Got Game? Prove It By Scoring More Than 80% On This NBA Quiz
Sports fans know without a doubt that the NBA is one of the most powerful and influential sports leagues in the world. They're responsible for the standards that govern all basketball games on NBA courts. Their influence has even reached far past the NBA jurisdiction, and now influences kids everywhere as they play their own pick up games in parks and recreation centres around the world. School gyms are full of NBA calls and cries over the rules not being respected. It's a good thing people like the game so much; with this kind of influence, the NBA could have been a very different kind of entity.
As it stands now the NBA helps to maintain standards of men's professional basketball. That's all! They make the rules and ensure everyone's adhering to them. But how much do we actually know about them and their history? When did some of their stranger rules come into play? When did they get so many amazing players, and when did some of their biggest teams join? Questions like this are what we're going to be quizzing on, so get those memory banks ready. It's time to dribble our way into some NBA slam-dunk scores!
What was Toronto's first Basketball team?
Basketball is a big league sport. While some might think that the northern neighbours don't have any place in playing in the NBA, Toronto definitely feels a little differently. This city has had a basketball team for quite a while, but it wasn't always the same one. With a name change and a new direction, this basketball team eventually turned into the iconic crew that plays today. But what was Toronto's first every basketball team before their current team that's playing?
Which NBA player played with the Harlem Globetrotters for a year?
The showmanship is absolutely out the window when it comes to the NBA. Those guys are all about skill, while the Harlem Globetrotters are more into the feeling of excitement. The Globetrotters certainly garner a lot of fandom and sell out seats in arenas worldwide, but they don’t always act as a draft for new NBA players. After all, they’re not exactly playing by NBA rules. One Globetrotter was drafted for the NBA though, much to everyone’s surprise. Who was he?
Which of these surprising places had a team?
The NBA has been in existence for a long, long time. Within that time, they've done a ton of work for basketball in turning it into the classic and amazing game that it is. It's a huge sporting event now, and one that we imagine isn't going to disappear anytime soon. That being said, this team certainly disappeared. While it was one of the first to be involved with the NBA, they didn't last more than three seasons. Which place was home to this team?
What is the wood used for all NBA court floors?
One might think that a basketball court can really be anything with enough room to run around on, and a backboard and net attached somewhere. But the National Basketball Association has developed a standard. In aim to both provide players with a strong surface to run and play on, as well as a safe and flexible surface for those same players to bounce off of and leap from. It’s extremely interesting to take to an official NBA basketball court for the first time and feel under one’s feet the type of surface they’ve developed over the years.
When did the NBA allow 3-point shots to count?
Just like with anything, there’s always going to be new innovations in the world of basketball. New ways of scoring, jumping, and making shots might be appearing less and less now, but for a while there certainly was a lot of new forms appearing in the world of professional basketball. The NBA needs to clear all of those new shots before allowing them to appear on an actual court, though, in order to accurately score points. While the 3-pointers might be common in basketball now, when did they first become allowed by the NBA?
Who is the smallest NBA player ever?
Size shouldn’t matter, but it’s hard to deny that it helps. Tall basketball players are always going to get picked first, simply because of the height associations with the sport. Tall kids are constantly asked if they play basketball, while short ones just get a sympathetic look. This short basketball player was an inspiration of 5’3” kids everywhere. He’s proof that anyone who’s got game can win and succeed in basketball, no matter how tall we happen to be. Who is he?
Which player won four championship rings and played nine all-star games?
21 years is all he played for, but this work has had some long-lasting and prolific results. Not only is he one of the only people to have four championship rings, but he’s also played in 9 all-star games. 9! That’s so many! Surprisingly, he doesn’t have the highest points average, which is why his accomplishments are so amazing. He’s not lacking on any sportsmanship either, which might be part of the reason he’s done so well. A good mood will take us far!
Which famous basketball player also played baseball?
Remember when we were kids and our grandparents would give us gear for the wrong sport? “But I thought sports was a favorite hobby!” Grandma would moan, questioning all of her future holiday presents and general sports knowledge. Just because someone likes one sport doesn’t mean they like all sports. Unless we happen to be this professional player, who’s done both professional basketball and baseball. Surprisingly they’ve got enough crossover to make this player incredibly successful, and thus incredibly valuable, in both competitions.
Which basketball player was also a rap star?
Believe it or not, it’s not just chasing after women or dancing that gives rap stars their exercise. Basketball also seems to be a popular sport, according to this wannabe rapper who is also a professional basketball player. Everyone has to have a side gig, which is probably how this song came to be. While we’re not sure he’s ever released more than just one song, it’s enough to make us giggle. After all, it’s not exactly everyday that a basketball player also plays music.
What is Kobe Bryant’s middle name?
We know, this isn’t exactly a question regarding the NBA. It’s arguably a little more interesting, though, as many sports stars have the same kind of mythology surrounding them as actors and singers. Their “stage names” aren’t always exactly the same as their real names. And forget about the idea that they’re using their full names! That’s why it’s so surprising when we find out their middle names are something a little wackier than what we first might have expected.
Who was the first high school prospect to play in the NBA?
High school is a stressful enough time for anyone. Who can imagine also playing a highly competitive sport alongside childhood basketball heros? It’s wild to think that that actually happens to some kids. Believe it or not, though, it does. It doesn’t happen regularly, but real talent deserves to be seen. We’re just glad that this one kid started the train for a few other high schoolers to join the NBA. We say that with respect, keep in mind. In this case “high schoolers” is synonymous with “some of the best basketball players ever”.
What other two teams did Bill Russell coach?
So much of basketball consists of the practice and the plans. While what happens on the court is important, it’s also just as important as what goes on behind the scenes. Putting into practice 100% of the drive and effort that they’re going to put on the court makes it possible for these players to give 100% even if their plays go all mixed up. A lot of that is inspired by the coach. Bill Russell, a prolific coach who has definitely lead the Celtics to success. But what were the other two teams he coached before them?
What did Ron Artest change his name to?
In the latter half of 2011, one of the most popular basketball bad boys had a world shattering change of heart, in which he came down from atop a mountain, and wanted to bring more love into the world. But, his name was already infamous for his abundance of penalties, fouls, and disconcerning attitude on the court. So, he and his team of lawyers eventually came to the realization that in order to escape the fate he’d laid out for himself, Artest would be better off changing his name.
Who holds the record for longest suspension in NBA history?
Taking place on the hard court of hometown Detroit Pistons, a brawl broke out between the home team and the visiting Indiana Pacers. During said altercation, some of the Piston faithful took exception to the Pacers players and heaved insults and whatever they had in their hands at them. One player raced from the court into the stands, inciting a fight between players and spectators. During the kerfuffle in the bleachers, the player that started the fight threw punches at those people there to see the game be played. He was suspended for 73 games, and lost just north of $7 Million Dollars in salary.
What is the longest losing streak in NBA regular season history?
Though the Cleveland fandom has been in a whirlwind of emotions in recent years -- what with the departure, and return of their king Lebron James, only to have him leave again to head to Los Angeles prior to the 2018-2019 season -- nothing quite beats their rough ride through the 2010-2011 season. Their regular season was so bad that many jumped ship, and attempted to vote out the Cavaliers as Cleveland's basketball team. So few wins were found on the heaping mountain of loses. But how many games in a row did they lose (to obtain the NBA record)?
What is the largest margin of victory in NBA history?
Those same Cavaliers that we mentioned in the last question, the ones with the losing streak, were once, and would be again, a formidable team. In the late stages of 1991, and the early stages of the ‘91-’92 NBA regular season, the Cavaliers trolloped over the team that Lebron James would eventually leave Cleveland for some two decades later, the Miami Heat. It wasn’t the prettiest victory, but it’s more the defeat that is bad. Forever in the history books, the Miami Heat lost by the biggest margin of points in the entire history of the league.
Name this NBA player:
He was a powerful point guard in the NBA for many years, with his career spanning 1987 all the way to 2001. Drafted 12th overall by the then Washington Bullets, his draft class included hall-of-famers like David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, and more. Despite drafting him the year before, Washington did not place protection on the shortest player ever to play in the NBA, and he was snatched up by the new Charlotte Hornets in the 1988 expansion draft, where he became legend. To this day, the diminutive point guard is considered one of the best to play at his position, regardless of his significant height disadvantage (still holds the record for shortest player ever at 5ft 3in tall).
What is Michael Jordan's secret contract clause?
There’s no arguing it, Michael Jordan is the best player ever to play for a National Basketball Association team. Lebron James is a very close second, but he doesn’t command the same respect on the court as Jordan. Regardless of his godlike status, every NBA player starts at the same place, their adoration for the sport. Which is why Michael Jordan wrote a special clause in all of his contracts that would legally allow him to play basketball anywhere, at anytime, against anyone he wished. It’s unprecedented as most superstar athletes are kept from risking their physical health outside of their team regime.
What essential motion was not in place in the original game?
It may sound wild, and it often does, but learning about the history of the game brings up a lot of odd facts that one would be extremely surprised to find out. Such as the omission of one particular skill that every single person who plays basketball in the modern world does. We all do it. The moment a basketball lands in someone’s hands, it’s usually the first thing that happens. The original game had rules in place where players weren’t allowed to move once they got the ball. It was to only be advanced by passing. Eventually, players learned to essentially pass to themselves.
Who did the Charlotte Hornets name come from?
There’s a lot of history in the United States, and much of it can be seen reflected for good or for bad in the way entertainment is presented to everyone within it. One being that Charlotte, North Carolina, was once and extremely profound resistance to said occupation of the America territory. So much so that a commander once referred to Charlotte as “a veritable hornet’s nest of rebellion.” Spawning the name that would be given to their NBA team.
What was the first North team to enter the NBA?
There’s a lot of love for the sport of basketball north of the 49th parallel. Especially of late, with the resurgence of the Toronto Raptors in a new formidable form. But prior to the launch of the Raptors out east, and the Vancouver Grizzlies out west, there was a basketball team lost to the ages. Lasting only a single season, and playing to hometown Toronto, a team no one remembers became the first ever NBA team to call the great white north their home.
When did the highest scoring game take place?
It’s still the record for the highest scoring game of all time. The NBA has seen its fair share of strange score-lines -- usually blowouts, or miniscule droughts -- but one day will go down in the history books forever (we think). In a December game between the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons, the final score was a staggering 186-184. That’s more points per team than most games have on the scoreboard if we combine both teams. Sure, it took three overtimes to achieve such wild numbers, but that doesn’t make the scoreboard any less wild to look at.
What was the longest game in history?
Speaking of triple overtimes, one might think that a game with a final score of 186-184 would be the longest game in league history, but it’s not. In an unexciting final scorecard, the Rochester Royals, and the Indianapolis Olympians played the longest recorded NBA game in the history of professional basketball, but only hit a score of 75-73. It’s probably easy to guess that this game took place in a different era of basketball, and we’d be right. The longest game in league history occurred in January of 1951. But how long did they play?
Who holds the record for most assists?
It’s often the prolific scorers that get the spotlight, are front and centre of all conversations about historic moments or stats, and picked first on one’s fantasy team. But the folks with all the buckets aren’t doing it alone. The assist is one of, if not the most, important portion of a scoring play. Think about hockey’s greatest, Wayne Gretzky. Many don’t know that he has more than twice as many assists as he does goals on his stats page, proving that the “great one” can also be the generous one. Who holds the record for most assists in the NBA?
Who did the Golden State Warrior take the wins record from?
These past few years have been a display of dominance from the Northern California team just outside of San Francisco. The Golden State Warriors have been utterly dominant on and off the court with some of the greatest basketball players ever to play, all on the same squad. In 2016, they made a new NBA record in the win column, racking up 73 total victories, and only 9 loses. The previous record was a very close 72 wins, followed by 69 in the third place spot. Which team held the record prior to 2016?
What drove Tim Duncan to start playing Basketball?
It was the late 1980’s, and the place was the United States sanctioned Virgin Islands, where eventual basketball superstar Tim Duncan could be found, preparing himself to participate in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games for team USA. See, Duncan was an Olympic qualified, competitive swimmer. Which makes sense if we look at a photograph of the long and lanky Duncan. But thanks to a hurricane, the only large enough pool on the islands was destroyed, ending his training. His only option was to practice in the ocean, but a deep worry made him seek other sports.
Who began the baggy shorts trend?
If one were to look at photographs taken over the history of professional basketball (or basketball of any kind), there’s an obvious shift in the uniforms worn by players. Namely, the shorts. Since the inception of the sport, until the late 1980’s, basketball players wore some pretty tight shorts. But thanks to one extremely superstitious hall-of-famer, baggier shorts came into play when he refused to not wear his college-worn shorts for good luck. In order for them to fit under his game-worn uniform, he needed his shorts to not be so tight. The rest is tightly squeezed history.
What’s the longest winning streak in NBA history?
At this stage in the game, it’s easy to understand that many teams have a legacy. There are stories, and lore surrounding every original franchise. One team, that has plenty of championship title banners under their roof still holds the longest winning streak in the history of the National Basketball Association. The record hasn’t been beaten, and the closest team behind them was still five whole games behind the record when they finally lost one. Standing tall at 33 straight victories, who holds this record?
How many bumps per inch are on a basketball?
Founded in the spring of 1876, Spalding has been at the forefront of the professional sports world ever since. In the years of the 19th century, company founder A.G. Spalding made the companies first ever basketball at the request of the game’s inventor. In 1983, Spalding became the official basketball of the National Basketball Association, and that’s where they’ve been ever since. Known for their tiny little bumps, or “pebbles” as they’re called internally, Spalding balls are still the standard. But how many bumps per inch are there?
How many 3-pointers did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar make in his work?
Known by all as one of the greatest players to ever play the sport of basketball, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar was the absolute epitome of prolific. Over his 20-year job Abdul-Jabbar set an all-time NBA record with most points scored at 38,387 total, and obtained six NBA championships (one with the Milwaukee Bucks, and five with the Lakers). He won rookie of the year in his debut season with the Bucks, and his famous number 33 hangs in the rafters of the Los Angeles Lakers as one of the 10 retired numbers.
Which company manufacturers NBA jerseys?
The player-worn jerseys made and sold for both on-court play, and fandom apparel are extremely important. They are perhaps the most iconic thing in sports. Wearing the same jersey as a hero turns fans into fanatics, and can inspire so many young people to practice and play the game themselves. For the longest time, one company held the contract with the NBA to make all player-worn and official jerseys, but that contract ended at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season, and a new company took over.
Who was the highest paid player in the NBA last year (‘17-’18)?
Money isn’t everything. In fact, many professional sports athletes don’t make much of a portion of their amazing wealth from their contract salaries. In general, a $20 Million Dollar per year player will earn ten times that in endorsement and outside deals. But what a team is willing to spend on a player goes a long way in describing how they feel about them. In the 2017-2018 season, the highest paid player in the NBA made $34.7 Million Dollars for playing basketball, not a staggering number by professional sports superstardom standards.
How long is a quarter of play in the NBA?
While some sports like hockey go by periods, and baseball is played in innings, the NBA shares with the NFL a standard of playing four quarters. The meticulous crafting of the time slots for these quarters has gone a long way in speeding up the once slow-paced game of basketball. With plenty of stops and starts of the clock, a perfect amount of time needed to be put up on the board. So with four quarters to play, how long are each individual quarter in the National Basketball Association?
Who holds the single game scoring record?
Plenty of folks look at the scoreboard at a basketball game in awe. Over the course of four 12 minute quarters, NBA players rack up anywhere between 80 and 140 points combined per team. It’s pretty crazy. But one player, all by himself, scored 100 points in a single four quarter game. To this day, it is still the record for most points scored by a single player in a recorded game, and may never be beaten, regardless of the extreme athleticism and prolificness of NBA superstars that are playing the game today.
Who wore his opponent's shorts?
Professional sports is a veritable hotbed for the weird, the wild, and the superstitious. It would be difficult to find any professional athlete that doesn’t have some sort of routine or superstition that keeps the perceived good luck rolling. Whether it’s Michael Jordan always wearing his North Carolina Tar Heels shorts under his Chicago Bulls game shorts, or this player, who wore the shorts of the team he was about to play against the night before he took to the court to face them while he slept. It may have paid off, because he eventually won a single NBA championship in 2011.