Mixed NBA Basketball #8 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dan O'Brian

The famed long-jumper Bob Beamon was a 15th round pick of the Phoenix Suns in 1969. Bruce Jenner, an unbelievable performer in the Olympic decathalon in 1976, was selected in the 7th round by the Kansas City Kings the following year. Carl Lewis, well known for his multiple medals in several competitions during several Olympic competitions, was selected by the Chicago Bulls in 10th round of the 1984 draft. None of them ever made the jump to the NBA (excuse the pun!)

Answer: False

The first team to take the name Celtics were the New York Celtics, who formed in 1915. After World War I, during which time the team disbanded, they added the word 'Original' before 'New York'. The team finally disbanded in 1940, and were later enshrined collectively into the pro basketball hall-of-fame in 1959.

The Boston Celtics didn't form as a team until 1946, when the entered the Basketball Association of America (BAA).

Answer: Washington Wizards

Before the 1997-98 season, the Washington Bullets decided to change their name to the Washington Wizards. The team had been called the Bullets since 1963 when it had relocated to Baltimore, but owner Abe Pollen decided that sending a positive message held precedence over nostalgia and team history. Given that Washington, D.C. is one of the most violent cities in the United States, perhaps they made a good decision.

Answer: True

On November 7, 1991, Magic Johnson announced to the world that he was infected with the HIV-virus, and effectively retired from pro-basketball. After representing the United States in the 1992 Olympics, Johnson reserved his time for playing celebrity games for charity purposes. Clearly, he missed the NBA spotlight, and in 1996 he attempted a comeback.

He played 32 games from January to May of 1996, and averaged 14.6 ppg, 6.9 apg and 5.7 rpg. He finally retired again after the 1995-96 season.

Answer: Glen Rice

Michigan's 'Fab Five' team included: Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, Juwan Howard, Chris Webber and Jalen Rose. Only the latter three enjoyed success in the NBA. Glen Rice also played for the Wolverines, but he came well before the Fab Five era, beginning play in the 1989-90 NBA season with the expansion Miami Heat.

Answer: False

Entered into the initial NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1984 were: Larry Nance, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, Darrell Griffith, Edgar Jones, Ralph Sampson (!), Orlando Woolridge, Clyde Drexler and Michael Cooper. Julius Erving and Larry Nance both made it into the final round, with Nance taking the prize as a result of a missed dunk by Dr. J.

Answer: True

This may seem odd to some, but indeed it's true. The Celtics picked Chuck Cooper out of Duquesne University in the 2nd round of the 1950 NBA draft. Chuck Cooper began play with the Celtics in the 1950-51 season and played in the league until the 1955-56 season.

He averaged 6.7 points per game. The first black player to actually play in an NBA game was Earl Lloyd, who first laced them up in for the 1950-51 NBA season as well.

Answer: Pat Riley

Pat Riley established a trademark on the term 'three-peat' (which, supposedly, was originally the idea of Byron Scott) in 1988, after the Lakers had won their second straight title. Riley was hoping that the Lakers would win again in 1989, and that he could then capitalize with the rush of merchandise that would bear the term.

Unfortunately, they Lakers failed to win a third straight championship the following season, but the story still has a happy ending for Riley. He has been able to capitalize successively on the fortunes of the Bulls (twice in the 90s) and the Lakers (early 2000s), as both teams 'three-peated'. Apparently, Riley has been able to make mega-dough off of his clever idea.

Answer: Bison Dele

Bison Dele, aka Brian Williams, former star of the Arizona Wildcats and several NBA teams (including Orlando, Denver and Detroit), disappeared without a trace along with his girlfriend (and a boat captain) from his boat near Tahiti. Dele's brother Miles Dabord was suspected of having murdered the three others involved, but he died a few months after Dele's disappearance.

The case has never been officially solved, though theories abound.

Answer: Mark Eaton

Though Mark Eaton won the award twice, the wins came four years apart (1984-85, 1988-89). Mutombo won the award four times, including twice in a row in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. Rodman won the award in both the 1989-90 season and the 1990-91 season. Mourning's only two wins came in successive seasons as well, in 1998-99 and 1999-00.

Thank you once again for trying this quiz, I hope you enjoyed it and learned a thing or two. I invite you to try my other NBA-related quizzes.