Think you know the NBA? Whether you’re a casual fan or a basketball superfan, this ultimate guide has 225 challenging NBA trivia questions with answers to keep you entertained.
Categorized for easy navigation, this is perfect for trivia nights, sharpening your knowledge, or impressing your friends. Let’s hit the hardwood and dive in!
NBA History
Explore the history of the NBA with these intriguing trivia questions.
- Who was the first player to be drafted in the NBA?
Answer: Clifton McNeely - Which team won the first-ever NBA championship?
Answer: Philadelphia Warriors - Who was the first commissioner of the NBA?
Answer: Maurice Podoloff - What year was the NBA founded?
Answer: 1946 - Which player holds the record for the most points in a single game?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain (100 points) - Who was the first international player to be drafted in the NBA?
Answer: Hank Biasatti (Canada) - Which franchise was originally known as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks?
Answer: Atlanta Hawks - Who is the youngest MVP in NBA history?
Answer: Derrick Rose - What team did Michael Jordan play for after coming out of retirement in 2001?
Answer: Washington Wizards - Which player was the first to win MVP, All-Star MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season?
Answer: Willis Reed - What year did the NBA merge with the ABA?
Answer: 1976 - Which player won the first-ever Defensive Player of the Year award?
Answer: Sidney Moncrief - What year was the 3-point line introduced in the NBA?
Answer: 1979 - Who holds the record for the most career rebounds in the NBA?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain - What team has the most NBA championships?
Answer: Boston Celtics (tied with the Los Angeles Lakers) - Who scored the first-ever basket in NBA history?
Answer: Ossie Schectman - Which player won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season?
Answer: Wes Unseld - What year did the NBA adopt the shot clock?
Answer: 1954 - Who was the first African-American player in the NBA?
Answer: Earl Lloyd - What is the longest winning streak in NBA history?
Answer: 33 games (Los Angeles Lakers, 1971-72) - Which player has the most career assists in NBA history?
Answer: John Stockton - Who was the first player to win six NBA championships as a coach?
Answer: Red Auerbach - Which team did the Golden State Warriors defeat in their first NBA championship win?
Answer: Washington Capitols - What was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s birth name?
Answer: Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. - Who was the first NBA player to dunk in a game?
Answer: Joe Fortenberry - What team did Bill Russell play for throughout his NBA career?
Answer: Boston Celtics - Which team did Kobe Bryant originally get drafted by?
Answer: Charlotte Hornets - Who was the first player to average a triple-double for a season?
Answer: Oscar Robertson - What year did LeBron James get drafted into the NBA?
Answer: 2003 - Who has the most career blocks in NBA history?
Answer: Hakeem Olajuwon - What was the first team Magic Johnson played against in the NBA Finals?
Answer: Philadelphia 76ers - Who was the first player to win consecutive MVP awards?
Answer: Bill Russell - What year was the NBA’s first All-Star Game played?
Answer: 1951 - Which team has the longest playoff drought in NBA history?
Answer: Sacramento Kings (16 years) - Who was the first player to record a quadruple-double in a game?
Answer: Nate Thurmond - What year did the NBA Finals start being broadcast on TV?
Answer: 1953 - Which player was known as “The Mailman”?
Answer: Karl Malone
NBA Teams and Franchises
Put your knowledge of NBA teams and their histories to the test with these trivia questions.
- Which team was originally known as the Minneapolis Lakers?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers - What NBA team holds the record for the best regular season record?
Answer: Golden State Warriors (73-9, 2015-16) - Which team is nicknamed “The Suns”?
Answer: Phoenix Suns - What city did the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise originally play in?
Answer: Seattle (as the Seattle SuperSonics) - Which NBA team plays in Madison Square Garden?
Answer: New York Knicks - What is the newest team in the NBA?
Answer: Charlotte Hornets (rebranded in 2014, originally Charlotte Bobcats) - Which team has the longest consecutive playoff appearance streak?
Answer: San Antonio Spurs (22 seasons) - What is the only NBA team based in Canada?
Answer: Toronto Raptors - Which team is known as “The Kings”?
Answer: Sacramento Kings - What NBA team’s mascot is named “Benny the Bull”?
Answer: Chicago Bulls - Which NBA team has never won a championship but made it to the Finals twice in the 1990s?
Answer: Orlando Magic - What NBA franchise was originally called the Buffalo Braves?
Answer: Los Angeles Clippers - Which team’s colors are purple and gold?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers - What team did Shaquille O’Neal start his career with?
Answer: Orlando Magic - Which franchise has the most retired jersey numbers?
Answer: Boston Celtics - What NBA team was the first to wear short-sleeve jerseys?
Answer: Golden State Warriors - What is the smallest market team in the NBA?
Answer: Memphis Grizzlies - What team did Dirk Nowitzki play for his entire NBA career?
Answer: Dallas Mavericks - Which NBA team is named after a musical genre?
Answer: Utah Jazz - What is the oldest continuously operating team in NBA history?
Answer: Sacramento Kings (originally the Rochester Royals) - What is the nickname of the NBA team from Milwaukee?
Answer: Bucks - Which NBA franchise is known as “Rip City”?
Answer: Portland Trail Blazers - Who are the “76ers” named after?
Answer: The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 - What team is often referred to as “The Heat”?
Answer: Miami Heat - Which NBA team plays their home games at the Barclays Center?
Answer: Brooklyn Nets - Which NBA team won the Finals in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014?
Answer: San Antonio Spurs - What is the only team Michael Jordan played for outside of the Chicago Bulls?
Answer: Washington Wizards - What team holds the record for most losses in a season?
Answer: Philadelphia 76ers (9-73, 1972-73) - What team’s logo features a bear?
Answer: Memphis Grizzlies - Which NBA team has a logo with a lightning bolt?
Answer: Oklahoma City Thunder - What NBA team has a mascot called “Rocky the Mountain Lion”?
Answer: Denver Nuggets - Which team did Charles Barkley spend the majority of his career with?
Answer: Philadelphia 76ers - What team is referred to as “The Hawks”?
Answer: Atlanta Hawks - Which team was founded as the Vancouver Grizzlies before relocating?
Answer: Memphis Grizzlies - What is the home arena of the Golden State Warriors?
Answer: Chase Center - Which NBA team is the only one with a mascot inspired by a moose?
Answer: Milwaukee Bucks - What team did Allen Iverson lead to the NBA Finals in 2001?
Answer: Philadelphia 76ers - What NBA team was once known as the “New Orleans Hornets”?
Answer: New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Players and Legends
Celebrate the legends of the NBA with this collection of trivia questions.
- Who was nicknamed “The Big Fundamental”?
Answer: Tim Duncan - Which player was known as “The Answer”?
Answer: Allen Iverson - Who holds the record for the most points scored in NBA history?
Answer: LeBron James - Which player is widely regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history?
Answer: Stephen Curry - What player famously said, “I’m not a role model”?
Answer: Charles Barkley - Which player is known for his signature “Sky Hook” shot?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Who has the most career triple-doubles in NBA history?
Answer: Russell Westbrook - Who was known as “Pistol Pete”?
Answer: Pete Maravich - What player has won the most NBA MVP awards?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) - Which player was the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft?
Answer: Hakeem Olajuwon - Who was the first player to win NBA MVP unanimously?
Answer: Stephen Curry - What nickname was given to Shaquille O’Neal during his time in Miami?
Answer: The Diesel - Who was Michael Jordan’s primary rival during the late 1980s?
Answer: Isiah Thomas - Which player earned the nickname “The Truth”?
Answer: Paul Pierce - What player led the NBA in scoring for ten consecutive seasons?
Answer: Michael Jordan - Who holds the record for the fastest triple-double in NBA history?
Answer: Nikola Jokic - Which player has the most career steals in NBA history?
Answer: John Stockton - Who was known as “The Human Highlight Film”?
Answer: Dominique Wilkins - What player was nicknamed “Dr. J”?
Answer: Julius Erving - Who is the tallest player in NBA history?
Answer: Gheorghe Muresan (7’7″) - Which player was nicknamed “The Round Mound of Rebound”?
Answer: Charles Barkley - Who is the only player to record a 20-20-20 stat line in an NBA game?
Answer: Russell Westbrook - What player had his number retired by both the Celtics and the Heat?
Answer: Shaquille O’Neal - Who was the first player to wear the number “0” in the NBA?
Answer: Gilbert Arenas - Which player is the all-time leader in NBA Finals points?
Answer: LeBron James - Who was the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft?
Answer: LeBron James - Which player has the most playoff appearances in NBA history?
Answer: LeBron James - Who was nicknamed “Black Mamba”?
Answer: Kobe Bryant - Which player was known as “The Big Ticket”?
Answer: Kevin Garnett - Who was the first player to score 70 points in a game since Wilt Chamberlain?
Answer: Devin Booker - Which player was drafted as “Player X” by the Houston Rockets?
Answer: Hakeem Olajuwon (due to legal issues at the time) - Who played alongside Larry Bird in Boston’s famous frontcourt?
Answer: Kevin McHale - Which player won the NBA scoring title in 2023?
Answer: Joel Embiid - Who hit the famous “Shot” over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 playoffs?
Answer: Michael Jordan - Who was known as “The Greek Freak”?
Answer: Giannis Antetokounmpo - Which player was the face of the NBA’s “I Love This Game” campaign?
Answer: Magic Johnson - Who is the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made?
Answer: Stephen Curry
NBA Records and Stats
Discover some of the most impressive records and stats in NBA history with these questions.
- Who holds the record for the most points in a single NBA game?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain (100 points) - Which player has the most career triple-doubles in NBA history?
Answer: Russell Westbrook - Who has the highest career scoring average in NBA history?
Answer: Michael Jordan (30.1 points per game) - What is the highest-scoring NBA game ever played?
Answer: Detroit Pistons vs. Denver Nuggets (370 points combined, 1983) - Who holds the record for the most consecutive games played in the NBA?
Answer: A.C. Green (1,192 games) - Which player recorded the fastest triple-double in NBA history?
Answer: Nikola Jokic (14 minutes, 33 seconds) - Who holds the record for the most rebounds in a single game?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain (55 rebounds) - What is the longest game in NBA history?
Answer: 6 overtimes (Indianapolis Olympians vs. Rochester Royals, 1951) - Who has the most career steals in NBA history?
Answer: John Stockton - What is the record for the most points scored by a team in a single game?
Answer: Detroit Pistons (186 points, 1983) - Which player has the most career blocks in NBA history?
Answer: Hakeem Olajuwon - Who was the first player to average a triple-double for an entire season?
Answer: Oscar Robertson - What is the longest winning streak in NBA history?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers (33 games, 1971-72 season) - Which player has the most career assists in NBA history?
Answer: John Stockton - What is the largest margin of victory in an NBA game?
Answer: 73 points (Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 2021) - Who holds the record for the most 3-pointers made in a single game?
Answer: Klay Thompson (14 3-pointers) - Which team has the most NBA championships?
Answer: Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers (17 each) - What is the lowest-scoring NBA game in history?
Answer: Fort Wayne Pistons 19, Minneapolis Lakers 18 (1950) - Who has the highest scoring average in a single season?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain (50.4 points per game) - Which player scored the most points in an NBA Finals game?
Answer: Elgin Baylor (61 points) - Who was the first rookie to win All-Star Game MVP?
Answer: Blake Griffin (2011) - What is the record for the most turnovers in a single game?
Answer: Jason Kidd (14 turnovers) - Who was the first player to achieve a quadruple-double in an NBA game?
Answer: Nate Thurmond - What is the record for the most fouls in a single game by one player?
Answer: 8 fouls (Don Otten, 1949, before disqualification rules were standardized) - Who is the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game?
Answer: Brandon Jennings - Which team recorded the most losses in a single season?
Answer: Philadelphia 76ers (73 losses, 1972-73 season) - What player has the most All-Star Game MVP awards?
Answer: Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit (4 each) - Who is the oldest player to appear in an NBA game?
Answer: Nat Hickey (45 years old) - Which team has the record for the best home record in a single season?
Answer: San Antonio Spurs (40-1, 2015-16) - Who is the shortest player to ever play in the NBA?
Answer: Muggsy Bogues (5’3″) - Which player has the most blocked shots in a single season?
Answer: Mark Eaton (456 blocks) - What is the record for the most 3-pointers made in a single season by a player?
Answer: Stephen Curry (402) - Who was the first player to record 10,000 career rebounds?
Answer: Bill Russell - Which team holds the record for the longest playoff drought?
Answer: Sacramento Kings (16 seasons, 2007-2023) - What is the fastest ejection in NBA history?
Answer: Bubba Wells (3 minutes, 6 fouls) - Who was the first player to win NBA MVP and Finals MVP in the same season?
Answer: Willis Reed (1970) - What team scored the fewest points in an NBA game in the shot clock era?
Answer: Chicago Bulls (49 points, 1999)
NBA Coaches and Executives
Dive into the masterminds behind the players with these trivia questions.
- Who has the most coaching wins in NBA history?
Answer: Gregg Popovich - Who was the first African-American head coach in the NBA?
Answer: Bill Russell - What coach has the most NBA championships?
Answer: Phil Jackson (11 championships) - Who is the youngest head coach to win an NBA championship?
Answer: Tyronn Lue (2016) - What coach is known as “The Zen Master”?
Answer: Phil Jackson - Which NBA coach won Coach of the Year three times?
Answer: Pat Riley - Who was the first head coach of the Golden State Warriors?
Answer: Eddie Gottlieb - Which coach was famously known for the “seven seconds or less” offense?
Answer: Mike D’Antoni - What coach holds the record for most consecutive playoff appearances?
Answer: Gregg Popovich - Which NBA coach never played professional basketball?
Answer: Erik Spoelstra - Who was the first woman to serve as a head coach in the NBA?
Answer: No woman has been a head coach yet, but Becky Hammon served as an assistant and acted as head coach for one game. - What coach won an NBA championship with two different teams?
Answer: Phil Jackson (Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers) - Which NBA executive was known as “The Logo”?
Answer: Jerry West - Who was the youngest coach in NBA history?
Answer: Dave DeBusschere (24 years old) - Which coach won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021?
Answer: Mike Budenholzer - Who is the only NBA coach to win both an NBA and an NCAA championship?
Answer: Larry Brown - What coach led the Boston Celtics to their 2008 NBA championship?
Answer: Doc Rivers - Which coach is the all-time leader in playoff wins?
Answer: Phil Jackson - Who won the NBA Executive of the Year award in 2020?
Answer: Lawrence Frank - What team did Gregg Popovich coach before the San Antonio Spurs?
Answer: Golden State Warriors (as an assistant coach) - Who was the first general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers?
Answer: Fred Schaus - Which coach was known for his fiery temper and sideline antics?
Answer: Bobby Knight - What former player became the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2020?
Answer: Steve Nash - Who coached the “Dream Team” in the 1992 Olympics?
Answer: Chuck Daly - What coach led the Warriors to their first championship in the Steph Curry era?
Answer: Steve Kerr - Who was the coach for the Detroit Pistons during their 2004 championship run?
Answer: Larry Brown - What executive is credited with creating the modern Toronto Raptors roster?
Answer: Masai Ujiri - Who was the first coach to win 1,000 games in the NBA?
Answer: Lenny Wilkens - Which coach was known for inventing the triangle offense?
Answer: Tex Winter - Who coached the Miami Heat to their first championship in 2006?
Answer: Pat Riley - What coach was fired after winning Coach of the Year?
Answer: Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors) - Who was the first coach to lead the Lakers to a championship?
Answer: John Kundla - What former player coached the Warriors to the 1975 championship?
Answer: Al Attles - Who is the longest-tenured coach in NBA history?
Answer: Gregg Popovich - What coach famously declared, “We’re talking about practice”?
Answer: Trick question – this was said by Allen Iverson, not a coach. - Which coach was known as “Big Chief Triangle”?
Answer: Phil Jackson - What coach replaced Mark Jackson to lead the Warriors in 2014?
Answer: Steve Kerr - Who was the first general manager of the Toronto Raptors?
Answer: Isiah Thomas