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Quizzes > Sports

NBA Trivia Questions: Test Your Basketball Knowledge

Quick NBA quiz to test your hoops knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Lindsay DatcherUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art basketball hoop and trivia icons on golden yellow background inviting quiz takers to test NBA history and hoops IQ

This NBA quiz helps you check your knowledge of players, records, and history in minutes. Answer quick, engaging questions and see your score instantly. After you finish, sharpen your skills with our NBA MVP quiz and a focused Michael Jordan quiz, or explore tougher NBA trivia questions.

Which team won the inaugural NBA championship in 1947?
Chicago Stags
Washington Capitols
Philadelphia Warriors
New York Knicks
The Philadelphia Warriors won the inaugural championship in what was then the BAA in 1947 by defeating the Chicago Stags. They later became the Golden State Warriors, and this victory marked the beginning of the league's championship history.
Who is known as "King James"?
Kobe Bryant
Magic Johnson
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
LeBron James earned the nickname "King James" due to his dominant play, leadership, and global impact on the game of basketball. He has been referred to by this moniker throughout his NBA career.
Which player holds the record for most points scored in a single NBA game?
Wilt Chamberlain (100)
David Robinson (71)
Michael Jordan (69)
Kobe Bryant (81)
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points on March 2, 1962, for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. His 100-point game remains the single-game scoring record in NBA history.
As of the current NBA season, how many teams compete in the league?
30
31
29
32
The NBA features 30 teams divided equally between the Eastern and Western Conferences. This structure has been in place since the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) rejoined the league in 2004 - 05.
Which NBA team is nicknamed the "Lakers"?
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Cleveland Cavaliers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Originally the Minneapolis Lakers, the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960 but kept the "Lakers" nickname in honor of Minnesota's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
Who won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2019 - 20 season?
James Harden
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo earned his second consecutive MVP award in 2019 - 20, becoming one of the few players in history to win back-to-back MVP honors.
What is the regulation height of an NBA basketball hoop?
10 feet
11 feet
9 feet
12 feet
Since the league's inception, the rim height has been set at 10 feet above the playing surface. This standard is used at all levels of organized basketball.
Which player holds the NBA record for most career assists?
Steve Nash
John Stockton
Magic Johnson
Chris Paul
John Stockton dished out 15,806 assists over his career with the Utah Jazz, a record that still stands today. He led the league in assists for nine straight seasons.
Which coach has won the most NBA championships in their career?
Gregg Popovich
Pat Riley
Red Auerbach
Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson won 11 NBA championships as a head coach - six with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Los Angeles Lakers - more than any other coach in league history.
In what year did the NBA merge with the ABA?
1974
1975
1977
1976
The NBA - ABA merger was finalized in 1976, bringing four ABA teams (the Nuggets, Pacers, Spurs, and Nets) into the NBA and ending the rival league.
Which team originally drafted Kobe Bryant in the 1996 NBA Draft?
Utah Jazz
Philadelphia 76ers
Charlotte Hornets
Los Angeles Lakers
The Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick in 1996 before trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft?
Charles Barkley
Michael Jordan
John Stockton
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets in 1984 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career, including two championships.
What is the maximum number of personal fouls a player can commit in an NBA game before fouling out?
7
8
6
5
In the NBA, a player is disqualified from the game (fouls out) upon committing six personal fouls. Technical fouls are counted separately.
Which NBA player is nicknamed 'The Black Mamba'?
Dwyane Wade
Allen Iverson
Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant adopted the nickname 'Black Mamba' to represent his killer instinct and focus on the basketball court. It became one of the most iconic monikers in sports.
Which NBA player holds the career record for the most blocked shots?
Dikembe Mutombo
Mark Eaton
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon leads the NBA all-time in blocked shots with 3,830 over his career, the highest total in league history.
Who was the first European-born player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award?
Dirk Nowitzki
Pau Gasol
Steve Nash
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dirk Nowitzki became the first European-born player to win MVP when he earned the award for the 2006 - 07 season, a historic achievement for international players.
Which team set the record for most wins in a single NBA regular season?
Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
Golden State Warriors
Boston Celtics
The 2015 - 16 Golden State Warriors finished with a 73 - 9 record, breaking the Chicago Bulls' 1995 - 96 mark of 72 - 10 and setting a new single-season wins record.
Which team holds the longest winning streak in NBA history?
Houston Rockets
Miami Heat
Los Angeles Lakers
Golden State Warriors
The 1971 - 72 Los Angeles Lakers won 33 consecutive games, a record that remains the longest winning streak in NBA history.
Which city hosted the 1992 NBA All-Star Game?
Chicago
New York
Orlando
Houston
The 1992 NBA All-Star Game was held at Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, featuring the league's top talent of the early '90s.
Who was the first woman ever drafted by an NBA team?
Ann Meyers
Lusia Harris
Sue Bird
Nancy Lieberman
Lusia Harris was selected by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round of the 1977 NBA Draft, making her the first and only woman ever drafted by an NBA team.
When Michael Jordan returned to the NBA in 2001, which team did he play for?
Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks
Washington Wizards
Orlando Magic
Michael Jordan returned from his second retirement to sign with the Washington Wizards, playing there for two seasons from 2001 to 2003.
True or False: The three-point line was introduced in the NBA in the 1979 - 80 season.
False
True
The NBA adopted the three-point line for the 1979 - 80 season, fundamentally changing spacing, strategy, and scoring in the game.
Who was the first player to be elected NBA Most Valuable Player by a unanimous vote?
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history during the 2015 - 16 season after leading the Golden State Warriors to a record 73 - 9 mark.
Which NBA player holds the highest career free throw percentage (minimum 1,200 attempts)?
Mark Price
Rick Barry
José Calderón
Steve Nash
José Calderón leads all qualified players with a .909 career free throw percentage over his NBA career, making him the most accurate free throw shooter in league history.
Which NBA coach has the highest career regular-season winning percentage (minimum 500 games coached)?
Steve Kerr
Phil Jackson
Gregg Popovich
Pat Riley
Phil Jackson holds the highest career winning percentage (.704) among NBA head coaches with at least 500 games, thanks to his championship success with the Bulls and Lakers.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Legendary NBA Players -

    Engage with this NBA trivia quiz to test your ability to recognize iconic figures from NBA history and outline their signature accomplishments.

  2. Recall Historic NBA Moments -

    Refresh your memory on milestone games, buzzer-beaters, and record-setting performances in this NBA history quiz by matching events to seasons and players.

  3. Analyze Pivotal Game-Changing Plays -

    Break down the strategies and key plays featured in our basketball trivia quiz to sharpen your analytical understanding of on-court tactics.

  4. Compare Championship Runs -

    Contrast title-winning teams across different NBA eras to grasp shifts in playing style, dominance, and roster construction.

  5. Evaluate Your Hoops IQ -

    Test your NBA knowledge and receive instant feedback to identify strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement in your basketball IQ.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Birth of the NBA and Original Teams -

    The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) before merging with the NBL in 1949 to form its modern structure. Memorize the four inaugural teams - Philadelphia Warriors, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Toronto Huskies - by the phrase "WCKH" for quick recall. According to NBA.com's historical archives, understanding these origins is crucial for a solid NBA history quiz foundation.

  2. All-Time Scoring Leaders -

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the career scoring record with 38,387 points, as noted by Basketball-Reference.com. LeBron James and Karl Malone follow closely, making "KAL" a handy acronym to remember the top three. Knowing these ranks helps you ace any NBA trivia quiz.

  3. Three-Point Line Introduction -

    The NBA adopted the three-point line in the 1979 - 80 season, transforming offensive strategies and spacing. Stephen Curry's 402 made threes in 2015 - 16 (NBA.com stats) are a standout milestone, remembered with the rhyme "Curry 400+ free." Recognizing when the three-point era began and its key record-holders will boost your performance on any basketball trivia quiz.

  4. MVP Award Evolution -

    The NBA's Most Valuable Player award debuted in the 1955 - 56 season, first won by Bob Pettit (NBA.com Awards). Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan share six MVPs each, while Bill Russell earned five - mnemonically "JARBJ" (Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar, Russell). Familiarity with award winners and their tallies is essential for answering tough NBA quiz questions.

  5. Iconic Team Dynasties -

    The Boston Celtics dominated the 1960s with eight straight titles, the Lakers' "Showtime" era reigned in the 1980s, and the Chicago Bulls' 1990s squad secured two three-peats, per ESPN research. A decade-based mnemonic - "60 Celts, 80 Showtime, 90 Bulls" - helps lock in these dynasties for quick recall. Recognizing these eras is a staple in most NBA history quizzes.

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