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Basketball · Interesting Facts

Chapter 7: Geography & Culture

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

Basketball around the world and in culture: where its words came from, the game in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, streetball, films, songs, shows and books, sneaker adverts, and the museums and statues.

7.71Where the Words Came From

Slam dunk, three-peat, Final Four, posterize, the Euro step and alley-oop.

Test 1the origins of basketball wordsTake a test

  1. He called Lakers games for more than 40 years.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  2. His Lakers were chasing a third straight title.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  3. A Cleveland sportswriter used it in a preview.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  4. The moment looks like a poster on a bedroom wall.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  5. Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Manu Ginóbili were early masters.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  6. Like the fairy tale, it lasts until the clock strikes.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  7. Havlicek later took over the role.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  8. The cage years, 1939, 1975 and 1988.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  9. The Lakers of the early 1980s, the Pistons of the late 1980s, the Clippers of 2011 and the Warriors from 2012.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

  10. Acrobats shouted 'allez hop!' as they jumped.

    Source: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · recall

7.72Basketball Across Europe

Lithuania's second religion, Spain's first NBA player, Sombor, Italy and the Grateful Dead.

Test 1basketball in EuropeTake a test

  1. The country of under three million produces star after star.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  2. The Unified Team was made up of former Soviet states; many Lithuanians had played for the Soviet Union a few years before.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  3. He went back to Real Madrid after one season.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  4. He has said horses are his first love.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  5. He played for Nanterre and Metropolitans 92 before the NBA.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  6. He coached Dirk from his teens to the end of his career.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  7. He spoke Italian fluently.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  8. 1986, 1998 and 2023.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  9. From the Baltic to the Mediterranean.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  10. The shirt showed a skeleton slam-dunking in Lithuania's colours.

    Source: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

7.73Basketball in Asia

Gilas Pilipinas, the first Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian players, Linsanity and Slam Dunk.

Test 1basketball in AsiaTake a test

  1. 'Gilas' is a Filipino word for bold or daring.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  2. He joined the Dallas Mavericks.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  3. He was the ninth pick.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  4. The 1.73 m guard played four games for Phoenix.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  5. The 2.21 m centre played for Portland.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  6. He was a second-round pick.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  7. He scored 38 against Kobe Bryant's Lakers in February 2012.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  8. Each lies further east than the one before.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  9. 1990, 2012 and 2019.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  10. It has sold well over 100 million copies.

    Source: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

7.74Basketball in Africa

BAL champions, Senegal's academy, Kigali's arena, Luol Deng and Cape Verde.

Test 1basketball in AfricaTake a test

  1. His full name is Walter 'Edy' Tavares.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  2. The final was played in Kigali.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  3. Young players from across Africa train there.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  4. He later played for Spain's national team.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  5. He was born in South Sudan and grew up in London.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  6. It has a population of about half a million.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  7. It beat Petro de Luanda in the final.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  8. 1984, 2015 and 2021.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  9. Cairo, Dakar, Kigali and Johannesburg.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

  10. It opened in 2019.

    Source: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · recall

7.75Basketball in the Americas

Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Panama.

Test 1basketball in the AmericasTake a test

  1. The centre played for the Phoenix Suns.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  2. He was the first Brazilian to win an NBA title.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  3. He joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 1988.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  4. Phoenix took him.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  5. He moved to Massachusetts at 12.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  6. It stands for Baloncesto Superior Nacional.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  7. He was born in Panama City and moved to New York as a boy.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  8. 2002, 2004 and 2010.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  9. Nassau, San Juan, Caracas and Buenos Aires.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

  10. It was the opening game of the tournament in Athens.

    Source: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · recall

7.76Streetball and Playgrounds

Rucker Park, Venice Beach, AND1, the Goat and The Cage.

Test 1streetball and playgroundsTake a test

  1. The park was later named after him.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  2. They sit right next to the beach walk.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  3. Its videos showed tricks from city courts.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  4. He skipped along as he dribbled.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  5. The name came from a teacher's mispronunciation of his surname.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  6. Fans stormed the court afterwards.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  7. It is one of the unwritten rules of the playground.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  8. 1950, 2002 and 2011.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  9. From Greenwich Village up to the north of Manhattan.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

  10. It is on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village.

    Source: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · recall

7.77Basketball on Film

Coach Carter, White Men Can't Jump, He Got Game, Hoop Dreams, Air and Space Jam.

Test 1basketball filmsTake a test

  1. It is based on a real high school coach in California.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  2. They beat playground players for money.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  3. Denzel Washington played his father.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  4. Filming went on for about five years.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  5. His team starts winning once he shows his secret.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  6. Matt Damon played the Nike scout Sonny Vaccaro.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  7. The story turns on a gemstone he wants to buy.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  8. 1985, 1992, 1998 and 2005.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  9. 1994, 1996 and 1997.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

  10. A sequel with LeBron James followed in 2021.

    Source: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · recall

7.78Songs, Shows and Books

Inside the NBA, Roundball Rock, Shaq Diesel, The Last Dance and Kurtis Blow.

Test 1basketball in music, TV and booksTake a test

  1. The hosts send the team off with a fishing-trip video.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  2. He was also a TV presenter.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  3. It sold more than a million copies.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  4. It has won many Emmy awards.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  5. It was shown in ten parts.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  6. It is often called the best book on basketball.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  7. Its covers became collectors' items.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  8. 1984, 1990, 1993 and 2020.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  9. 1981, 1992 and 2009.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

  10. It lists star players of the day in its lyrics.

    Source: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · recall

7.79Sneaker Culture and Ads

Mars Blackmon, 'Be Like Mike', Lil' Penny, H-O-R-S-E and Uncle Drew.

Test 1sneaker culture and advertsTake a test

  1. The character came from a Spike Lee film.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  2. The story helped sell the shoe in huge numbers.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  3. The jingle became a hit of its own.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  4. Chris Rock voiced the puppet.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  5. Their shots got ever more ridiculous.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  6. The adverts later became a film.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  7. One hung on a building in downtown Cleveland.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  8. 1985, 1991, 1993 and 2012.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  9. 1985, 2003 and 2015.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

  10. Rare pairs can sell for many times their price.

    Source: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · recall

7.80Museums and Monuments

The world's largest basketball, Petrović in Lausanne, Russell, Magic, Mikan and Auerbach.

Test 1basketball museums and statuesTake a test

  1. The ball weighs about ten tonnes.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  2. It was put up after his death in 1993.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  3. It shows him surrounded by blocks with his values carved on them.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  4. Others followed in the years after.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  5. It opened in 2006.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  6. He led the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  7. It stands outside the team's arena.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  8. 2012, 2017 and 2024.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  9. 1968, 1999 and 2006.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · recall

  10. He lit a cigar on the bench once a win was safe.

    Source: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · 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); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat')10
  • FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com)10
  • FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com)10
  • Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa)10
  • FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com)10
  • NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com)10
  • American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records10
  • NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues10
  • Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com)10
  • Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites10