NBA: 1940s, '50s, and '60s Trivia Quiz

Answer: George Yardley

Although Yardley's PPG of 27.8 was not up to Mikan's averages of 28.3 (1948-49) or 28.4 (1950-51), Yardley's 1957-58 season for Detroit included more games in a league with more teams than in Mikan's early days with the NBA/BAA. Joe Fulks led the league in scoring in 1946-47 (23.2) and Johnston did so in 1952-53, 1953-54, and 1954-55 (22.3, 24.4, 22.7). Both played for Philadelphia. Yardley scored 2,001 points to surpass the previous record of 1,932 points held by Mikan.

Answer: Bill Russell

Bill Russell averaged 22.7 RPG in 1957-58. That year was his second in the league and the year of his first MVP award. It was the second of Boston's eight consecutive championships. Stokes (Rochester) had a high of 17.4 RPG in 1956-57, Mikan (Minneapolis) had a high of 14.4 RPG in 1952-53, and Schayes (Syracuse) had a high of 16.4 RPG in 1950-51.

Answer: Bobby Wanzer

Wanzer averaged 90.4% from the free throw line in 1951-52 playing for Rochester. Sharman would pass the 90% mark multiple times in his sharp-shooting career, but didn't do it for the first time until 1956-57. Schayes averaged 90.4% in 1957-58. Fulks never reached the 90% mark, but led the league with an 85.5% average in 1950-51.

Answer: Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt's rookie season with Philadelphia was the first time the league saw a 30 PPG average when he averaged 37.6 PPG in 1959-60. This began his run of 7 consecutive scoring titles. Pettit (St. Louis) came close in 1958-59 with 29.2 PPG. Robertson broke the 30 PPG barrier multiple times but didn't come into the league until the year after Wilt did. Arizin (Philadelphia) never reached the mark, but led the league in scoring in 1956-57 with 25.6.

Answer: Oscar Robertson

Robertson averaged 11.4 APG in 1961-62, which was his second season in the league, and also the miraculous season where he averaged a triple-double. This was also the season where Wilt averaged 50.4 PPG. Amazingly though, in a season where one guy averaged a triple-double and another guy averaged over 50 points per game, Bill Russell won the MVP award. Bob Cousy (Boston) had his highest average the year before Robertson came into the league with 9.5 APG and never led the league in assists again. Guy Rodgers (San Francisco/Chicago) was the only player besides Robertson to lead the league in assists in the 1960s after Robertson came into the league, but Rodgers' averages of 10.4 and 11.2 came in 1962-63 and 1966-67, after Robertson already broke the barrier. Phillip (Chicago/Philadelphia) had a high of 8.2 APG in 1951-52.

Answer: 8

From the 1952-53 season all the way to the 1959-60 season. Averages, in order, were 7.7, 7.2, 7.9, 8.9, 7.5, 7.1, 8.6, 9.5.

Answer: 5

In 1957-58, 3 straight from 1960-61 to 1962-63 and again in 1964-65.
Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain, and Oscar Robertson took home the award during that run when Russell didn't.

Answer: 1

Wilt Chamberlain was the only one. In Russell's 13 seasons, he led the league in rebounding 5 times. Chamberlain out-rebounded him in the other 8 seasons.

Answer: 6

Neil Johnston was the first in 1954-55. Wilt Chamberlain makes up the other 5 times it occurred, in 1959-60, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, and 1965-66.

Answer: 1963-64

What a leaderboard! This also marked the only year that Oscar Robertson was able to break up the Russell/Chamberlain monopoly and win an MVP award, the only one of his career.