NBA ABCs (Best Players Alphabetically) Quiz

Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor was born in 1947 in Harlem, New York. He went to UCLA before becoming the first overall pick in the 1969 draft, and was taken by the Milwaukee Bucks. He won Rookie of the Year, and led the Bucks to the NBA title. Shortly thereafter he converted to Islam, and legally changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. He went on to win five more championships. Kareem won six NBA MVP awards, was a 19 time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Answer: Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of a very select few to make a successful transition from high school basketball to the NBA. He played his entire 20 year career with the LA Lakers. He won a single NBA MVP award, was an 18 time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2020. Tragically "The Black Mamba", as he dubbed himself, was killed in a helicopter crash in 2020 at the age of 41.

Answer: Wilt Chamberlin

Wilton Norman Chamberlin was born in 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went to the University of Kansas, and played with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters prior to going to the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. He played for the Warriors franchise in both San Francisco and "Philly".

He finished his career with the 76ers and the Lakers (winning a title with each). Wilt was a four time NBA MVP, a 13 time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1979. "The Big Dipper", as he was called, died in 1999 at age 63.

Answer: Tim Duncan

Timothy Theodore Duncan was born in 1976 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He played his college ball at Wake Forest University, and became the first overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1997 draft. He went on to spend his entire career with the Spurs. Duncan won Rookie of the Year honors, was a two time NBA MVP, and a 15 time all-star. "The Big Fundamental", as he was nicknamed, was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2020.

Answer: Julius Erving

Julius Winfield Erving was born in 1950 in Roosevelt, New York. He played college ball at the University of Massachusetts. He left after his junior year, and signed to play in the ABA (American Basketball Association). The ABA was a rival league to the NBA during the 1970s.

He became the face of the ABA winning two titles, and three MVP awards. When the ABA folded some teams were absorbed by the NBA, and Erving became property of the Philadelphia 76ers. He played the remainder of his career as a Sixer. "Dr. J", as he was famously known, won a NBA MVP award, and was an 11 time all-star. "The Doctor" was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Answer: Walt Frazier

Walter Frazier was born in 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to Southern Illinois University for college ball, and was the fifth overall pick in the 1967 draft by the New York Knicks. He spent all but the final three years of his career with the Knicks.

His affinity for wearing fedora hats earned him the nickname "Clyde" (after Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde fame). Frazier was a seven time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1987.

Answer: George Gervin

George Gervin was born in 1952 in Detroit, Michigan. He played college ball at Eastern Michigan University. He began his career in the ABA, and stayed with the San Antonio Spurs after they became a part of the NBA when the leagues merged in 1976. "The Iceman", as he was named for his cool demeanor on and off the court, was a nine time NBA all-star.

He was a four time scoring champion, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1996.

Answer: John Havlicek

John Joseph Havlicek was born in 1940 in Martin's Ferry, Ohio. He played at Ohio State University. He was the seventh pick overall in the 1962 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He was also drafted that same year by the NFL's Cleveland Browns to play wide receiver. Obviously he opted for basketball.

He played his entire career with the Celtics. He was a 13 time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1984. "Hondo", as he was called, died in 2019 at age 79.

Answer: Allen Iverson

Allen Ezail Iverson was born in 1975 in Hampton, Virginia. He played for the legendary coach John Thompson at Georgetown University. He was the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1996 draft. He was is known as one of the most electrifying players of all-time.

He rejuvinated the Sixers franchise that had languished for over a decade since the "glory days" of Moses Malone and "Dr. J". He spent all but three years in a Sixer uniform. He won Rookie of the Year in 1997, and NBA MVP in 2001. "A.I.", as he was called, was an 11 time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2016.

Answer: Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffery Jordan was born in 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. However, he grew up in North Carolina. He is generally considered the greatest basketball player of all-time, and is a global icon. His influence in the business world has nearly rivaled his dominance on the court.

He played all but two years for the Chicago Bulls. He was drafted third overall in 1984 out of the University of North Carolina. He was Rookie of the Year in 1985, a 14 time all-star, and 10 time scoring champ. "Air Jordan" won five NBA MVP awards, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2009.

Answer: Jason Kidd

Jason Fredrick Kidd was born in 1973 in San Francisco, California. He was a high school and playground legend prior to playing for the University of California Berkeley. He was taken second overall in the 1994 draft by the Dallas Mavericks. He is primarily known as a New Jersey Net for taking them to back to back NBA Finals. Those consecutive appearances were in a losing effort, however.

He eventually won a NBA title with the Mavericks in 2011, and as an assistant coach for the Lakers in 2020. Kidd was Rookie of the Year in 1995, a 10 time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2021.

Answer: Jerry Lucas

Jerry Ray Lucas was born in 1940 in Middletown, Ohio. He was one of the most highly recruited high school players of all-time. He chose Ohio State University. While there he even outshined fellow teammate John Havlicek during their college tenure. He signed a lucrative deal to play with the Cleveland franchise of the NBA rival American Basketball League.

After only one season of playing in the ABL the league folded, and he joined NBA legend Oscar Robertson on the Cincinnati Royals. He played for three different franchises, and eventually won a NBA title with the New York Knicks in 1973. Lucas was NBA Rookie of the Year in 1964, a seven time all-star, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1980.

Answer: Moses Malone

Moses Eugene Malone was born in 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia. He became the first player in modern history to go directly from the high school ranks to pro basketball. He began his pro career by playing two seasons in the ABA before transferring to the NBA.

He played for six different franchises, but is most remembered for his time with the 76ers. His jersey has been retired by both the Sixers and the Houston Rockets. He was a 13 time all-star, a three time NBA MVP, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. Moses Malone died in 2015 at age 60.

Answer: Steve Nash

Stephen John Nash was born in 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa. His family moved to Canada when he was 18 months old. He went to Santa Clara University (in California), as that was the only Division One school that offered him a scholarship to play ball.

He became the 15th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 1996 draft. He played for three separate franchises, but is most remembered for his time in Phoenix. Nash was an eight time all-star, a five time assists leader, and a two time NBA MVP.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Answer: Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born in 1972 in Newark, New Jersey. He is known as the most physically imposing player in NBA history. He went to Louisiana State University, and became the number one overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 draft. He played for six various franchises, but is best known as a Los Angeles Laker. Shaq was Rookie of the Year in 1993, a 15 time all-star, and he won the NBA MVP in 2000.

He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2016.

Answer: Bob Petit

Robert Lee Petit was born in 1932 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He played his college ball at Louisiana State University. He was the second overall pick in the 1954 draft by the Milwaukee Hawks. He played his entire career in a Hawks uniform playing in both Milwaukee and St. Louis (those teams eventually became the Atlanta Hawks).

His statistics, on the whole, rival or surpass all those who have ever played in the NBA. Petit was Rookie of the Year in 1955, an 11 time all-star, and a two time NBA MVP.

He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1970.

Answer: Quinn Buckner

* Only way to fill this slot with any meaningful player was to opt for a player with a first name starting with Q. William Quinn Buckner was born in 1954 in Phoenix, Illinois. The most storied portion of his basketball career came during his time playing at Indiana University.

There he captained the Hoosiers to an undefeated National Championship season in 1976. He was taken by the Milwaukee Bucks with the seventh overall pick in the 1976 draft. He played with three franchises during his 10 year career.

He won the NBA title as a Boston Celtic in 1984. He was a four time NBA all-defensive player. Quinn was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Answer: Bill Russell

William Felton Russell was born in 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. He is by and large known as the greatest defensive player in NBA history, and as one of the greatest "winners" in any sport. He went to the University of San Francisco. There he led the Dons to back to back National Championships.

He was chosen second overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1956 draft, and spent his entire career in Boston. He was a 12 time all-star, a five time NBA MVP, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

Answer: John Stockton

John Houston Stockton was born in 1962 in Spokane, Washington. He played his college ball locally at Gonzaga University. He was selected 17th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1984 draft. He spent his entire 19 year career in a Jazz uniform. He helped lead them to consecutive NBA Finals, but lost both times to the Chicago Bulls. Stockton was a 10 time all-star, a nine time assists leader, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2009.

Answer: Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Lord Thomas was born in 1961 in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Indiana University, and led the Hoosiers to a National Championship in 1981. The Detroit Pistons took him with the second overall pick in the 1981 draft. He went on to spend his entire career with the Pistons.

He was an integral part of the Detroit squad nicknamed "The Bad Boys" in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "Zeke", as he was known, was a 12 time all-star, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Answer: Wes Unseld

Westly Sissel Unseld was born in 1946 in Louisville, Kentucky. He chose his hometown University of Louisville over the exalted University of Kentucky. He would have been the first black player at Kentucky, but opted for Louisville because it was already integrated.

He went on to be the second overall pick in the 1968 draft. He was taken by the Baltimore Bullets, and spent his entire career in Baltimore/Washington D.C. as a Bullet. The Bullets team name was deemed inappropriate and changed to the Wizards in 1997. Unseld went to back to back NBA Finals, and won the title in 1978.

He was Rookie of the Year and NBA MVP in 1969. "The Oak Tree", as he was called, was a five time all-star, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Answer: Kiki VanDeWeghe

Eugene Maurice VanDeWeghe was born in 1958 in Wiesbaden, West Germany. His father played in the NBA, and his mother was Miss America in 1952. "Kiki" was a cute little nickname his mother had given him. He played his college ball at UCLA, and became the 11th pick in the 1980 draft.

He played with four separate franchises during his career, but his best years were played with the Denver Nuggets. He was a two time all-star, and scored 50 plus points on two occasions. After he retired as a player he became an NBA executive, and served as Vice President of Operations for the entire league for eight years.

Answer: Jerry West

Jerome Alan West was born in 1938 in Cheylan, West Virginia. Jerry attributed his basketball skills to countless hours of shooting at a netless hoop nailed to a neighbor's barn. He had a legendary college career while playing at West Virginia University.

He was taken second overall by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1960 draft. The franchise relocated to Los Angeles that same year, and he played his entire career in a Lakers uniform. He became known as "The Logo". This was derived from the fact that his silhouette was incorporated into the NBA logo.

He was a 14 time all-star. He won eight of his nine championships as a team executive with the Lakers, and the Golden State Warriors. West was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Answer: George Yardley

George Harold Yardley was born in 1928 in Hollywood, California. He played collegiality at Stanford University. He was chosen by the Fort Wayne Pistons (who later became the Detroit Pistons) with the seventh overall pick in the 1950 draft. He was the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in a season.

He was a six time all-star, scoring champ in 1958, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1996. Called "Bird" by teammates and fans, George Yardley died in 2004 at age 75.

Answer: Max Zaslofsky

Max Zaslofsky was born in 1925 in Brooklyn, New York. After high school he served two years in the U.S. Navy during World War Two. Upon his return he went to St. John's University and played ball. He left after one year to join a fledgling professional basketball league in 1946.

It was called The Basketball Association of America, and became the NBA two years later. Max was scoring champ in 1949, and was the youngest NBA player to do so for nearly 70 years. He was also a five time all-star. "Stats", nicknamed so for his scoring prowess,died in 1985 at age 59.