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Though the validity of the story is questioned, it is rumored that in 1956, legendary Boston Celtics head coach Red Auerbach wished to draft a specific player in the draft so bad that he convinced the Rochester Royals to accept a deal in which they'd agree to pass up on this big man and in return the owner of the Celtics would guarantee to the owner of the Royals a performance from the Ice Capades.
Who is Bill Russell?
The Indiana Pacers entered the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals trailing by 12 to the New York Knicks but went on to outscore the Ewing-led Knicks 35-16 in the final frame, with legendary guard Reggie Miller scoring 25 in the quarter alone. During the rout, Miller notoriously looked over to Knicks' superfan Spike Lee on the sideline and made this gesture towards him.
What is a choking gesture?
The Atlanta Hawks drafted Dominique Wilkins third overall in the 1982 NBA draft, and he went on to establish himself as one of the most iconic players of the 1980s decade. Known as a prolific scorer but remembered mainly for his dunking ability, Wilkins donned this nickname.
What is "The Human Highlight Reel/Film?"
The Jazz joined the NBA as an expansion team prior to the 1975 season, but they were not originally based in Utah. Before relocating to Salt Lake City in 1979, the Jazz played in this city; a city in which the team name made more sense than it does in Utah.
What is New Orleans?
The Dallas Mavericks have only reached the NBA finals twice in their franchise's history, facing the same team both times. Despite falling to them in 2006, the Mavericks got their revenge against this team in 2011.
Who are the Miami Heat?
On March 24, 2017, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker became the sixth player in NBA history to score 70 points in a single game. Despite this 70-point explosion, Booker and the Suns still fell 130-120 to this team.
Who are the Boston Celtics?
A brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, nicknamed "The Malice at the Palace," became one of the biggest and most controversial atrocities the league ever faced when the scuffle escalated from just a fight between players to all-out chaos between the players and the fans due to a fan throwing this at Pacers' star forward Ron Artest as he laid on the scorers' table.
What is a beer?
In the early 1990s, a nationwide contest in which people voted on team name, color, and logo was held in order to decide the branding of the new Toronto-based NBA franchise, with the winning team name of course being the Raptors. Which defining piece of 1990s media heavily influenced the influx of votes for Raptors?
What is Jurassic Park?
On January 20, 2016, Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond became the holder of an unfortunate single-game record when he amassed 23 of these.
What are missed free-throws?
In the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Paul Pierce hit a fading bank shot mid-range jumper over multiple defenders as time expired to give the Washington Wizards the 103-101 Game 3 win over the Atlanta Hawks. In a postgame interview when asked if he called bank, he responded with this statement.
What is "I called game?"
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted future legend Kevin Garnett fifth overall in the 1995 NBA draft out of this college.
What is none? He didn't go to college.
The Memphis Grizzlies acquired this Spanish big man in a draft day trade with the Atlanta Hawks in 2001.
Who is Pau Gasol?
In the 1970s, prior to relocating to San Diego and ultimately Los Angeles, the Clippers became the first franchise to host NBA games in Toronto (since the 1947 season) when they hosted a total of 16 games at Maple Leaf Gardens between 1971 and 1975 when they were based in this city.
What is Buffalo?
The 76ers aren't the first team to be based in Philadelphia. From 1946-1962, this team played their home games in Philadelphia, even winning two of their eventual seven NBA championships to date in the City of Brotherly Love.
Who are the Warriors?
These four Philadelphia legends are the only four players to win MVP as a member of the 76ers.
Who are Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson?
The Milwaukee Bucks made one of the biggest draft-day blunders when they traded away this foreign big man soon after drafting him ninth overall in the 1998 NBA draft.
Who is Dirk Nowitzki?
In an attempt to form the NBA's next Eastern Conference powerhouse, the Orlando Magic signed Tracy McGrady to a seven-year deal and traded Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace to Detroit for this All-Star forward.
Who is Grant Hill?
The Denver Nuggets became the first eighth-seeded team in NBA history to pull off a first-round upset over a first seed in 1994 led by this player, who also holds the honor of being the only player in NBA history to have the jersey number 55 retired in his name.
Who is Dikembe Mutombo?
In the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, the San Antonio Spurs trailed the Phoenix Suns late in the fourth quarter of a Game 4 which they led for majority of the contest when this forward, nicknamed "Big Shot Bob," hip checked Suns' Steve Nash into the scorers' table, causing a scuffle between players leading to multiple suspensions on both sides.
Who is Robert Horry?
The Golden State Warriors selected Stephen Curry seventh overall in the 2009 NBA draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who owned the fifth and sixth picks in that same draft, made the decision to draft these two point guards in front of Curry.
Who are Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn?
The "seven seconds or less" system was a fast-paced offense popularized by Mike D'Antoni when he coached this team during the mid-to-late 2000s.
Who are the Phoenix Suns?
It is well documented that Madison Square Garden is the home arena to both the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Only twice in the history of the two teams co-existing in the arena have the two franchises managed to appear in both Finals in the same year. The first instance happened in 1972, with the second and last instance being in this year.
What is 1994?
In a 126-125 win over the Chicago Bulls, this Charlotte forward set the rookie record for three-pointers made in a game with seven.
Who is P.J. Washington?
At the start of the 2000s decade, the Portland Trail Blazers put together a team comprised of players with off-court issues, earning them this nickname.
What are the "Jail Blazers?"
Sabermetrics have become increasingly prominent in MLB front offices since the turn of the century, and this man is credited with attempting to bring a similar brand of managing into the basketball world during his tenure as Houston Rockets GM.
Who is Daryl Morey?
The Los Angeles Lakers owned the rights to draft Magic Johnson when they acquired a compensatory first round pick in the 1979 NBA draft from New Orleans as a result of the Jazz snagging this veteran free agent guard from them in free agency.
Who is Gail Goodrich?
Only one NBA team can say that the same individual leads the franchise in each of the following statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. Name that team and the player to do it.
Who are the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett?
Since joining the NBA in the 1977 merger, the New York/New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets have only had two or more players make the All-Star Game in one season four times, with one instance being a trio. Name at least two of the three duos and the trio.
Duos: Kenny Anderson/Derrick Coleman(1994), Jason Kidd/Kenyon Martin(2004), Jason Kidd/Vince Carter(2007), Kyrie Irving/James Harden/Kevin Durant(2021)
Ted Stepien owned the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1980 to 1983. During his tenure as owner, Stepien reached impressive levels of incompetence, trading what ended up as five top-11 draft picks in the 1981 through 1985 drafts in multiple failed attempts to formulate a playoff team through trades. To prevent this from happening in the future, the NBA implemented the "Stepien Rule," which prohibits teams from doing this.
What is trading first-round picks in consecutive drafts?
A banner of this NFL player's jersey number is enshrined in the Miami Heat rafters. This seems to have been more of an homage than the retiring of the jersey number, as a player currently on the Miami Heat rocks it.
Who is Dan Marino(#13)?
Eight of the 10 scoring champions of the 2010s decade belong to members of the 2012 Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with the two exceptions being in 2013 and 2016, when these two players led the league in PPG.
Who are Carmelo Anthony and Stephen Curry?
Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, the then-New Orleans Hornets relocated to this city for the 2008 season.
What is Oklahoma City?
Founded in 1926, long before the formation of the NBA, the Sacramento Kings were originally stationed in Rochester, New York. Branded as the Royals, Rochester spent three seasons in the NBL, from 1946 through 1948, before joining the NBA in 1949. In their inaugural NBL season, they won the league championship with this Hall of Fame NFL quarterback on the roster.
Who is Otto Graham?
Of the 16 franchises to have had a player win Finals MVP, these two are the only to have had strictly backcourt players win all of the franchise's FMVPs.
Who are the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons?