140+ NBA Basketball Trivia Questions and Answers (Easy & Hard)

Whether you’re a basketball novice or a die-hard fan, playing a round of NBA trivia is a great way to pass the time and bond with people. That’s why we’re providing the ultimate list of NBA basketball trivia questions for your next game night. Keep reading for Qs about players, teams, owners, gameplay, NBA history and more!

Top-Tier NBA Basketball Trivia Questions

How tall is the hoop in the NBA? 10 feet.
Who owns the Dallas Mavericks? Mark Cuban.
Which NBA coach has the most career wins? Gregg Popovich.
Who is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history? LeBron James.
Which NBA team has won 18 championships? The Boston Celtics.
Who was the youngest person to get drafted in the NBA? Andrew Bynum.
Which NBA player has won the most MVP awards? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Section 1 of 11:

Easy NBA Trivia Questions

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Kick off trivia night with these easy NBA basketball questions. The following questions are fairly easy, making them perfect for all ages and interest levels. Feel free to start off with these questions, sprinkle them in throughout the game, or throw them out at the end for a tie-breaker:^{[1]
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- Question: What does NBA stand for?
  - Answer: The National Basketball Association.
- Question: How long is an NBA game?
  - Answer: 48 minutes.
- Question: How long are NBA quarters?
  - Answer: 12 minutes.
- Question: What is the name of the NBA trophy awarded to the champions?
  - Answer: The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
- Question: Which NBA coach has the most career wins?
  - Answer: Gregg Popovich.
- Question: Who is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history?
  - Answer: LeBron James.
- Question: Who holds the record for the most NBA Finals MVP awards?
  - Answer: Michael Jordan.
- Question: What team did Kobe Bryant play his entire career for?
  - Answer: Los Angeles Lakers.
- Question: Which team did Michael Jordan primarily play for?
  - Answer: Chicago Bulls.
- Question: What are the two teams based in New York City?
  - Answer: The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
- Question: What city in Canada has an NBA team?
  - Answer: The Toronto Raptors.
- Question: Which championship team was nicknamed the “Bad Boys?”
  - Answer: Detroit Pistons.

Section 2 of 11:

Hard NBA Trivia Questions

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Challenge league experts with these tricky NBA trivia questions. Playing with a self-proclaimed superfan? Put their knowledge to the test with these rare and difficult questions. If they get them right, they’ve definitely earned their place in the trivia hall of fame!^{[2]
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- Question: What year was the NBA founded?
  - Answer: 1946.
- Question: Who was the first coach to win an NBA championship with 2 different teams?
  - Answer: Alex Hannum.
- Question: Which city are the Golden State Warriors originally from?
  - Answer: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Question: Which teams did the NBA’s first official game feature?
  - Answer: The New York Knickerbockers and the Toronto Huskies.
- Question: What was the National Basketball Association originally called?
  - Answer: The Basketball Association of America.
- Question: In what year did the first NBA All-Star take place?
  - Answer: 1951.
- Question: Who was the first non-American player to be named NBA MVP?
  - Answer: Hakeem Olajuwon.
- Question: Who was the first player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
  - Answer: George Mikan.
- Question: Which player scored 100 points in a single NBA game?
  - Answer: Wilt Chamberlain.
- Question: Who was the first player in NBA history to be unanimously voted MVP?
  - Answer: Stephen Curry.
- Question: Who was the first African American player to be drafted by an NBA team?
  - Answer: Chuck Cooper.
- Question: Who was the first player to win the NBA Finals MVP award?
  - Answer: Jerry West.
- Question: Which player won NBA championships with both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat?
  - Answer: Shaquille O’Neal.

Section 3 of 11:

Multiple Choice NBA Trivia Questions

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Mix in multiple-choice questions to give everyone a chance to score. If you’re playing with basketball newbies, sprinkle in some multiple-choice questions to give them a fair chance. Here are some great options to help people grab a win:^{[3]
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- Question: Out of the following NBA players, which one did not win the Rookie of the Year award?
  - Larry Bird
  - Patrick Ewing
  - Magic Johnson
  - David Robinson
- Question: In 2013, which team did LeBron James captain to an NBA Championship?
  - Los Angeles Lakers
  - Miami Heat
  - Chicago Bulls
  - Cleveland Cavaliers
- Question: How many players can be on a team roster during the regular season?
  - 10
  - 12
  - 15
  - 18
- Question: Which player has the most career rebounds in NBA history?
  - Bill Russell
  - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  - Shaquille O’Neal
  - Wilt Chamberlain
- Question: What’s the name of the mascot for the Charlotte Hornets?
  - Benny
  - Clutch
  - Hugo
  - Lucky
- Question: At what age did Michael Jordan return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards in 2001?
  - 38
  - 39
  - 40
  - 41
- Question: In what year did the NBA adopt the three-point line?
  - 1978
  - 1979
  - 1981
  - 1983
- Question: Who was the second player to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award 4 times, following Dikembe Mutombo?
  - Ben Wallace
  - Draymond Green
  - Dwight Howard
  - Rudy Gobert
- Question: Which team drafted Kawhi Leonard before trading him to the San Antonio Spurs on draft night?
  - Sacramento Kings
  - Utah Jazz
  - Milwaukee Bucks
  - Indiana Pacers
- Question: Which NBA team holds the record for the longest playoff drought in league history?
  - New York Knicks
  - Sacramento Kings
  - Orlando Magic
  - Washington Wizards
- Question: What number did Michael Jordan wear on his jersey while playing for the Chicago Bulls?
  - 6
  - 14
  - 23
  - 32
- Question: Which NBA player is credited with popularizing the Euro Step?
  - Vince Carter
  - Isiah Thomas
  - Manu Ginobili
  - Tracy McGrady

Section 4 of 11:

Trivia Questions About the NBA Finals

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Drop classic and deep-cut trivia questions about the NBA Finals. If you want to take your trivia game to the next level, drop some questions about the most iconic moments, shocking upsets, and record-breaking stats in Finals history. Here are some questions for both novices and superfans:^{[4]
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- Question: Which LeBron James team won an NBA Championship in 2013?
  - Answer: The Miami Heat.
- Question: Which team has made the most appearances in the finals?
  - Answer: The Los Angeles Lakers.
- Question: What is the only active NBA franchise with multiple Final appearances and no losses?
  - Answer: The Chicago Bulls.
- Question: Which player has the most career blocks in the Finals?
  - Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
- Question: Which player has the most turnovers in the Finals?
  - Answer: LeBron James.
- Question: Which NBA team has made the most franchise Final appearances without winning a title?
  - Answer: The Phoenix Suns.
- Question: Which player managed to win the NBA Finals MVP Award, even though they were on the losing team?
  - Answer: Jerry West.
- Question: Which was the first team to make it to the NBA finals for ten years running?
  - Answer: The Boston Celtics.
- Question: Which player has had the most NBA Finals appearances?
  - Answer: Bill Russell.
- Question: Which team has the best winning percentage in the Finals?
  - Answer: The Chicago Bulls.
- Question: Which NBA team has won 18 championships?
  - Answer: The Boston Celtics.
- Question: What’s the first and only team based outside the U.S. to win an NBA title or reach the Finals?
  - Answer: The Toronto Raptors.
- Question: Which franchise is the only one to move from the ABA to the NBA and subsequently win a championship?
  - Answer: The San Antonio Spurs.
- Question: Which team was the first to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to win the championship?
  - Answer: The Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Question: Which team won the NBA Finals in the 1998-1999 season, shortened by a lockout?
  - Answer: The San Antonio Spurs.

Section 5 of 11:

Trivia Questions About NBA Teams

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Bring up questions about NBA teams and franchises to keep the fun going. For a ballin’ time, jump into franchise facts, team records, histories, relocations and more. Here are the some easy and difficult questions about your favorite teams:^{[5]
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- Question: Which team holds the record for the most wins in a single regular season?
  - Answer: The Golden State Warriors, with 73 wins in the 2015-2016 season.
- Question: Which NBA team has the most championships?
  - Answer: The Boston Celtics.
- Question: Which team won the first NBA championship?
  - Answer: The Philadelphia Warriors.
- Question: Which team was the first to go undefeated in an entire playoff run?
  - Answer: The Golden State Warriors.
- Question: Which NBA team drafted Larry Bird?
  - Answer: The Boston Celtics.
- Question: Which team holds the record for the longest winning streak in NBA history?
  - Answer: The Los Angeles Lakers.
- Question: Which NBA team has the longest consecutive championship streak?
  - Answer: The Boston Celtics.
- Question: Which team did the Golden State Warriors defeat to win their first championship in 40 years in 2015?
  - Answer: The Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Question: Which 6-seed was the lowest-seeded team in NBA history to win a Championship in 1995?
  - Answer: The Houston Rockets.
- Question: Which NBA team was the first to win 70 games in one season?
  - Answer: The Chicago Bulls.
- Question: Which team was the first to hire a woman on their coaching staff?
  - Answer: The San Antonio Spurs.
- Question: Which 2 teams were involved in an incident known as “Malice at the Palace” in 2004?
  - Answer: The Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons.
- Question: How many championships did the Boston Celtics win from 1957 to 1969?
  - Answer: 11 championships.
- Question: Which 2 original roster NBA teams have never changed names or moved locations?
  - Answer: The Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.
- Question: Which team did Larry Bird coach during the 1997-1998 season?
  - Answer: The Indian Pacers.
- Question: Which team ended the Phoenix Suns’ run and knocked them out of the 2006 NBA Playoffs?
  - Answer: The Dallas Mavericks.
- Question: Which 8th-seeded team became the only team to reach the NBA Finals?
  - Answer: The New York Knicks.

Section 6 of 11:

Trivia Questions About NBA Players

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Throw out trivia questions about NBA legends and rising stars. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, there are so many iconic basketball players that casual viewers and superfans know and love. Here are the best questions about NBA players to challenge everyone on trivia night:^{[6]
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- Question: Which NBA player has won the most MVP awards?
  - Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
- Question: Who was the first player to be drafted straight out of high school?
  - Answer: Moses Malone.
- Question: Which player has the most career assists in NBA history?
  - Answer: John Stockton.
- Question: Who was the first player to score 70 points in an NBA game?
  - Answer: Elgin Baylor.
- Question: Who was the first player in NBA history to be named MVP, Rookie of the Year, and All-Star Game MVP in the same season?
  - Answer: Wilt Chamberlain.
- Question: Who was the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double?
  - Answer: Nate Thurmond.
- Question: Which player holds the record for the most consecutive games played in NBA history?
  - Answer: A.C. Green.
- Question: Who was the first player to win an NBA championship with 3 different teams?
  - Answer: John Salley.
- Question: Who was the youngest player to win an NBA Finals MVP?
  - Answer: Magic Johnson.
- Question: Who was the first European player to win the NBA Finals MVP award?
  - Answer: Tony Parker.
- Question: Who was the first European-born player to win the NBA MVP award?
  - Answer: Dirk Nowitzki.
- Question: Who is the youngest player to win the NBA MVP award?
  - Answer: Derrick Rose.
- Question: Which Hall of Fame player is known as “The Mailman?”
  - Answer: Karl Malone.
- Question: Which player won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2005 and 2006?
  - Answer: Steve Nash.
- Question: Which basketball player is credited with the introduction of the one-handed shot?
  - Answer: Hank Luisetti.
- Question: Which player holds the record for the most three-pointers made in NBA history?
  - Answer: Stephen Curry.
- Question: Who was the first player in the NBA to hit an elusive triple-double season?
  - Answer: Oscar Robertson.

Section 7 of 11:

Trivia Questions About NBA Team Owners

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Ask about past and present NBA owners to see who’s the real superfan. If you’re playing with die-hard basketball fans, asking about NBA owners is a great way to challenge them. Here are the best questions to catch them off guard and keep the fun going:
- Question: Who owns the New York Knicks?
  - Answer: James Dolan.
- Question: Who owns the Los Angeles Lakers?
  - Answer: Jeanie Buss.
- Question: Who owns the Boston Celtics?
  - Answer: Wyc Grousbeck.
- Question: Who owns the Chicago Bulls?
  - Answer: Jerry Reinsdorf.
- Question: Who owns the San Antonio Spurs?
  - Answer: Peter Holt.
- Question: Who owns the Golden State Warriors?
  - Answer: Joe Lacob.
- Question: Who owns the Houston Rockets?
  - Answer: Tilman Fertitta.
- Question: Who owns the Philadelphia 76ers?
  - Answer: Joshua Harris.
- Question: Who owns the Phoenix Suns?
  - Answer: Mat Ishbia.
- Question: Who owns the Portland Trail Blazers?
  - Answer: Paul Allen.
- Question: Who owns the Milwaukee Bucks?
  - Answer: Marc Lasry, Jamie Dinan, Jimmy Haslam, and Junior Bridgeman.
- Question: Who owns the Atlanta Hawks?
  - Answer: Tony Ressler.
- Question: Who owns the Detroit Pistons?
  - Answer: Tom Gores.
- Question: Who owns the Orlando Magic?
  - Answer: Rich DeVos.
- Question: Who owns the Dallas Mavericks?
  - Answer: Mark Cuban.

Section 8 of 11:

Trivia Questions About NBA Basketball Rules & Regulations

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Test your basketball knowledge with these rule and gameplay questions. There are so many NBA rules and regulations that may even stump the most avid basketball fans. Here are some tricky questions to intensify trivia night:^{[7]
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- Question: What’s the name of the board situated behind the basket?
  - Answer: The backboard.
- Question: What is a player doing if they move with the ball without dribbling?
  - Answer: Traveling.
- Question: How many personal fouls does it take to get ejected from an NBA basketball game?
  - Answer: 6.
- Question: When was the shot clock introduced into NBA regulation?
  - Answer: The 1954-1955 season.
- Question: The three-point line is how many feet from the hoop?
  - Answer: 23’ 9”.
- Question: How tall is the hoop in the NBA?
  - Answer: 10 feet.
- Question: How long does a team have to get the ball into play from out-of-bounds?
  - Answer: 5 seconds.
- Question: Once a team has inbounded the ball and play begins, how much time do they have to advance the ball past half-court?
  - Answer: 10 seconds.
- Question: What is it called if a player interferes with a ball’s downward trajectory after it has been shot?
  - Answer: Goaltending.
- Question: A player cannot linger in the “paint” or “key” area under the basket for more than how many seconds?
  - Answer: 3 seconds.
- Question: What is the penalty called for illegal contact?
  - Answer: A personal foul.
- Question: How many team fouls will give the opposing team a “double bonus” or 2 free throw chances?
  - Answer: 10 team fouls.
- Question: When a team is granted a time-out, play will resume only when?
  - Answer: The time-out clock has expired.
- Question: There’s no limit to how many overtime periods are played between teams, but each overtime session is limited to how many minutes each?
  - Answer: 5 minutes.
- Question: With the referee and 2 players, an NBA game is started with what?
  - Answer: Jump ball.
- Question: What’s the maximum time a player can hold the ball once past half-court?
  - Answer: 5 seconds.
- Question: What’s a strategy used by a team based on speed?
  - Answer: Fastbreak.

Section 9 of 11:

WNBA Trivia

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Sprinkle in some questions about the WNBA to keep things challenging. Whether you’re a WNBA expert or just getting into the league, these questions are the perfect way to test your knowledge. Here are the best questions about WNBA history, records, players, and teams.^{[8]
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- Question: Who was the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game?
  - Answer: Brittney Griner.
- Question: Who was the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game?
  - Answer: Lisa Leslie.
- Question: What year was the WNBA founded?
  - Answer: 1996.
- Question: Who was the first President of the WNBA league?
  - Answer: Val Ackerman.
- Question: What year did the WNBA begin its first season?
  - Answer: 1997.
- Question: Where was the first WNBA game played?
  - Answer: Los Angeles.
- Question: Who was awarded MVP in both 2018 and 2023?
  - Answer: Breanna Stewart.
- Question: Who set the league record for most points in a single WNBA game with 53 points?
  - Answer: Liz Cambage.
- Question: When was the WNBA’s first-ever All-Star Game held?
  - Answer: 1999.
- Question: What is the annual in-season competition that features all 12 of the league’s teams?
  - Answer: The Commissioner’s Cup.
- Question: What college or university has the most players in the WNBA?
  - Answer: Stanford.
- Question: Who recorded the first assist in WNBA history?
  - Answer: Jamila Wideman.
- Question: Who scored the first point in WNBA history?
  - Answer: Penny Toler.
- Question: Who was the first player signed to the WNBA?
  - Answer: Sheryl Swoopes.
- Question: How long is each quarter in a WNBA game?
  - Answer: 10 minutes.

Section 10 of 11:

Rare NBA Trivia Questions

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Use these miscellaneous questions to crown a trivia winner. If you need a tie-breaker, turn to the questions below! They're random, rare, and ideal for testing your NBA knowledge:^{[9]
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- Question: Which 4 NBA players have made over $600 million?
  - Answer: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Junior Bridgeman.
- Question: Who was the first international player to be drafted first overall in the NBA?
  - Answer: Mychal Thompson.
- Question: Who was the youngest person to get drafted in the NBA?
  - Answer: Andrew Bynum.
- Question: Which 4 NBA teams don’t end with the letter “s?”
  - Answer: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Utah Jazz.
- Question: Which 2 NBA players were born in the same hospital?
  - Answer: LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
- Question: Who holds the record for most personal fouls in a single NBA season?
  - Answer: Darryl Dawkins.
- Question: Who was the only NBA player to foul out in under 3 minutes of playtime?
  - Answer: Bubba Wells.
- Question: Which player once had a game with 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assist, 0 steals, and 0 steals, but still played 28 minutes?
  - Answer: Joel Anthony.
- Question: Who holds the record for most missed shots in NBA history?
  - Answer: Kobe Bryant.
- Question: Which NBA player has played for the most teams?
  - Answer: Ish Smith.
- Question: Which coach holds the record for most ejections in NBA history?
  - Answer: Don Nelson.
- Question: Who was the first NBA player fined for wearing shorts that were “too short?”
  - Answer: Dennis Rodman.
- Question: Which NBA player used to chew straws instead of gum during games?
  - Answer: Caron Butler.
- Question: Which NBA player once got ejected before the game even started?
  - Answer: Rasheed Wallace.
- Question: Which NBA player tried to smuggle his pet monkey into team facilities?
  - Answer: Delonte West.

Section 11 of 11:

Sports Trivia Quizzes

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Keep the entertainment going with these interactive sports trivia quizzes. If you’re on a winning streak, don’t stop now! Here are some exciting sports quizzes to tackle alone or with your trivia teammates: