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Basketball · Interesting Facts

Chapter 3: Tournaments

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 24 October 2026 · markdown

The competitions around the edges: March Madness and famous Final Fours, EuroBasket and the other continental championships, the All-Star Game and its contests, NBA games played abroad, youth showcases and the stories behind the trophies.

3.31March Madness Curiosities

The phrase, the first field of eight, Dayton, the nets, the song and the biggest upsets.

Test 1the NCAA tournament's traditionsTake a test

  1. Henry V. Porter wrote it about the Illinois high school tournament.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  2. Oregon won the title in Evanston, Illinois.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  3. Dayton's arena has hosted the opening round since 2001.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  4. Players climb a ladder and each takes a piece.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  5. It has played over the highlights since 1987.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  6. UMBC won by 20 points.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  7. Villanova beat Georgetown in the final.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  8. 1991, 2013 and 2022, each a first for a No. 15 seed.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  9. 1948, 1964 and 1991.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  10. They beat Purdue 63-58.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

3.32Famous Final Fours

Texas Western, Magic and Bird, Laettner, Valvano and Kris Jenkins.

Test 1famous college finalsTake a test

  1. Kentucky's side was all white.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  2. It came out in 2006.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  3. It is still one of the most-watched college games.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  4. Grant Hill threw the long pass the length of the court.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  5. Lorenzo Charles dunked an airball at the buzzer.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  6. Houston's dunking side included Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  7. His three beat North Carolina 77-74.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  8. 1983, 1992 and 2016.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  9. 1948, 1982 and 1991.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

  10. Bird kept 33 with Boston; Magic changed to 32 with the Lakers.

    Source: NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org) · recall

3.33EuroBasket Stories

Lithuania's American helpers, Galis, Slovenia's unbeaten run, Berlin 2022 and Riga 2025.

Test 1the European ChampionshipTake a test

  1. The Spanish centre had come into the tournament as a back-up.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  2. Lithuanian-Americans such as Frank Lubin joined the team.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  3. The group stage was played in Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Poland.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  4. Galis was the tournament's top scorer.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  5. Slovenia won every game of the tournament.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  6. Spain beat Serbia in the final in Katowice.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  7. Spain beat France for the title.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  8. 1973, 1983 and 2013.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  9. Eight, four and three.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

  10. Greece won 103-101 in front of its own crowd.

    Source: FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket) · recall

3.34Continental Championships

AfroBasket, the FIBA Asia Cup and the nicknames of national teams.

Test 1Africa's, Asia's and Oceania's championshipsTake a test

  1. Angola has won it eleven times.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  2. Its first title came in 2011, in Madagascar.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  3. The Super Eagles are Nigeria's football team.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  4. China has won it sixteen times.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  5. Haddadi joined the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  6. The players wear black, like the rugby side.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  7. They moved into the FIBA Asia Cup.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  8. 1962, 1968, 1989 and 2015.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  9. 1960, 2007 and 2017.

    Source: FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball) · recall

  10. A boomer is a big male kangaroo.

    Source: Basketball Australia, 'The Boomers' (australia.basketball) · recall

3.35The All-Star Game

The first game, MVP records, Toronto, the Elam Ending and the formats.

Test 1the NBA All-Star GameTake a test

  1. The East beat the West at Boston Garden.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  2. Pettit won his four in the 1950s and 1960s.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  3. The game was played in the Raptors' arena.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  4. Wilt's record had stood since 1962.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  5. The East beat the West 211-186 in Indianapolis.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  6. He had announced in November 1991 that he had HIV.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  7. It shows off the league's youngest talent.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  8. From 1951, from 2018 and in 2025.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  9. 1951, 2016 and 2025.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  10. It is named after Nick Elam, the professor who proposed it.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

3.36The Slam Dunk Contest

Larry Nance, Spud Webb, Jordan and Wilkins, Vince Carter, LaVine and Mac McClung.

Test 1the Slam Dunk ContestTake a test

  1. It was his second contest win in a row.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  2. Nance beat Dr. J in the final round.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  3. He was the son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  4. Jordan's last dunk took off from the free-throw line.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  5. He won in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  6. He ended it by telling the crowd 'It's over'.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  7. He had won in 2023 and 2024 too.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  8. 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2002.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  9. Dwight Howard in 2008, Blake Griffin in 2011 and Aaron Gordon in 2016.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  10. Webb beat his Atlanta team-mate Dominique Wilkins in the final.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

3.37The Three-Point Contest

Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, the money ball and Curry against Ionescu.

Test 1the three-point contestTake a test

  1. He went on to win the first three contests.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  2. He then won without taking off his warm-up jacket.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  3. It was part of the All-Star weekend at Reunion Arena.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  4. He hit his first 19 shots of the semi-final.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  5. Curry won 29-26.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  6. He beat Ray Allen and others in Houston.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  7. He became the sixth player to win it twice in a row.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  8. 1993, 2002, 2015 and 2025.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  9. Three, two and one.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  10. The other balls in the rack are worth one point each.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

3.38Games Played Abroad

Tel Aviv 1978, the McDonald's Open, Tokyo, London, Paris, China and Abu Dhabi.

Test 1NBA games outside North AmericaTake a test

  1. Houston played the Sacramento Kings in Shanghai and Beijing.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  2. A Team Africa played a Team World.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  3. The Bucks won at the AccorHotels Arena.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  4. The Raptors and Nets played twice at the O2 Arena.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  5. The Bucks beat Tracer Milan and the Soviet national team.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  6. They played the Soviet national team in Tbilisi, Vilnius and Moscow.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  7. Atlanta and Milwaukee played two pre-season games there.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  8. 1997, 2004 and 2015.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  9. 1990, 2011 and 2020.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  10. The champion Washington Bullets lost by one point.

    Source: NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

3.39High School and Youth Showcases

The McDonald's All-American Game, Milan 1954 and the Hoop Summit.

Test 1high school and youth showcasesTake a test

  1. Its players have included Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  2. The girls' and boys' games are played on the same night.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  3. St. Vincent-St. Mary played Oak Hill Academy.

    Source: ESPN (espn.com); NBA History · recall

  4. Milan had only 161 pupils.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  5. His last-second jumper beat Muncie Central 32-30.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  6. He played for Burnsville in West Virginia.

    Source: National Federation of State High School Associations record book (nfhs.org) · recall

  7. It has been played since 1995.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  8. 1977, 1995 and 2002.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  9. 1954, 1986 and 1998.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

  10. It is now called Hinkle Fieldhouse.

    Source: McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit · recall

3.40Trophies and Their Stories

Who makes the champions' trophy, its old name and the legends the awards honour.

Test 1trophies and awardsTake a test

  1. Mikan was the NBA's first great big man.

    Source: NBA, 'NBA unveils new trophies for individual awards' (nba.com, December 2022); NBA History · recall

  2. Podoloff led the league in its first years.

    Source: NBA, 'NBA unveils new trophies for individual awards' (nba.com, December 2022); NBA History · recall

  3. It took its present name in 1984.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  4. It is made of sterling silver with gold plating.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  5. Havlicek often came on as Boston's sixth man.

    Source: NBA, 'NBA unveils new trophies for individual awards' (nba.com, December 2022); NBA History · recall

  6. Auerbach won nine titles as Boston's coach.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  7. It was introduced for the 1967 tournament.

    Source: FIBA, 'The Naismith Trophy' (fiba.basketball) · recall

  8. 1953, 1956, 1983 and 2023.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  9. 1948, 1979 and 1996.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

  10. Each title team keeps its own trophy for good.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA, FIBA, the EuroLeague, the NCAA, the WNBA, clubs' and universities' own histories, auction houses' published results and named reputable media.

  • NBA History (nba.com/history); NBA.com All-Star and awards pages36
  • NCAA, 'Men's Basketball Championship history' and record book (ncaa.com; ncaa.org)20
  • FIBA, EuroBasket history and results (fiba.basketball/eurobasket)10
  • NBA Global Games history (nba.com/global); NBA History (nba.com)10
  • FIBA, AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup history (fiba.basketball)9
  • McDonald's All American Games (mcdonaldsallamerican.com); Indiana High School Athletic Association (ihsaa.org); Nike Hoop Summit8
  • NBA, 'NBA unveils new trophies for individual awards' (nba.com, December 2022); NBA History3
  • Basketball Australia, 'The Boomers' (australia.basketball)1
  • ESPN (espn.com); NBA History1
  • National Federation of State High School Associations record book (nfhs.org)1
  • FIBA, 'The Naismith Trophy' (fiba.basketball)1