NBA Basketball Teams Quiz

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
NBA Basketball Teams Quiz
Image: WikiCommons by Verse Photography

About This Quiz

The NBA has prided itself more and more on star power over the years. This was true in the '80s as superstars like Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson launched the game to a national level. It was even more true in the '90s when Michael Jordan mesmerized the world by winning six NBA titles in a dominant fashion. Now, in the current game, superstars are all the rage, as they have become international icons. 

The era of superstars might make teams seem less relevant than before. After all, current fans are as likely if not more likely to follow a player around the league than to follow a team as players come and go. That often means that team history and traditions are left as an afterthought. 

It's time to rein in those afterthoughts and see how much you know about the teams that make up the NBA by taking this quiz. Not only will you be tested on the stars who left their impact on an organization, but you'll come across questions from championship moments to draft tactics. Do you think you have what it takes to get a high score?

When you're ready, give this quiz a shot and see if you can get a buzzer beater win. 

The Golden State Warriors have been winning title after title the past few seasons, but they are far off from surpassing which franchise that has the most championships in NBA history?
Celtics
Bulls
Pistons
Lakers
Referencing their physical play on the court, what did the Detroit Pistons call themselves in the late '80s and early '90s?
48 Minutes of Hell
Big 3
Bad Boys
The Death Squad
Which legend did the Bulls draft in 1984 who changed the future of their franchise as well as the NBA?
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
Charles Barkley

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The New York Knicks play in one of the most iconic stadiums in sports. What's the name of it?
Staples Center
Capital One Arena
Oracle Arena
Madison Square Garden
When the Los Angeles Lakers won three straight championships from 2000 through 2002, who was named the Finals MVP each year?
Jerry West
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O'Neal
Though the Rockets currently play in Houston, where was the team originally established?
San Diego
Atlanta
Kansas City
Montreal

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Do you know which of these teams is the only one located in Canada?
Timberwolves
Grizzlies
Raptors
Nets
LeBron James promised to deliver a title to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He accomplished his goal in 2016 after coming back from what deficit in the Finals?
3-0
3-1
3-2
2-0
One of the most accomplished coaches in basketball, who coached the San Antonio Spurs during all five of their championships?
Pat Riley
Gregg Popovich
Phil Jackson
Steve Kerr

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Beginning in 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers chose to purposely lose games to get a high draft pick while chanting what mantra?
Trust the process
Draft first
High hopes
Lose to win
The Golden State Warriors revolutionized basketball with the three-point shot behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, who called themselves what?
The Marksmen
The Snipers
The Splash Brothers
The Assassins
Can you name the first player to have his number retired by the Milwaukee Bucks?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bob Lanier
Moses Malone
Oscar Robertson

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The Portland Trail Blazers won their first title seven years after the team was founded, which was when?
1964
1970
1982
1998
Prior to joining the NBA, the Denver Nuggets lost in the 1976 ABA Finals against which team?
Celtics
Pacers
Nets
Spurs
What did the Thunder call themselves before moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City?
Grizzlies
Colonels
Heat
SuperSonics

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Aside from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who was the third member of the "Big 3" that the Miami Heat brought together in 2010?
Chris Bosh
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Love
Kyrie Irving
Which superhero-themed mascot did the Brooklyn Nets introduce in 2012 in partnership with Marvel Entertainment?
Colonel Net
Captain Net
The Nets Knight
BrooklyKnight
The Los Angeles Clippers won two division titles while playing in what division?
Pacific
Southwest
Northwest
Central

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In only their second appearance in the NBA Finals, what year did the Dallas Mavericks defeat a loaded Miami Heat team?
2002
2006
2011
2014
The Utah Jazz traded for which star player during their inaugural season in 1974?
Gordon Hayward
Pete Maravich
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Proving he was a magician with the basketball, Scott Skiles set which NBA record while playing for the Orlando Magic?
Layups in a game
Assists in a game
Dunks in a game
Half court shots in a game

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During the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, refereeing was called into question during which game between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers that resulted in a Lakers victory?
Game 3
Game 4
Game 6
Game 7
The Pacers retired No. 31 for which player, who spent his entire career in Indiana?
Reggie Miller
Chris Mullin
George McGinnis
Mel Daniels
After riding the star power of Kevin Garnett for 12 seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally traded him to what team?
Cavaliers
Heat
Lakers
Celtics

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Under head coach Mike D'Antoni, what was the name of the fast break offense introduced to the Phoenix Suns?
Speed ball
Showtime
Seven seconds or less
Space and pace
Hurricane Katrina forced the New Orleans Pelicans, the Hornets at the time, to move to which city for two seasons?
San Diego
Seattle
Kansas City
Oklahoma City
Do you know which former Georgia governor was part owner of the Atlanta Hawks?
Carl Sanders
Sonny Perdue
Nathan Deal
Zell Miller

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Gene Shue was the longest tenured coach for which NBA franchise?
Hornets
Wizards
Grizzlies
Magic
The Charlotte Hornets have only retired one number in the franchise's short history. What number is it?
13
20
25
34
The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled in the playoffs over the years, but they did make it to the Western Conference Finals in 2013, where they faced which team?
Clippers
Thunder
Lakers
Spurs

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Known for their flash on the court and style off the court, the '80s Lakers called themselves what?
The Greatest Show
Showtime
The Top Hits
The Stars
Who donned the Houston Rockets' jersey for more games than any other player in the history of the franchise?
James Harden
Yao Ming
Hakeem Olajuwon
Clyde Drexler
In 1997, Tim Duncan was placed beside David Robinson to form which famous front court for the San Antonio Spurs?
The Formidable Wall
Swat City
The Chamber of Hell
The Twin Towers

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Which NBA team won 28 games straight from April 9, 2015 until Dec. 11, 2015?
Bulls
Heat
Warriors
Lakers
Moses Malone claimed the Philadelphia 76ers would go undefeated in the 1983 playoffs. How many games did the team lose?
0
1
2
3