Pallacanestro · Curiosità
Capitolo 7: Geografia e cultura
10 test · 100 fatti · aggiornato il 24 ottobre 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 wordsFai un test
He called Lakers games for more than 40 years.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
His Lakers were chasing a third straight title.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
A Cleveland sportswriter used it in a preview.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
The moment looks like a poster on a bedroom wall.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Manu Ginóbili were early masters.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
Like the fairy tale, it lasts until the clock strikes.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
Havlicek later took over the role.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
The cage years, 1939, 1975 and 1988.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
The Lakers of the early 1980s, the Pistons of the late 1980s, the Clippers of 2011 and the Warriors from 2012.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
Acrobats shouted 'allez hop!' as they jumped.
Fonte: NBA History (nba.com); NCAA (ncaa.com); US Patent and Trademark Office records ('Three-peat') · richiamo
7.72Basketball Across Europe
Lithuania's second religion, Spain's first NBA player, Sombor, Italy and the Grateful Dead.
Test 1basketball in EuropeFai un test
The country of under three million produces star after star.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
The Unified Team was made up of former Soviet states; many Lithuanians had played for the Soviet Union a few years before.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He went back to Real Madrid after one season.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He has said horses are his first love.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He played for Nanterre and Metropolitans 92 before the NBA.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He coached Dirk from his teens to the end of his career.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He spoke Italian fluently.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
1986, 1998 and 2023.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
From the Baltic to the Mediterranean.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
The shirt showed a skeleton slam-dunking in Lithuania's colours.
Fonte: FIBA (fiba.basketball); Lithuanian Basketball Federation (lkf.lt); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
7.73Basketball in Asia
Gilas Pilipinas, the first Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian players, Linsanity and Slam Dunk.
Test 1basketball in AsiaFai un test
'Gilas' is a Filipino word for bold or daring.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He joined the Dallas Mavericks.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He was the ninth pick.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
The 1.73 m guard played four games for Phoenix.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
The 2.21 m centre played for Portland.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He was a second-round pick.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He scored 38 against Kobe Bryant's Lakers in February 2012.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
Each lies further east than the one before.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
1990, 2012 and 2019.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
It has sold well over 100 million copies.
Fonte: FIBA Asia (fiba.basketball); PBA (pba.ph); B.League (bleague.jp); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
7.74Basketball in Africa
BAL champions, Senegal's academy, Kigali's arena, Luol Deng and Cape Verde.
Test 1basketball in AfricaFai un test
His full name is Walter 'Edy' Tavares.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
The final was played in Kigali.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
Young players from across Africa train there.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
He later played for Spain's national team.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
He was born in South Sudan and grew up in London.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
It has a population of about half a million.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
It beat Petro de Luanda in the final.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
1984, 2015 and 2021.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
Cairo, Dakar, Kigali and Johannesburg.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
It opened in 2019.
Fonte: Basketball Africa League (thebal.com); FIBA Africa (fiba.basketball); NBA Africa (nba.com/africa) · richiamo
7.75Basketball in the Americas
Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Panama.
Test 1basketball in the AmericasFai un test
The centre played for the Phoenix Suns.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He was the first Brazilian to win an NBA title.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 1988.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
Phoenix took him.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He moved to Massachusetts at 12.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
It stands for Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
He was born in Panama City and moved to New York as a boy.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
2002, 2004 and 2010.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
Nassau, San Juan, Caracas and Buenos Aires.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
It was the opening game of the tournament in Athens.
Fonte: FIBA Americas (fiba.basketball); NBA History (nba.com) · richiamo
7.76Streetball and Playgrounds
Rucker Park, Venice Beach, AND1, the Goat and The Cage.
Test 1streetball and playgroundsFai un test
The park was later named after him.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
They sit right next to the beach walk.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
Its videos showed tricks from city courts.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
He skipped along as he dribbled.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
The name came from a teacher's mispronunciation of his surname.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
Fans stormed the court afterwards.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
It is one of the unwritten rules of the playground.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
1950, 2002 and 2011.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
From Greenwich Village up to the north of Manhattan.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
It is on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village.
Fonte: NYC Parks, 'Holcombe Rucker Park' and 'West 4th Street Courts' (nycgovparks.org); NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
7.77Basketball on Film
Coach Carter, White Men Can't Jump, He Got Game, Hoop Dreams, Air and Space Jam.
Test 1basketball filmsFai un test
It is based on a real high school coach in California.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
They beat playground players for money.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
Denzel Washington played his father.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
Filming went on for about five years.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
His team starts winning once he shows his secret.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
Matt Damon played the Nike scout Sonny Vaccaro.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
The story turns on a gemstone he wants to buy.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
1985, 1992, 1998 and 2005.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
1994, 1996 and 1997.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
A sequel with LeBron James followed in 2021.
Fonte: American Film Institute catalogue (afi.com); the studios' release records · richiamo
7.78Songs, Shows and Books
Inside the NBA, Roundball Rock, Shaq Diesel, The Last Dance and Kurtis Blow.
Test 1basketball in music, TV and booksFai un test
The hosts send the team off with a fishing-trip video.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
He was also a TV presenter.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
It sold more than a million copies.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
It has won many Emmy awards.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
It was shown in ten parts.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
It is often called the best book on basketball.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
Its covers became collectors' items.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
1984, 1990, 1993 and 2020.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
1981, 1992 and 2009.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
It lists star players of the day in its lyrics.
Fonte: NBA (nba.com); Turner Sports (TNT); RIAA certifications (riaa.com); publishers' catalogues · richiamo
7.79Sneaker Culture and Ads
Mars Blackmon, 'Be Like Mike', Lil' Penny, H-O-R-S-E and Uncle Drew.
Test 1sneaker culture and advertsFai un test
The character came from a Spike Lee film.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
The story helped sell the shoe in huge numbers.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
The jingle became a hit of its own.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
Chris Rock voiced the puppet.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
Their shots got ever more ridiculous.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
The adverts later became a film.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
One hung on a building in downtown Cleveland.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
1985, 1991, 1993 and 2012.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
1985, 2003 and 2015.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
Rare pairs can sell for many times their price.
Fonte: Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Pepsi campaign archives; NBA (nba.com) · richiamo
7.80Museums and Monuments
The world's largest basketball, Petrović in Lausanne, Russell, Magic, Mikan and Auerbach.
Test 1basketball museums and statuesFai un test
The ball weighs about ten tonnes.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
It was put up after his death in 1993.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
It shows him surrounded by blocks with his values carved on them.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
Others followed in the years after.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
It opened in 2006.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
He led the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
It stands outside the team's arena.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
2012, 2017 and 2024.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
1968, 1999 and 2006.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · richiamo
He lit a cigar on the bench once a win was safe.
Fonte: Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (wbhof.com); Olympic Museum, Lausanne (olympics.com); NBA teams' official sites · 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 (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