NBA Quiz

Find out if you're a true NBA expert.

You’re the unofficial basketball ref of your friend group. You know even the most obscure rules by heart. When a pal’s curious about a player, you rattle off stats like you’re an ESPN commentator. There’s no question, you know your stuff. But are you an NBA trivia MVP?

Click “Start Quiz” for the tip-off. It’s time to put your NBA knowledge to the test!

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Questions Overview

1. Which NBA team has won the most championships?
  1. Detroit Pistons
  2. Chicago Bulls
  3. LA Lakers
  4. LA Lakers & Boston Celtics (tied)
2. Okay, here’s a harder one. Who is the *player* with the most championship wins?
  1. Shaquille O’Neal
  2. Magic Johnson
  3. Michael Jordan
  4. Bill Russel
3. How many total teams are there in the NBA?
  1. 40
  2. 25
  3. 29
  4. 30
4. Which player has scored the most points over their entire career?
  1. Kevin Durant
  2. Wilt Chamberlain
  3. Michael Jordan
  4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. Over the course of his career, which player has scored the most 3-pointers?
  1. Bill Russel
  2. Damian Lillard
  3. Reggie Miller
  4. Steph Curry
6. A player will be removed from the game after how many personal fouls?
  1. 3
  2. 8
  3. 5
  4. 6
7. Who played in the first-ever NBA game?
  1. Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat
  2. LA Lakers vs. Atlanta Hawks
  3. New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
  4. New York Knicks vs. Toronto Huskies
8. Who won MVP in 2018?
  1. LeBron James
  2. Steph Curry
  3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
  4. James Harden
9. The shortest player in NBA history (Muggsy Bogues) was:
  1. 5’10”
  2. 5’8”
  3. 5’5”
  4. 5’3”
10. A team will have how many players on the court at once and how many on their roster during the regular season?
  1. 4 & 30
  2. 4 & 20
  3. 5 & 18
  4. 5 & 15
11. Which NBA coach has the most wins in history?
  1. Rick Carlisle
  2. Larry Brown
  3. Don Nelson
  4. Gregg Popovich
12. Okay, final question. How many NBA teams are located in the state of California?
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

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NBA: The Basics, Unpacked

The NBA currently has 30 teams. Although expansion is always a possibility, as of 2023, the league consists of:

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs


Positions: 5 players are allowed on the court at once, and 8 in total throughout the game. All 5 players have unique responsibilities—and they’re all crucial to a team’s synergy and success. They are:

Point Guard - PG: Usually the smallest player on the court and the lead offensive player. Seen as the “playmaker” of the team, meaning that they initiate plays by finding open teammates.

  • Famous Point Guards: Magic Johnson, Steph Curry, Steve Nash

Shooting Guard - SG: Typically, the team player who’s most comfortable handling outside shooting. Though, SG should be capable of shooting just about anywhere on the court.

  • Famous Shooting Guards: Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan

Small Forward - SF: On the smaller side physically, and a jack of all trades on the court. Skilled in rebounding, passing, and leading defense, too.

  • Famous Small Forwards: Kevin, Durant, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen

Power Forward - PF: Crucial to recovering the ball through rebounds and returning it to the other end of the court. Another key defensive player.

  • Famous Power Forwards: Tim Duncan, Charles Barkley, Blake Griffin

Center - C: Usually the largest player on the court. Responsible for setting screens (meaning, blocking the other team’s defense to free up their own team’s offensive players) and scoring inside. Like PF, important for winning rebounds.

  • Famous Centers: Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russel, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal


Points: The goal of basketball is simple: score more points than the other team! No surprise there. But how exactly are points scored? Players can earn 1 point, 2 points, or 3 points at a time. Here’s how:

  • 1 Point: If a player is fouled, their team is awarded 2 free throws from the baseline. Each successful free throw scores 1 point. So a player can earn 0, 1, or 2 points.
  • 2 Points: For any shots made within the 3-pointer line, a player will earn 2 points.
  • 3 Points: If a player makes a shot outside of the 3-pointer line, they earn 3 points rather than 2. Because they’re farther from the basket, these shots are harder to make (which is why they rake in the additional points!).


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