Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Sports

NBA teams quiz: Can you name all 30 teams?

Quick, free challenge to name every NBA team. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Jacques MoixUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
NBA teams quiz paper art illustration on sky blue background

This NBA teams quiz helps you name all 30 franchises from memory and spot gaps fast in a quick timed round. After you play, sharpen your recall with our NBA logo quiz, try broader knowledge with an NBA quiz, or push your understanding with a basketball iq test.

Which NBA team plays in Los Angeles and is known as the Lakers?
Lakers
Warriors
Kings
Clippers
The Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, having moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960 and winning multiple championships. They are known for legendary players like Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. Their name refers to Minnesota's nickname, 'Land of 10,000 Lakes.'
Which NBA team is based in Chicago?
Pistons
Pacers
Heat
Bulls
The Chicago Bulls, founded in 1966, are the only NBA franchise in Chicago, Illinois. They rose to global prominence during the 1990s courtesy of Michael Jordan and six championship titles. Their red, black, and white colors are iconic in basketball culture.
Which NBA team plays in Miami?
Heat
Pistons
Magic
Hornets
The Miami Heat joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1988 and play their home games at the Kaseya Center. They have won multiple titles, including championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013. The 'Heat' nickname reflects the warm weather of South Florida.
Which NBA team is nicknamed the Knicks and plays in New York City?
Nets
Liberty
Rangers
Knicks
The New York Knicks are one of the league's oldest teams, founded in 1946 as part of the Basketball Association of America. Their nickname is short for 'Knickerbockers,' a term referencing early Dutch settlers of New York. They play home games at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
Which NBA team is based in Oklahoma City?
Jazz
Nuggets
Thunder
Mavericks
The Oklahoma City Thunder began play in 2008 after the Seattle SuperSonics relocated and rebranded. The team quickly became competitive, making multiple playoff appearances. Their name 'Thunder' reflects the region's severe weather events like thunderstorms.
Which NBA team relocated from Kansas City to Sacramento in 1985?
Lakers
Rockets
Suns
Kings
The Sacramento Kings began as the Rochester Royals in 1945 and later moved to Kansas City in 1972. In 1985 the franchise relocated to Sacramento, California, where they remain today. They hold the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating NBA franchise.
Which franchise rebranded from the Bobcats back to their original nickname in 2014?
Charlotte Hornets
Utah Jazz
Phoenix Suns
Toronto Raptors
Charlotte's NBA franchise was known as the Bobcats from 2004 until 2014. In 2014 the team regained the historic 'Hornets' name after the New Orleans franchise changed its own name to the Pelicans. This change restored Charlotte's connection to its original 1988 Hornets history.
Which NBA team's nickname is inspired by the early jazz music heritage of its original city?
Grizzlies
Pelicans
Jazz
Hornets
The Jazz were founded as the New Orleans Jazz in 1974, a nod to the city's famous musical culture. The franchise moved to Utah in 1979 but retained the 'Jazz' name despite Utah having no direct connection to jazz music. This makes them the only team whose name no longer reflects their geographic region.
Which team is the sole Canadian-based NBA franchise?
Grizzlies
Kings
Suns
Raptors
The Toronto Raptors joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1995 and are the only Canadian franchise in the league. They play their home games at Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto. The team's name and logo feature a raptor dinosaur, chosen through a fan contest.
Which U.S. state is home to the most NBA teams?
California
Texas
Florida
New York
California has four NBA teams: the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, and Kings. No other state has more than three NBA franchises. This concentration reflects California's large population and major metropolitan areas.
Which NBA team competes in the Southwest Division?
Cavaliers
Wizards
Spurs
Jazz
The San Antonio Spurs are one of five teams in the NBA's Southwest Division, alongside the Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Pelicans. They have won multiple championships under coach Gregg Popovich. The Spurs play their home games at the AT&T Center.
Which NBA team's logo features a mountain range behind crossed pickaxes?
Nuggets
Grizzlies
Trail Blazers
Timberwolves
The Denver Nuggets' logo includes a depiction of the Rocky Mountains with two pickaxes crossed in front, evoking Colorado's mining history. The team was named to reflect Denver's status as a mining boomtown in the 19th century. They play home games at Ball Arena.
Which franchise started as the Buffalo Braves before relocating and rebranding?
Celtics
Clippers
Wizards
Bucks
The Buffalo Braves were one of three expansion teams added to the NBA in 1970. After several relocations and name changes, the franchise became the Los Angeles Clippers in 1984. The Clips now play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in LA.
Which team joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1995 alongside the Toronto Raptors?
Jazz
Grizzlies
Hornets
Pacers
The Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors both entered the NBA as expansion franchises in 1995. The Grizzlies played in Vancouver until relocating to Memphis in 2001. Meanwhile, the Raptors remain in Toronto as Canada's sole NBA team.
Which NBA franchise plays its home games at Fiserv Forum?
Nuggets
Heat
Bulls
Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks moved into the Fiserv Forum in 2018, replacing the Bradley Center. They won their first championship since 1971 in 2021. The arena is located in downtown Milwaukee and hosts other events besides NBA games.
Which current NBA franchise was originally founded as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks?
Hawks
Pistons
Lakers
Celtics
The franchise began as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1946, representing Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport. They moved to Milwaukee in 1951, then to St. Louis, and finally to Atlanta in 1968, becoming the Hawks. They are one of the oldest continuously operating NBA teams.
Which NBA team was originally known as the San Diego Rockets before relocating?
Warriors
Spurs
Kings
Rockets
The Houston Rockets began as the San Diego Rockets in 1967 and relocated to Houston in 1971. The team kept the 'Rockets' name to reflect Houston's association with the space industry. They have won championships in 1994 and 1995.
Which franchise began play as an NBA expansion team in 1968?
Suns
Bulls
Hawks
Knicks
The Phoenix Suns were one of two expansion teams to join the NBA in 1968, along with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns have reached the NBA Finals multiple times but are yet to win their first championship. They play home games at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.
0
{"name":"Which NBA team plays in Los Angeles and is known as the Lakers?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"Which NBA team plays in Los Angeles and is known as the Lakers?, Which NBA team is based in Chicago?, Which NBA team plays in Miami?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify NBA Franchises -

    Recall and list all 30 NBA teams by their official names and home cities after completing the quiz.

  2. Differentiate Conferences and Divisions -

    Distinguish between Eastern Conference and Western Conference teams, along with their respective divisions.

  3. Trace Franchise Histories -

    Recognize relocated or renamed franchises and understand their historical evolutions within the league.

  4. Match Team Logos and Nicknames -

    Associate each team's logo and nickname to reinforce visual and branding recognition.

  5. Enhance Memory Retention -

    Improve recall speed and accuracy through timed challenges in the interactive quiz.

  6. Engage in Competitive Learning -

    Compare scores with friends to foster a fun, social way of testing NBA knowledge.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master Team Names & Locations -

    Memorize all 30 NBA franchises and their home markets - this is the bedrock of any nba teams quiz challenge. According to NBA.com, pairing team nicknames with their cities (e.g., Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets) in flashcards accelerates recall. Try grouping teams regionally for a geographic mnemonic boost.

  2. Understand Divisions & Conferences -

    Learn the six divisions across the Eastern and Western Conferences to narrow answer choices in an nba team quiz. Official NBA resources outline Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Northwest, Pacific and Southwest alignments - use the mnemonic "ACE NPS" to lock in each division. Visual maps can help you drill these groupings until they stick.

  3. Track Historical Relocations & Rebrands -

    Study key franchise moves like the Lakers' Minneapolis-to-Los Angeles shift and the Kings' Kansas City-to-Sacramento journey. Research from the Journal of Sports Economics shows that knowing legacy cities and former team names can be a game-changer on a name all the nba teams quiz. Create a simple timeline chart to visualize each relocation.

  4. Leverage Logos, Colors & Mascots -

    Connect team colors and logos - such as the Bulls' red-black-white scheme or the Jazz's musical note emblem - to their identities for faster recall in nba teams trivia. Harvard Business School case studies on sports branding reveal that pairing imagery with city landmarks deepens memory. Build a deck of visual flashcards featuring jerseys and mascots to supercharge your learning.

  5. Chunk Championship Histories -

    Categorize teams by their title counts (e.g., Lakers and Celtics with 17 rings, others with 0 - 1, 2 - 4, 5+). According to the NBA's Elias Sports Bureau, this chunking technique simplifies memorizing which franchises boast the biggest legacies. Enhance retention by linking championship years to iconic players - think Jordan in '96 or Duncan in '03.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Basketball Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker