Basketball, one of the most famous sports in history. Take these 37 trivia Basketball Quiz Questions and Answers to see if you are a true fan of the esteemed sport.
Basketball Quiz Questions and Answers
1. What is an alley-oop?
A. The ball-handler throws the basketball near the basket to their teammate who dunks it in
B. The ball-handler rolls around their teammate to protect the ball from the enemy
C. The ball-handler throws the ball from the half-court.
2. What is the highest governing body of basketball?
A. EuroLeague
B. NBA
C. FIBA
3. When was basketball made?
A. 1737
B. 1974
C. 1891
4. Who made basketball?
A. James Naismith
B. William Morgan
C. Jim Thorpe
5. There are __ total players on the basketball at one time.
A. 5 players
B. 10 players
C. 15 players
6. A free throw is worth…
A. 1 point
B. 2 points
C. 3 points
7. When would a player be awarded a free throw?
A. When they make a shot from the half-court.
B. When they are fouled while shooting.
C. When they perform an assist.
8. After a player commits their first FFP1 (Flagrant Foul “1”)…
A. the opposing team is awarded two free throws and possession of the ball.
B. their team is given 10 points.
C. they are ejected from the game.
9. After a player commits an FFP2…
A. their team is disqualified.
B. the other team is given 20 points.
C. they are ejected from the game.
10. What is a turnover?
A. When the two teams switch.
B. The different ways that possession of the ball goes from one team to another.
C. A player is transferred to the other team during a game.
11. A run-and-gun is…
A. a fast-paced offensive style used by teams.
B. when a player fouls another by bumping into them.
C. the act of stealing the ball from another player.
12. _____-picking is a strategy that involves a player waiting around for scoring opportunities rather than defends.
A. Apple
B. Orange
C. Cherry
13. What happens when a buzzer-beater makes it in?
A. The shot is replayed
B. The points count
C. The points don’t count
14. What does BEEF mean?
A. Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Follow Through
B. Basketball, Elbow, Endline, Free-Throw
C. Box and One, Euro Step, Elevator Screen, Field Goal
15. The main responsibility of the “center” player is to…
A. make baskets
B. steal the ball and block attacks
C. secure rebounds and defend the paint
16. A rebound is…
A. a type of move
B. a technique
C. a statistic
17. What is one way to legally make a steal?
A. Deflect a pass
B. Yank the ball from the ball-handler
C. Trip the ball-handler
18. Kicking a basketball is what kind of foul?
A. Personal foul
B. Flagrant foul
C. Technical foul
19. Physical contact between two players is what kind of foul?
A. Personal foul
B. Flagrant foul
C. Technical foul
20. What is a technical foul?
A. A foul that comes from significant physical contact
B. A foul unrelated to physical contact.
C. A foul that occurs when neither team is in clear possession of the ball
21. Which team won the first NBA Championship?
A. Cavaliers
B. Rockets
C. Lakers
22. The first Coach of the Year Award was presented to…
A. Harry Gallatin
B. Steve Kerr
C. Rick Carlisle
23. The first NBA player to win five season MVP awards was…
A. Bill Russell
B. LeBron James
C. Michael Jordan
24. The regulation goal in basketball is __ feet high.
A. 15
B. 10
C. 5
25. The first basketball game used ________ as goals.
A. peach baskets
B. trash cans
C. cereal bowls
26. How long can a defensive player stand in the paint without guarding anyone?
A. 3 seconds
B. 5 seconds
C. 7 seconds
27. What is traveling?
A. When the ball-handler takes too many steps with the ball without bouncing it
B. When a player is moved from one team to another
C. When the ball flies from one end of the court to another
28. Traveling results in…
A. an infraction
B. a point
C. a redo
29. In theory, an NBA game is ______ long.
A. 48 minutes
B. 60 minutes
C. 2 hours
30. The two lines at each end of the basketball court are known as…
A. Base lines
B. Endzones
C. Parallels
31. When a person dribbles with both hands simultaneously, it is known as…
A. a goaltend
B. a drabble
C. a double-dribble
32. Goaltending is when a defender…
A. stays directly in front of the basket, making advancers unable to shoot
B. touches the ball while it’s on its downward path
C. prevents an alley-oop from occurring
33. Before becoming the Houston Rockets, where did the team play?
A. Los Angeles
B. San Antonio
C. San Diego
34. Sidney Wicks attended…
A. MIT
B. UCLA
C. Harvard University
35. Which currently active NBA player has the most points?
A. LeBron James
B. Stephen Curry
C. Dirk Nowitzki
36. What was the starting lineup for the 1992 Dream Team in the Gold Medal game against Croatia?
A. Jordan, Pippen, Ewing, Johnson and Malone
B. Jordan, Pippen, Ewing, Johnson and Barkley
C. Jordan, Pippen, Robinson, Johnson and Barkley
37. Who was the tallest NBA player on the 1992 Dream Team?
A. Patrick Ewing
B. David Robinson
C. Larry Bird
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