Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is fast-paced, exciting to watch, and fun to play. Below are 69 riddles about various aspects of basketball to entertain and challenge fellow basketball fans.
Riddles about Basketball Basics
1. What has 18 legs and makes a basketball team?
Answer: 6 players
2. I’m round and leather, bounced and thrown. What am I?
Answer: A basketball
3. I’m the inside area of a basketball court. What am I?
Answer: The key
4. I’m the person who puts the ball in the hoop. Who am I?
Answer: Shooter or scorer
5. I’m the half-circle line around the hoop. What am I?
Answer: The foul line
6. I’m the outer boundary line of the basketball court. What am I?
Answer: Sideline
7. I’m the line that divides the court lengthwise. What am I?
Answer: Half-court line
8. I’m the arc beneath the hoop. What am I?
Answer: The restricted area
9. I’m the act of preventing an offensive player from dribbling or passing. What am I?
Answer: Defense
10. I’m awarded when a player is fouled while shooting. What am I?
Answer: Free throw
Riddles about Basketball Players
11. I was named NBA MVP 5 times in the 1980s. Who am I?
Answer: Magic Johnson
12. I’m the Chicago Bulls legend who won 6 NBA championships in the 1990s. Who am I?
Answer: Michael Jordan
13. I’m the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game. Who am I?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain
14. I’m the female basketball player who scored over 100 points in a high school game in 1964. Who am I?
Answer: Cheryl Miller
15. I set the NBA all-time scoring record while playing for the Lakers in the 1980s. Who am I?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
16. I’m the first international player to be drafted #1 in the NBA draft. Who am I?
Answer: Andrea Bargnani
17. I’m the first Canadian drafted #1 overall in the NBA draft. Who am I?
Answer: Andrew Wiggins
18. I’m the first Chinese player drafted in the NBA. Who am I?
Answer: Wang Zhizhi
19. I’m the tallest player ever in the NBA at 7’7″. Who am I?
Answer: Manute Bol
20. I’m the shortest player ever in the NBA at 5’3″. Who am I?
Answer: Muggsy Bogues
Riddles about Basketball Teams
21. We’re the NBA team with the most titles at 17. Who are we?
Answer: Boston Celtics
22. We’re the WNBA team with the most championship titles at 4. Who are we?
Answer: Houston Comets
23. We’re the NBA team with the most consecutive finals appearances at 8. Who are we?
Answer: Cleveland Cavaliers
24. We’re the NBA team with the most Hall of Fame players at 33. Who are we?
Answer: Boston Celtics
25. We’re the only Division 1 college basketball team to win back-to-back-to-back national championships. Who are we?
Answer: UCLA Bruins
26. We hold the record for the longest NCAA tournament appearance streak for a school at 23 straight years. Who are we?
Answer: Kansas Jayhawks
27. We hold the record for most NCAA national championships in Division I college basketball with 11 titles. Who are we?
Answer: UCLA Bruins
28. We are the last Division II college basketball team to win the NCAA Tournament in 1963. Who are we?
Answer: Wittenberg University Tigers
29. I’m the name of the first-ever professional basketball league formed in 1898. What am I?
Answer: National Basketball League (NBL)
30. I’m the current name of the major men’s professional basketball league in North America. What am I?
Answer: National Basketball Association (NBA)
Riddles about Basketball Terms
31. I’m an illegal defensive maneuver involving personal contact to impede the progress of an offensive player. What am I?
Answer: Foul
32. I’m awarded when a field goal attempt is unsuccessful and the ball rebounds off the rim or backboard. What am I?
Answer: Rebound
33. I’m the result of a successful field goal attempt. What am I?
Answer: Basket, field goal or points scored
34. I’m the violation that occurs when a player takes extra steps without dribbling the ball. What am I?
Answer: Traveling
35. I’m the violation that occurs when a player double dribbles the ball. What am I?
Answer: Double dribble
36. I’m awarded to the player who blocked the most shots in a game. What am I?
Answer: Block leader
37. I’m the player who accumulates the most points in a game. What am I?
Answer: Top scorer
38. I refer to a made shot released in the act of jumping. What am I?
Answer: Jump shot
39. I refer to a player’s vertical leap. What am I?
Answer: Vertical jump
40. I refer to the technique of rolling the ball along the floor with one hand. What am I?
Answer: Dribbling
Riddles about Basketball Gear and Equipment
41. I’m made of rubber and filled with air. What am I?
Answer: Basketball
42. I’m made of metal and attached to backboards. What am I?
Answer: Rim
43. I’m made of nylon and attached to rims. What am I?
Answer: Net
44. I’m the orange metal support structure for baskets. What am I?
Answer: Hoop
45. I’m the playing surface typically made of hardwood. What am I?
Answer: Court
46. I’m knee and elbow pads worn by players for protection. What am I?
Answer: Pads
47. I’m footwear worn by players to provide traction and support. What am I?
Answer: Basketball shoes
48. I’m the protective hand covering used while shooting. What am I?
Answer: Shooting sleeve
49. I’m sleeveless tops worn by players of the same team. What am I?
Answer: Jersey or uniform
50. I’m worn under jerseys to absorb sweat. What am I?
Answer: Undershirt
Riddles about Basketball Rules
51. I’m the amount of time in a college basketball game. What am I?
Answer: 40 minutes
52. I’m the amount of time in a high school varsity basketball game. What am I?
Answer: 32 minutes
53. I’m the only way a team can advance the ball without dribbling in their frontcourt. What am I?
Answer: Pass
54. I’m the penalty given after a certain number of fouls. What am I?
Answer: Free throws
55. I’m the line outside which players can’t stand for more than 3 seconds. What am I?
Answer: 3-point line
56. I’m the arc under the basket where no charging is allowed. What am I?
Answer: Restricted area
57. I’m the violation for having 5 players illegally on the court. What am I?
Answer: Over and back
58. I’m the number of personal fouls that result in player disqualification. What am I?
Answer: 5 fouls
59. I’m the violation that results from a shot clock expiring. What am I?
Answer: Shot clock violation
60. I’m the violation that occurs when the offense fails to advance the ball past midcourt in time. What am I?
Answer: 8-second violation
Riddles about Basketball Positions
61. I’m typically the tallest player who plays near the basket on offense and defense. What position am I?
Answer: Center
62. I’m an offensive position focused on ball handling and scoring. What position am I?
Answer: Shooting guard
63. I’m the primary ball handler who passes to set up scoring opportunities. What position am I?
Answer: Point guard
64. I’m the versatile position with skills to play inside and outside. What position am I?
Answer: Small forward
65. I’m the position that plays strong defense and rebounds near the basket. What position am I?
Answer: Power forward
66. I’m any of the 5 standard player positions in basketball. What am I?
Answer: Position
67. I’m a player who substitutes in from the bench. What am I?
Answer: Substitute or bench player
68. I’m a highly skilled offensive player who comes off the bench. What am I?
Answer: Sixth man
69. I’m defenders assigned to cover a specific opposing player. What are we?
Answer: Man-to-man defense
Conclusion
Basketball has a rich history and culture with intricate rules, iconic players and teams, specialized equipment, and unique terminology. I hope these riddles offered basketball fans an entertaining test of knowledge on the different aspects of the game they love. From basic concepts like the ball and hoop, to strategic player positions, to the electrifying performances of past and present superstars, basketball creates endless possibilities for riddles and trivia to engage fans. Let me know if you have any other basketball riddles I should add to this collection!
