100 Facts You Never Knew about the NBA
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Which team was the best at converting free-throws in the 2018/19 Season?
The Golden State Warriors converted 81.5% of their free throws in the 2018/19 NBA Season, best in the league, and 10% better than the worst team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The team with the lowest number of points in a 2018/19 season game was?
The Orlando Magic had the lowest scoring output of any team game in the 2018/19 NBA season with 72 points, On March 13, 2018.
The average NBA player
The average NBA player stands 79 inches tall (6’ 7”) and weighs about 220 pounds
A special kind of hate
The creator of the NBA Jam videogame hated the Chicago Bulls so much that he embedded a special code that made them miss last-second shots
Wilt Chamberlain Wasn't the First to Score 2000 Points in a Season
That honor belongs to George Yardley, who scored 2001 points for the Detroit Falcons in the 1957-1958 season. He averaged 27.8 points per game that year.
(Source)The Raptors Weren't Toronto's First Basketball Team
The Toronto Huskies were Toronto's First NBA team, and one of the first teams in the league. The Huskies lasted just one season, going 22-38 and missing the playoffs
Just Do It
Michael Jordan was fined $5000 for every game that he wore Air Jordans (as shoes violated NBA league policy). He made an estimated $90 million in 2013, more than any other active or retired athlete, largely from Nike royalties
Which Team has the highest paid Cheerleaders in the NBA?
The highest paid cheerleaders in the NBA belong to the New York Knicks, with a per-match fee of $650.
The Average NBA Cheerleader salary is $56,000
Which NBA Player killed a lion with a spear?
Manute Bol, the tallest player in the history of the NBA (at 7 7") was also the only player in the NBA to have killed a lion with a spear and to have paid 80 cows for his wife.
Who is the player featured in the NBA Logo?
The silhouette in the NBA logo is former Los Angeles Laker Jerry West.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored how many 3 pointers in his 20 year career?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar only made one 3-point shot in his entire 20-year career.
The "Disaster Draft"
If five or more NBA players on a team die or become dismembered, the league enacts a "disaster draft" which allows the affected team to select five new players from any team in the NBA.
Each team owner is permitted to protect only five of their players during the disaster draft.
(Source)Sixty Nine
No NBA player has ever worn #69 while playing professionally.
Only Two Men Have Averaged a Triple-Double for One Season
Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for a season as a second-year player for the Cincinnati Royals in 1962.
Russell Westbrook achieved a triple-double season in the modern NBA. 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
The Celtics Lost the Finals Only Once with Bill Russell
The only Finals the Celtics ever lost with Bill russell was to the Bob Pettit-led St. Louis Hawks in 1958, four games to two.
Russell getting injured in Game 3 probably had something to do with it.
Pete Maravich Predicted His Future In 1974
NBA player Pete Maravich said in an interview when he was 26 that he "didn't want to play in the NBA for 10 years, then die of a heart attack at 40.”
He proceeded to have a 10-year NBA career, and then die of a heart attack at 40.
Feeding the family on a NBA Salary
Latrell Sprewell (famous for choking his coach) turned down a $21 million contract offer claiming it wasn't enough to feed his family.
He never played again, blew $100 million, lost His family, homes and yacht.
Which players won a regular-season MVP, NBA Finals MVP, & Olympic gold medal in the same year?
LeBron James and Michael Jordan are the only NBA players to win a regular-season MVP, NBA Finals MVP, & Olympic gold medal in the same year.
Globetrotters Vs. Lakers: The Game That Changed A Sport
In 1948, before the NBA had any African-american players, the Harlem Globetrotters beat the NBA Champion Minneapolis Lakers in a straight up game.
How many PSI is a NBA basketball?
Conventional wisdom is that a basketball needs 8 psi (pounds per square inch) to be properly inflated.
(Source)Longest NBA Game on record
The longest NBA game lasted 78 minutes. On Jan. 6, 1951, the Indianapolis Olympians battled the Rochester Royals and came out on top after six overtimes with a 75-73 victory to improve their record to 16-16.
Biggest winning margin in a NBA Game
The biggest ass-whooping in NBA history was when the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 148-80 (a 68 Points difference) in 1991.
Most wins in a single NBA Season
Two years after a disastrous 10-72 season, the Philadelphia 76ers won 52 games in 2017, the most wins ever in a single NBA Season.
It was the most in franchise history since Allen Iverson took a 56-win team to the NBA Finals in 2001.
The 3-point line first appeared in the ABA in 1967.
Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics is widely credited with making the first three-point shot in NBA history on October 12, 1979
Winners or NBA Finals MVP with multiple teams
Kawhi Leonard is just the third player in NBA league history to win Finals MVP with multiple teams.
This accolade is shared by only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Bucks, Lakers) and LeBron James (Heat, Cavaliers).
The Only person to be named NBA Coach of the Year, NBA Basketball Executive of the Year and NBA MVP
Larry Bird
(Source)Which NBA videogame has the most annual sales?
The NBA 2K Franchise by Take-Two Interactive is by far the best selling Basketball series and is becoming one of the best selling franchises of all time.
The NBA 2K18 game sold 10 Million units in 2017.
Which NBA Teams have made 4 consecutive finals?
Only six teams in the 72-year history of the league have made it to four straight Finals:
- 🏀 Celtics from 1957-66 (going 9-1)
- 🏀 Lakers from 1982-85 (2-2)
- 🏀 Celtics from 1984-87 (2-2)
- 🏀 Heat from 2011-14 (2-2)
- 🏀 Cavaliers from 2015-18 (1-3)
- 🏀 Warriors from 2015-19 (3-1)
No Gold
Hakeem Olajuwon auctioned his first NBA championship ring due to his Muslim faith, which forbids men to wear gold. After winning again in ’95, the Houston Rockets made his second ring out of platinum.
The first NBA Finals MVP
The NBA named a Finals Most Valuable Player beginning in 1969, with Jerry West of the Lakers winning the award.
West is the only Finals MVP to win the award while playing for the losing team. He was awarded the trophy after his Lakers fell to the Celtics in a Game 7 (where he would account for 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists).
The lowest scoring NBA game on record
The early days of NBA, from 1946 to 1954, were infamous for the low scoring games.
The lowest scoring NBA game ever was played on November 22, 1950, between the Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers, where Pistons defeated the Lakers by 19-18.
Little and Large
The tallest NBA Player in history, Manute Bol, 7'7, was a whopping 28 inches taller than Muggsy Bogues, who was the shortest ever NBA player at 5'3. At times Muggsy was literally guarding the legs of opponents.
Most Career games with double-digit 3-Pointers
Stephen Curry's 10 career games with double-digit three-pointers are the most by any player in NBA history.
Young or old players can win the NBA Championship
Darko Milicic is the youngest player to win an NBA championship (he was just 18 years and 361 days old when he won an NBA title with the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons).
Robert Parish is the oldest player to win it (43 years of age, 1996-97 Chicago Bulls).
Highest Scoring Regulation-time game
On February 27, 1959, the Boston Celtics managed to net a whopping 173 points in a 34-point victory against Elgin Baylor and the Minneapolis Lakers - the highest scoring regulation NBA Game ever.
Don't go broke
Within five years of retirement, an estimated 60% of former NBA players are broke.
Team with the Most Playoff Visits
The Los Angeles Lakers have been to the playoffs 60 times in 70 seasons - the most in NBA history.
7 Feet Tall? The NBA is ready for you
While the probability an American between 6'6 and 6'8 being an NBA player today stands at a mere 0.07%, it's a staggering 17% for someone 7 feet or taller.
The Richest NBA Player in the World
Micheal Jordan’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $1.5 Billion dollars, making him the richest NBA-player in the world. Most of his fortune now derives from endorsement deals with his biggest sponsor, ‘Nike’.
Most Consecutive Free-Throws Made in the NBA
From Mar. 24, 1993 to Nov. 9, 1993 The Detroit Pistons' Michael Williams connected with the bottom of the net on 97 free throws in a row - an NBA record.
Most Fouls in a Single Game
It took overtime to do so on April 9, 1990, but the Utah Jazz actually managed to get whistled for 52 fouls in a 119-115 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Perhaps even more incredible than that record is the fact that the Jazz still managed to have enough players on the court at the end of the game.
(Source)The first NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest
The First Slam Dunk contest was held in 1976 in Denver at the American Basketball Association All-Star game
After the ABA and the NBA merged, the first NBA Slam Dunk Contest was held in 1984, and won by Larry Nance Jr of the Phoenix Suns
Born to play for the Mavs
Deron Williams, JJ Barea, and Raymond Felton were all born on the exact same day... and all played for the Mavericks in the same year
(Source)NBA All-Star Voting
Michael Jordan was the most popular NBA player nine times, based on the fan votes, an all-time record. Jordan also holds the record for most consecutive ballots wins with seven. Second on the list is LeBron James with five years winning the ballot.
Heavy Hitters
At 285 pounds, Zion Williamson is the 2nd heaviest player in the NBA already, and he is only 18. Boban Marjanovic of the L.A Clippers is the heaviest player in the league, currently weighs 290 lbs.
Crime levels drop when NBA is on TV
Crime in Chicago drops 15% when the Bears are on NFL Monday Night Football; smaller drops occur during NBA and MLB games. All crime types are affected especially drugs.
Who is the oldest NBA Coach?
Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) is the oldest current NBA coach at 69 years old.
Shaq Had a Rap Hit
In 1993 Shaq was signed to Jive Records and released his debut rap album, Shaq Diesel that year. The album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Kobe Bryant's Middle Name Is
"Bean".
(Source)Hot Seats
Spectators in Sacramento's solar powered NBA stadium can use an app to adjust the temperature at their own seat.
Who has 6 rings or more, in the NBA?
Only four players have six or more NBA Rings.
| Titles | Player |
|---|---|
| 7 | Frank Ramsey |
| 6 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 6 | Bob Cousy |
| 6 | Michael Jordan |
SLAMDUNK
2019´s number 1 draft pick Zion Williamson can dunk from the freethrow line
The Phoenix Suns Had 10-Game Winning and Losing Streaks in One Season
In the 1996-1997 season, the Phoenix Suns lost 13 games to open the season. They then acquired Jason Kidd from the Mavericks, and he got injured in his first game with the team.
He would come back to lead the team on a magical run to the playoffs that saw a 10-game winning streak.
The Only NBA Teams never to have moved
The Celtics and Knicks Are the Only Teams to Have Never Moved. Every other original team has moved or folded since the league's inception.
Michael Jordan Was Not the First Overall Pick in the 1984 NBA Draft
He was picked third.
Taken ahead of MJ in the 1984 NBA Draft were Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon (by the Houston Rockets) and injury-prone Sam Bowie (by the Portland Trail Blazers). The Trail Blazers lost to MJ and the Chicago Bulls in the 1992 NBA Finals.
Stay in School
Tim Duncan formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, (and currently assistant coach) sacrificed money and stayed in college for four years instead of going directly to the NBA because, in her last days, his dying mother made him promise to graduate college with a degree.
F**K Racism
NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing frequently faced racist chants while he played in college. In one game after an orange was thrown at him, the opposing coach borrowed a microphone and threatened to forfeit the game if fans continued to throw objects at Ewing.
Wizards don't fire bullets
The Washington NBA team the "Bullets" changed their name to the "Wizards" because of the notoriously high murder rate in Washington DC at the time.
You miss all of the shots you don't take
Kobe Bryant holds the record for the most missed shots in the NBA.
2018/19 Season NBA Blowout
The Memphis Grizzlies lost a game by 61 points last season - the sixth worst blowout in NBA history.
One dollar more
When Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to earn $100,000 in salary in 1965, his longtime rival Bill Russell demanded that his own salary is raised to $100,001. His salary was immediately raised.
Sign here, and here
Kobe Bryant's parents had to co-sign his first NBA contract because he was only 17 when he was drafted.
Little & Large
In 1987-88, the shortest man (Muggsy Bogues) to ever appear in the NBA played on the same team (Washington Bullets) as the tallest man (Manute Bol) to ever appear in the NBA.
The Ten-Million Dollar Club
The Miami Heat paid 7 different players $10 million or more in the 2018/19 season, the most in the NBA.
Weed
🌿 The NBA will no longer be testing for marijuana use in the off season.
Providence, Rhode Island Once Had a Team
The NBA first came to be as the Basketball Association of America in 1946, and one of the teams was called the Providence Steamrollers. This squad lasted a total of three seasons, putting together a cumulative record of 46-122.
(Source)WNBA Vs NBA Salaries
The maximum possible salary in the WNBA is $101,500 compared to over $20 million in the NBA.
The most successful franchise in NBA History
The Boston Celtics have won slightly more than one out of every four NBA Championships, making them the most successful sports franchise in North American history.
First non-caucasian player in the NBA
The first non-caucasian player in the NBA was Wataru Misaka an Asian American from Utah.
How many teams have won the NBA Championship in the last 30 years?
Only 8 teams have won the NBA Championship in the last 30 years.
Who was the first African American head coach to win a championship?
NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell became the first African American head coach to win a championship. He took over the Boston Celtics in November of 1966, as a player-coach.
NBA All-Star Voting
Magic Johnson was the first player to receive 1,000,000+ NBA All-star votes. In 1986, he received 1,060,892 votes.
Michael Jordan was the first player in league history to receive 2,000,000+ votes. In 1997, he got 2,451,136.
NBA Championships: Coaches That Have Won at Least One Title
33 coaches have won at least one NBA Championship. In 73 editions only 14 coaches have won more than one.
By winning his 10th championship in 2009, Phil Jackson broke the tie with Red Auerbach for the winningest coach in NBA history.
The All-time leader in three-pointers attempted is
Ray Allen (Bucks, SuperSonics, Celtics, Heat) leads in the NBA record-books for 3-pointers attempted.
| 3 Point FGs Attempted | 3 Point FGs Made |
|---|---|
| 7429 | 2973 |
Who recorded the most 50+ point games in the NBA?
Wilt Chamberlain tops the list of 50+ point games played with 118.
In second place with 31 - Michael Jordan.
Basketball Origins
The first “hoops” were actually just peach baskets.
The first backboards were made of wire.
Christmas Eve Games
Only twice in the NBA’s 73-year history have games been played on Christmas Eve: in 1960 and 1967.
Both games were nationally televised, with the first featuring the Celtics and Hawks and the latter featuring the Warriors and Sonics
All-star studded team
With the addition of Demarcus Cousins, the Golden State Warriors had 5 players who were All-Stars last year. It was the first time in NBA history a team had 5 players who were All-Stars the previous year.
Team with the Most Playoff appearances
The Los Angeles Lakers have been to the playoffs 60 times in 70 seasons, most in NBA history.
No Surprises who has the best Career Free-Throw Percentage
The best NBA free-throw percentage belongs to Stephen Curry, with a 90% free-throw percentage
The Only Team to Win Both the Dunk Contest and Shootout
At the 1995 NBA All-Star Weekend, Miami Heat guard Harold Miner (aka "Baby Jordan") took home his second Slam Dunk Contest trophy while teammate Glen Rice won the Three-Point Shootout.
Which player had the most double-doubles 2018/19 season?
Karl-Anthony Towns led the NBA with 68 double-doubles last season.
How many 3 pointers did Shaq net during his career?
Shaquille O'Neal made exactly one three-pointer out of 22 attempts in regular and post-season games over his entire career. His one made three was in a regular-season game in the 1995-96 season, when he was with Orlando.
Shortest player in the NBA?
Isaiah Thomas stands only 69 inches tall, shortest in the NBA. While the height gap between point guards and centers has decreased 21% from the 1990’s to an average difference of 8.3 inches, Thomas still remains a statistical outlier among point guards.
Zion is Off the Scale
Pelicans´ Zion Williamson had the highest max vertical leap in Duke history. In fact, he maxed the test, which wasn't designed for players with that high leap.
Which player never lost more than 2 games in a row?
Michael Jordan never lost more than 2 games in a row from November 1990 until he retired from the Bulls (for the second time) in 1998.
Team with the Worst shooting percentage 2018/19 season
The Portland Trail Blazers had the worst shooting percentage in the restricted area last season at 58.1%.
Expensive Sneakers
In 1994, NBA MVP Hakeem Olajuwon released a $35 sneaker instead of endorsing shoes from Nike or Reebok because "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120?...She can't. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. Sometimes they kill them."
Injured Isiah Thomas Scores 25 in a Quarter
Pistons´ Isiah Thomas, hobbling on a sprained ankle, scores an NBA-record 25 points in the third quarter. The Significance: It was weird and courageous all into one, the sight of a player producing an all-time great quarter on one leg.
The Oklahoma City Thunder Have a Championship in Their History
The Thunder won a title as the Seattle SuperSonics, back in 1979. With Hall of Fame player and coach Lenny Wilkens at the helm, the team defeated the Washington Bullets in five games.
Wilt Chamberlain Is the Only Rookie of the Year to Lead in Scoring
Wilt the Stilt averaged 37.6 points per game that year, playing for the Philadelphia Warriors. He also led the league with 27 boards per contest.
Kobe Bryant Met His Wife at a Rap Video Shoot
Kobe Bryant met his ex-wife Vanessa on the set of a video by Tha Eastsidaz while taking a break from recording an album of his own.
Elvin Hayes Never Won an MVP Award
Surprising, given that he played in 12 consecutive All-Star games, won a championship and averaged 20 points per game or more in 10 of his 16 NBA seasons.
(Source)The Game with the Largest Margin of Victory Involved the Cavs
On December 17, 1991, the Cavaliers dropped the hammer on the Miami Heat, 148-80 for the largest margin of victtory in the NBA record books. Mark Price and John Battle led Cleveland in scoring with 18 points each.
Isiah Thomas Scored 16 Points in 94 Seconds and Still Lost
His Detroit Pistons were facing the New York Knicks in the fifth and deciding game of the first round of the 1984 playoffs and he accomplished this feat to force overtime. The Knicks held their ground and went on to win.
(Source)Kobe Bryant Wasn't a Top-10 Pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
He was picked 13th!
(Source)Wilt Chamberlain Had His Number Retired by the Harlem Globetrotters
Wilt Chamberlain spent just one year with the Harlem Globetrotters team - and on March 9, 2000, they retired his No. 13.
No Top 10 Picks
The Toronto Raptors are the first team over the past 50 seasons to make it to the NBA Finals without a single top-10 pick on its roster.
LeBron James Is Ambidextrous
Though Lebron James shoots and plays with his right hand, he is actually left-handed! Lebron writes and eats using his left hand, but is considered a right-handed player on the court.
Paul Pierce is The Toughest Man In The NBA
After being stabbed 11 times and having a bottle broken over his head in a nightclub brawl, Paul Pierce played all 82 games in the next season, despite his life-threatening encounter.
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