The wide world of basketball: basketball quiz

30 October 2026 · Why the ball is orange, who hides in the NBA logo and eight more stories from all over the basketball world.

This is today's quiz: the answers and explanations appear here tomorrow.

Quiz questions

Until the late 1950s basketballs were brown, almost the colour of a wooden floor. Why did they turn orange?
- So players and fans could see them better
- Orange dye was the cheapest
- Colour television demanded it
- It was the colour of the first NBA champions
This Brazilian won the 2014 NBA title with San Antonio after a long spell at Baskonia in Vitoria. On 21 October 2026 he made his debut as Chicago Bulls head coach and lost 92-135 in Toronto. Who is he?
- Leandro Barbosa
- Anderson Varejão
- Tiago Splitter
- Nenê
Games between Real Madrid and Barcelona have their own name, used by football and basketball fans alike. What is it?
- Derby della Madonnina
- El Clásico
- Old Firm
- Superclásico
James Naismith invented basketball in Springfield in the United States in 1891. But where was the inventor himself from?
- Scotland
- England
- Ireland
- Canada
Three of these guards were named EuroLeague regular-season MVP. Which one never won the award?
- Kendrick Nunn
- Mike James
- Vasilije Micić
- Facundo Campazzo
In 1969 designer Alan Siegel drew the NBA logo: a white silhouette of a player dribbling between red and blue. It was based on a photo of this Lakers guard. Who is he?
- Elgin Baylor
- Oscar Robertson
- Jerry West
- Gail Goodrich
Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and Al Horford. What links all four?
- All were number one draft picks
- None was born in a US state
- All played at Georgetown
- All won an NBA title
This team is famous for its tricks and comedy, and its opponents nearly always lose. It is named after a New York neighbourhood, even though it was founded in Chicago and did not play in Harlem for its first 40 years. Which team is it?
- Washington Generals
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Harlem Globetrotters
At the 2024 Olympics this Paris arena hosted badminton and rhythmic gymnastics, and now Paris Basketball play their EuroLeague games there. What is it called?
- Adidas Arena
- Accor Arena
- Paris La Défense Arena
- Stade Pierre-Mauroy
On 21 October 2026 this team opened a game against the Suns with a 21-0 run. It became the only NBA team to start a game at least 20-0 twice. Which team?
- Portland Trail Blazers
- New York Knicks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Charlotte Hornets

Previous quiz: Slam dunks (29 October 2026)

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