in Minneapolis.
32. |
The Lakers first played in Los Angeles with the 1960-1961 season.
33. |
The original NBA franchise in Baltimore was called the Bullets. The team played beginning with the 1947-1948 season until the team was disbanded in November1954.
34. |
The Fort Wayne Pistons joined the NBA for the 1948-1949 season.
35. |
False. The Sheboygan Redskins played one season in the NBA, 1949-1950, finishing with a 22-40 record.
36. |
The Washington Wizards at one time or another went by all of those names—Baltimore Bullets, Capitol Bullets, Chicago Zephyrs.
37. |
The Rockets franchise began in San Diego.
38. |
The Hawks began playing in Atlanta for the 1968-1969 season.
39. |
The Hawks started in Milwaukee for the 1951-1952 season.
40. |
The expansion Seattle Supersonics began their inaugural NBA season in 1967-1968.
41. |
The Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008-2009, changing the team name to the Thunder in the process.
42. |
The Warriors have played in Philadelphia, Oakland, and San Francisco (twice), but never in Santa Clara.
43. |
True. The Bucks began play in the 1968-1969 season.
44. |
The Bucks won the NBA championship in 1970-1971, only the team’s third season.
45. |
The Buffalo Braves moved to San Diego to become the Clippers.
46. |
The Suns were an expansion team in the 1968-1969 season.
47. |
The Jazz began NBA play as an expansion team in 1974-1975.
48. |
The Jazz franchise began in New Orleans.
49. |
The Grizzlies franchise began in Vancouver.
50. |
True. The Indianapolis Olympians began play in the NBA in 1949 before folding in 1953.
51. |
The Carolina Cougars were not one of the ABA franchises to join the NBA for the 1976-1977 season.
52. |
The Miami Heat played their first NBA season in the Midwest Division before moving to the Atlantic Division the following season.
53. |
The Charlotte Hornets were another expansion team in 1988-1989.
54. |
The Dallas began NBA play in the 1980-1981 season.
55. |
Minnesota was an expansion team for the 1989-1990 season.
56. |
The Minnesota team is called the Timberwolves.
57. |
1989-1990 was the first season of play for the Orlando Magic.
58. |
The Lakers were not an original NBA franchise, beginning play in 1948-1949.
59. |
The Toronto Raptors began play in the 1955-1996 season.
60. |
The Minneapolis Lakers were the first NBA dynasty, winning five NBA championships from 1948-1949 through 1953-1954.
61. |
The New York franchise is officially called the Knickerbockers.
62. |
Bob Cousy was drafted in the first round by the Tri-City Blackhawks in 1950. However, he was traded to the Chicago Stags one month later. The Chicago franchise folded before the season began. Cousy was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the Chicago Stags dispersal draft. Cousy never played for the Blackhawks or the Stags.
63. |
Bobby “Slick” Leonard played for Chicago Packers in their inaugural season and was the second leading scorer with 16.1 points per game. He would become the long-time and very successful coach of the Indiana Pacers in both the ABA and NBA,
64. |
Johnny “Red” Kerr coached the Bulls in their first NBA season, finishing with a 33-48 regular season record.
65. |
Len Chappell was selected by the Bulls in the 1966 expansion draft, the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1968 expansion draft, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970 expansion draft.
66. |
The Nets franchise was never known as the Staten Island Nets.
67. |
The Charlotte Hornets moved the franchise to New Orleans prior to the 2002-2003 season
68. |
The current New Orleans team is known as the Pelicans.
69. |
The new franchise in Charlotte beginning in the 2004-2005 season was the Bobcats.
70. |
The Charlotte franchise reclaimed the name Hornets beginning with the 2014-2015 season.
71. |
Believe it or not, the Kings franchise is the oldest continuously run franchise, beginning play in 1923 as a semi-pro team. They have operated in some form or another ever since joining the NBA for the 1948-1949 season.
72. |
The only NBA franchise Detroit has ever had has been the Pistons.
73. |
Arnold “Red” Auerbach served as coach and general manager for 16 seasons and then just general manager of the Boston Celtics after that.
74. |
Syracuse Nationals owner Daniel Biasone created the 24-second shot clock as a means of speeding up the game.
75. |
The NBA adopted the 24-second shot clock for the 1954-1955 season.
76. |
Jerry Colangelo became the general manager of the Phoenix Suns in 1968.
77. |
Jerry Krause was the general manager largely responsible for building the Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990s.
78. |
After playing 11 seasons in the NBA, Wayne Embry became the first African-American general manager in the league when he was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971.
79. |
Pat Williams served as general manager for the Bulls, Hawks, 76ers, and Magic during his lengthy NBA management career.
80. |
Pete Babcock is the longest-tenured general manager in Hawks history, holding that position from 1990-2003.
81. |
There have been five NBA commissioners since the inception of the NBA.
82. |
Maurice Podoloff was the first NBA commissioner, serving from 1946-1963.
83. |
The NBA championship trophy is named after Larry O’Brien, the league’s third commissioner.
84. |
The San Antonio Spurs have the best all-time team winning percentage of .613.
85. |
The Minnesota Timberwolves have the lowest all-time winning percentage at .394.
86. |
Through the 2020-2021 season, the Boston Celtics played the most games in league history with 5,902 games.
87. |
The 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers won 33 games in a row that year, finishing with a 69-13 record.
88. |
The 1981-1982 Denver Nuggets averaged an all-time best 126.5 points per game.
89. |
The 1998-1999 Chicago Bulls average only 91.9 points per game, the lowest average since the advent of the shot clock.
90. |
The Pistons beat the Lakers 19-18 in the lowest scoring game in NBA history.
91. |
George Mikan scored 18 of the Lakers 18 points.
92. |
The Pistons beat the Nuggets 186-184.
93. |
Kiki Vandeweghe scored 51 points of the Nuggets 184 points/
94. |
True. The Phoenix Suns scored 107 points in the first half on November 10, 1990, as they defeated the Denver Nuggets 173-143.
95. |
The 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors finished with a 73-9 regular season record.
96. |
The 1995-1996 Bulls had a 72-10 regular season record.
97. |
The 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers had a woeful 9-73 record that season.
98. |
The Portland Trailblazers drafter Clyde Drexler with the 14th pick in the first round of 1983 NBA draft.
99. |
The 1985-1986 Boston Celtics and the 2015-2016 San Antonio Spurs both finished the regular season with a 40-1 home record.
100. |
The Portland Trailblazers drafted Sam Bowie with the second pick in the 1984 NBA draft, passing on Michael Jordon.
101. |
Wilt Chamberlain, who played college ball at Kansas, but played in high school at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, was selected by the Warriors with their “territorial” draft pick in 1959.
102. |
The Cincinnati Royals drafted Oscar Robertson, from Ohio State, with their “territorial” pick in the 1960 draft.
103. |
Lebron James was selected with the first pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
104. |
Following the 1968-1969 season the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks flipped a coin to see who would get the first pick in the draft. The Suns called heads and it came up tails.
105. |
The Minneapolis Lakers were the league’s first dynasty, winning five titles between 1948-1949 and 1953-1954.
106. |
The St. Louis Hawks drafted Bill Russell with the second pick in the 1956 NBA draft. He was subsequently traded to Boston on the same day.
107. |
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett with the first pick in the 2013 draft followed by Andrew Wiggins in the first round of the 2014 draft.
108. |
The Utah Jazz set a single season record for 3-point shots made per game with an average of 16.7.
109. |
The NBA adopted the 3-point shot with the 1979-1980.
110. |
Kevin Grevey of the Washington Bullets is credited with making the first 3-point shot in history in 1979.
111. |
True. Stephen Curry is the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 3-point shots.
112. |
Rick Barry shot his free throws underhanded. He was a career .900 free throw shooter.
113. |
Hal Greer shot a jump shot for his free throws. He was a career .812 free throw shooter.
114. |
The 1984-1985 Los Angeles Lakers had an all-time best .545 field goal percentage for the season.
115. |
The 1954-1955 Milwaukee Hawks had an all-time NBA-worst field goal percentage of .362.
116. |
The NBA started including blocks and steals as official statistical categories for the 1973-1974 season.
117. |
The Lakers selected former Bruin Walt Hazzard in the 1964 draft.
118. |
The Boston Celtics dominated the NBA from 1957 through 1969, winning 11 championships in 13 years.
119. |
The Lakers selected former UCLA guard Gail Goodrich in the 1965 draft.
120. |
The Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles in the 1990s.
121. |
Stephen Curry is the Warriors franchise all-time leading scorer with 20,006 through the 2020-2021-season.
122. |
Alvan Adams, who played his entire career with the Phoenix Suns, is the team’s all-time leading rebounder with 9,937 total rebounds.
123. |
Clyde Drexler played 867 games for the Portland Trailblazers, more than any other player.
124. |
Chris Paul is the New Orleans Pelicans franchise leader with 4,228 assists.
125. |
Bob Pettit is the all-time leading rebounder for the Hawks franchise with 12,849 total rebounds.