Pallacanestro · Curiosità
Capitolo 4: Club e impianti
10 test · 100 fatti · aggiornato il 24 ottobre 2026 · markdown
Teams and the places they play: where NBA names came from, the teams that moved, famous arenas in America and halls in Europe, logos and colours, courts with a look of their own, rivalries, college traditions, European clubs' nicknames and the mascots.
4.41Where NBA Team Names Came From
Lakes in Minnesota, jazz in New Orleans, Dutch knickerbockers and a 1993 film.
Test 1where NBA team names came fromFai un test
They were the Minneapolis Lakers before moving west in 1960.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
The name suits New Orleans, the home of jazz, better than Salt Lake City.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
It recalls the knee breeches of New York's Dutch settlers.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
The Declaration was signed in Philadelphia in 1776.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
They began as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons in Indiana.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
Dinosaurs were everywhere after the 1993 film.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
They had played as the Royals in Rochester and Cincinnati.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
1941, 1947, 1974 and 1995.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
1946, 1949, 1967 and 1989.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
The San Diego Rockets moved to Houston in 1971.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
4.42Teams That Moved
The Lakers, Warriors, Sonics, Nets, Hornets, Clippers, Hawks and Kings on the move.
Test 1teams that changed cityFai un test
They were the first NBA team on the West Coast.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
Wilt Chamberlain moved west with them.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
They beat the Washington Bullets in the Finals.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
They opened the Barclays Center that autumn.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
Charlotte took back the name its first team had taken to New Orleans.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
They had begun in 1970 in Buffalo.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
They beat Bill Russell's Celtics in the Finals.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
From 1948, 1957, 1972 and 1985.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
1957, 1978 and 2001.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
The Seattle SuperSonics became the Thunder.
Fonte: NBA History and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites) · richiamo
4.43Famous Arenas in America
Madison Square Garden, Chicago Stadium, the Spectrum, the Forum and the Palestra.
Test 1famous American arenasFai un test
The organ's roar made it one of the loudest buildings in sport.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
It was unveiled in 1994, the year the arena opened.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
The 76ers had to play elsewhere for a time.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
The Lakers then moved downtown.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
It belongs to the University of Pennsylvania.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
They had played across the bay since 1971.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
Their arena stands beside the convention centre.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
1928, 1967, 1994 and 2019.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
Philadelphia, Chicago, then San Francisco on the Pacific.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
The fourth Garden opened above Penn Station in 1968.
Fonte: Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com) · richiamo
4.44Famous Halls in Europe
Pionir, the Madrid fire, Kaunas, the Palau, Athens, Milan, Piraeus and Munich.
Test 1famous European hallsFai un test
It is the home of Crvena zvezda and Partizan's smaller games.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
It reopened in 2005 and is now Real Madrid's home.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Spain beat France in the final there.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
The club's football and basketball homes share a site.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Argentina won the gold there.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
The round arena opened in 1990.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
The arena opened in 1985.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
1971, 1973, 2011 and 2024.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
1939, 2001 and 2022.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
The SAP Garden is shared with the city's ice hockey team.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
4.45Logos and Colours
Jerry West's silhouette, Forum Blue, the Raptors' dinosaur and the Knicks' colours.
Test 1logos and team coloursFai un test
The league has never confirmed it officially.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
It replaced an older logo with a ball and the letters NBA.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
He named it after his new arena, the Forum.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
It was used from 1995 to 2008.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
He spins a basketball on one finger.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
He came from North Carolina.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
The spur sits in the middle of the word.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
1966, 1969 and 1995.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
1960, 1969 and 1997.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
The city flag has bands of blue, white and orange.
Fonte: NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites) · richiamo
4.46Courts With a Look of Their Own
Boston's parquet, the MECCA floor, Pigalle and Oregon's forest.
Test 1courts with their own lookFai un test
Leftover oak was fitted together in a chequered pattern.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
Celtics players were said to steer opponents onto them.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
The floor covered the court in bold colour and huge letters.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
Its letters are stacked two by two, the O tilted.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
It has been repainted several times in new colours.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
Teams play some home games on them.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
Denver is known as the Mile High City.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
1946, 1977 and 2011.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
1946, 1952 and 1995.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
The design at Matthew Knight Arena is called 'Deep in the Woods'.
Fonte: Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation · richiamo
4.47Rivalità
Celtics-Lakers, Bulls-Pistons, Duke-North Carolina, Kansas-Missouri and Istanbul's derby.
Test 1great rivalriesFai un test
Boston won nine of them.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
Most of the Detroit players left with a few seconds still to play.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
It meant meeting him with two or three defenders and hard fouls.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
The road between them gave the rivalry the name Tobacco Road.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
His Lakers lost Game 7 to Boston.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
It dates back to the conflicts between the two states in the 1850s.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
Miller scored 25 in one quarter and gave a choke sign towards him.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
1959, 1984 and 2010.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
1988, 1989-90 and 1991.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
One club is on the Asian shore and the other on the European.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com) · richiamo
4.48College Traditions
Rock Chalk, the Cameron Crazies, candy stripes, Midnight Madness and Krzyzewskiville.
Test 1college basketball traditionsFai un test
The chant dates from the 1880s.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
They are named after Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
Fans copy them in the stands.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
It became known as Midnight Madness.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
The 'Phog' is Phog Allen, and the noise of the crowd.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
His jumper won it 63-62.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
They follow the team in huge numbers on the road.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
1982, 1988 and 1991.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
1940, 1955 and 1976.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
It is named after the coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Fonte: University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com) · richiamo
4.49European Clubs and Their Nicknames
Žalgiris, Panathinaikos, CSKA, Fenerbahçe, Efes, Olimpia and Crvena zvezda.
Test 1European clubs' names and nicknamesFai un test
Žalgiris is the Lithuanian name of the battle.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Its green clover gives the club the nickname Trifylli.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Its full name means Central Sports Club of the Army.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Fans call them the Yellow Canaries.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
The club has long been owned by the brewer of Efes beer.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
It comes from the red shoes the team wore in the 1950s.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Their fans fill the arena in yellow.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Madrid, Milan, Belgrade and Moscow.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Moscow, Kaunas, Istanbul and Tel Aviv.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
Crvena zvezda means Red Star.
Fonte: EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball) · richiamo
4.50Mascots and Their Stories
Benny, the Gorilla, Rocky, Clutch, Butler Blue, Stuff and their Hall of Fame.
Test 1mascotsFai un test
He is one of the oldest mascots in American sport.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
The crowd loved him, so the team kept him.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
He is known for sinking shots from far out.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
He took over in 1995.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
It opened in its own building in 2018.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
Each Butler Blue goes to games and lives with a staff member.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
He arrived with the team in 1989.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
1980, 1989, 1990 and 1995.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
1949, 1988 and 1995.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
Some mascots flip in the air before dunking.
Fonte: Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu) · richiamo
Fonti
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 and team histories (nba.com and the teams' official sites)20
- EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); clubs' and arenas' official sites; FIBA (fiba.basketball)20
- Teams' and arenas' official histories (nba.com; msg.com; unitedcenter.com; chasecenter.com; pennathletics.com)10
- NBA and team brand histories (nba.com; the teams' official sites)10
- Team and university histories (nba.com; goducks.com); Robert Indiana Foundation10
- NBA History (nba.com); EuroLeague (euroleaguebasketball.net); Duke and North Carolina athletics (goduke.com; goheels.com)10
- University athletics histories (kuathletics.com; goduke.com; iuhoosiers.com; ukathletics.com; umterps.com); NCAA (ncaa.com)10
- Teams' official mascot pages (nba.com); Mascot Hall of Fame (mascothalloffame.com); Butler University (butler.edu)10