2007 in basketball

Events

February 21: The International Basketball Federation lifts the suspension of the Philippines as it recognizes the new basketball federation.

July 20: The NBA acknowledges that the U.S. FBI is investigating whether referee Tim Donaghy bet on NBA games, including those he officiated.

Olympic qualifiers

Boldfaced entries qualify for the Olympics; italicized entries will participate in a wild-card competition.

FIBA Africa Championship 2007 at Angola

1.  Angola
2.  Cameroon
3.  Cape Verde

FIBA Americas Championship 2007 at Las Vegas, United States

1.  United States
2.  Argentina
3.  Puerto Rico

FIBA Asia Championship 2007 at Tokushima, Japan

1.  Iran
2.  Lebanon
3.  South Korea

EuroBasket 2007 at Spain

1.  Russia
2.  Spain
3.  Lithuania

FIBA Oceania Championship 2007 at Australia

1.  Australia
2.  New Zealand

Other tournaments

All-Africa Games at Algeria

1.  Angola
2.  Egypt
3.  Nigeria

Pan American Games at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1.  Brazil
2.  Puerto Rico
3.  Uruguay

Southeast Asian Games at Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

1.  Philippines
2.  Indonesia
3.  Malaysia

Southeast Asia Basketball Association Championship 2007 at Ratchaburi, Thailand

1.  Philippines
2.  Indonesia
3.  Malaysia

 Philippines and  Indonesia advanced to the FIBA Asia Championship.

Olympic qualifiers

FIBA Africa Championship for Women 2007 at Senegal

1.  Mali
2.  Senegal
3.  Angola

FIBA Americas Championship for Women 2007 at Valdivia, Chile

1.  United States
2.  Cuba
3.  Brazil

FIBA Asia Championship for Women 2007 at Incheon, South Korea

1.  South Korea
2.  China
3.  Japan

EuroBasket Women 2007 at Italy

1.  Russia
2.  Spain
3.  Belarus

 Russia qualifies for the 2008 Olympics.

FIBA Oceania Championship for Women 2007 at Dunedin, New Zealand

1.  Australia
2.  New Zealand
3.  Fiji

Other tournaments

Pan American Games at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1.  United States
2.  Brazil
3.  Cuba

Southeast Asian Games at Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

1.  Thailand
2.  Malaysia
3.  Philippines

Southeast Asia Basketball Association Championship for Women 2007 at Phuket, Thailand

1.  Thailand
2.  Philippines
3.  Malaysia

Youth tournaments

FIBA Under-19 World Championship at Novi Sad, Serbia:

1.  Serbia
2.  United States
3.  France

FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women at Bratislava, Slovakia

1.  United States
2.  Sweden
3.  Serbia

FIBA Under-21 World Championship for Women at Moscow Oblast, Russia

1.  United States
2.  Australia
3.  France

Intercontinental championships

Euroleague: Panathinaikos def. CSKA Moscow 93-91 at Athens.

ULEB Cup: Real Madrid def. Lietuvos Rytas 87-75 at Charleroi, Belgium.

Asia Champions Cup: Saba Battery def. Al Jalaa 83-75 at Tehran.

Liga Sudamericana: Libertad de Sunchales def. Unimed/Franca 3-1 in the best-of-5 home-and-away series.

National championships

Men:

NBA

Season:

Western Conference and League: Dallas Mavericks (67-15)

Eastern Conference: Detroit Pistons (53-29)

Other Division champions: Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.

Finals: The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the best-of-seven finals. Finals MVP: Tony Parker

National Basketball League, 2006-07 season: Brisbane Bullets defeat the Melbourne Tigers 3-1 in the best-of-five Grand Final.

Chinese Basketball Association, 2006-07 season: Bayi Rockets defeated the Guangdong Southern Tigers 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals.

Croatian League: Cibona defeat Zadar 3-2 in the best-of-five finals.

French League: Roanne defeat Nancy 81-74 in the one-off final.

German Bundesliga: Brose Baskets defeat Artland Dragons 3-1 in the best-of-five finals.

Greek League: Panathinaikos defeat Olympiacos 3-2 in the best-of-five finals.

Iranian Super League, 2006-07 season: Saba Battery defeat Petrochimi 2–0 in the best-of-three final.

Israel Premier League: Maccabi Tel Aviv defeat Hapoel Jerusalem 80-78 in the one-off final.

Italian Serie A: Montepaschi Siena sweep VidiVici Bologna 3-0 in the best-of-five finals.

Lithuanian LKL: Žalgiris defeat Lietuvos Rytas 4-2 in the best-of-seven finals.

Montenegro League: Budućnost Podgorica sweep Lovćen 3-0 in the best-of-five finals.

Philippine Basketball Association, 2006-07 season:

Philippine Cup: Barangay Ginebra Kings defeat the San Miguel Beermen 4-2 in the best-of-seven finals. Finals MVP: Jayjay Helterbrand

Fiesta Conference: Alaska Aces defeat the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 4-3 in the best-of-seven finals. Finals MVP: Willie Miller

Polish League: Prokom Trefl Sopot defeat Turów Zgorzelec 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals.

Russian Super League: CSKA Moscow sweep UNICS Kazan 3-0 in the best-of-five finals.

Serbia Super League: Partizan defeat Red Star 3-1 in the best-of-five finals.

Slovenian League: Helios Domžale defeat Union Olimpija 3-2 in the best-of-five finals.

Spanish ACB:

Season: TAU Cerámica topped the league standings.

Playoffs: Real Madrid defeat Winterthur FCB 3-1 in the best-of-five Finals.

Turkish Basketball League: Fenerbahçe Ülker sweep Efes Pilsen 4-0 in the best-ot-seven finals.

British Basketball League, 2006-07:

Season: Guildford Heat win the regular-season crown.

Playoffs: Newcastle Eagles defeat the Scottish Rocks 95-82 to win the postseason playoffs.

Adriatic League: Partizan defeat FMP 2-0 in the best-of-three finals.

Women:

2007 WNBA Finals: The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Detroit Shock, 3-2. Finals MVP: Cappie Pondexter

EuroLeague Women 2006-07: Spartak Moscow Region defeated Ros Casares Valencia, 76-62 in the final.

College

Men:

NCAA

Division I: Florida 84, Ohio State 75

Most Outstanding Player: Corey Brewer, Florida

National Invitation Tournament: West Virginia 78, Clemson 73

Division II: Barton 77, Winona State 75

Division III: Amherst 80, Virginia Wesleyan 67

NAIA

NAIA Division I: Oklahoma City 79, Concordia (CA) 71

NAIA Division II: MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 78, Mayville State (N.D.) 60

NJCAA

Division I: Midland CC TX 94, Chipola JC 75

Division II: Mott Community College (Flint, MI) 75, Monroe Community College (Rochester, NY) 61

Division III: Sullivan County 74, Northland CTC 68

UAAP Men's: La Salle beat UE 2-0 in the best-of-3 finals

NCAA (Philippines) Seniors': San Beda beat Letran, 2-0 in the best-of-3 finals

Women:

NCAA

Division I: Tennessee 59, Rutgers 46

Most Outstanding Player: Candace Parker, Tennessee

WNIT: Wyoming 72, Wisconsin 56

Division II: Southern Connecticut 61, Florida Gulf Coast 45

Division III DePauw 55, Washington University in St. Louis 52

NAIA

NAIA Division I: Lambuth (Tenn.) 63, Cumberla nd (Tenn.) 50

NAIA Division II: Indiana Wesleyan 48, College of the Ozarks 34

NJCAA

Division I: Odessa College TX 73, Central Arizona College 50

Division II: Kirkwood Community College 84, Kankakee Community College 55

Division III: Anoka-Ramsey CCMinn. 52, Mohawk Valley CC NY 44

UAAP Women's: Ateneo beat UP, 2-0 in the best-of-3 series

Prep

USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1: Lincoln High School, Dallas, Texas

USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1: Collins Hill High School, Suwanee, Georgia

NCAA (Philippines) Juniors: San Sebastian beat Letran, 2-0 in the best-of-3 series

UAAP Juniors: Zobel beat Ateneo, 2-0 in the best-of-3 series

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Class of 2007:

Van Chancellor

Pedro Ferrandiz

Phil Jackson

Mirko Novosel

Marvin Rudolph

Texas Western

Roy Williams

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Class of 2007

Daedra Charles-Furlow

Bridgette Gordon

Mel Greenberg

Pamela Kelly-Flowers

Andy Landers

Andrea Lloyd-Curry

FIBA Hall of Fame

Class of 2007

Players

Coaches

Aleksandar Nikolić

Alexander Gomelsky

Antonio Díaz-Miguel

Dean Smith

Giancarlo Primo

Henry "Hank" Iba

Lidia Alexeyeva

Ranko Žeravica

Togo Renan Soares "Kanela"

Vladimir Kondrashin

Referees

Allen Rae

Ervin Kassai

Mario Hopenhaym

Obrad Belošević

Pietro Reverberi

Renato Righetto

Vladimir Kostin

Contributors

Borislav Stankovic

Professional

Men

NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns

NBA Most Improved Player Award: Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors

NBA Coach of the Year Award: Sam Mitchell, Toronto Raptors

FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz and  Russia

Euroscar Award: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs and  France

Mr. Europa: Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos and  Greece

Women

WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm

WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm

WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Armintie Price, Chicago Sky

WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Plenette Pierson, Detroit Shock

WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Janel McCarville, New York Liberty

Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Tully Bevilaqua, Indiana Fever

WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Dan Hughes, San Antonio Silver Stars

WNBA All-Star Game MVP: Cheryl Ford, Detroit Shock

WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury

FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Anete Jēkabsone-Žogota, Dynamo Moscow and  Latvia

Collegiate

Combined

Legends of Coaching Award: Gene Keady, Purdue

Men

John R. Wooden Award: Kevin Durant, Texas

Naismith College Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett, Washington State

Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Tre Kelley, South Carolina

Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Kevin Durant, Texas

NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Mario Chalmers, Kansas

USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Kevin Durant, Texas

Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett, Washington State

Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Bob Knight

Women

John R. Wooden Award: Candace Parker, Tennessee

Naismith College Player of the Year: Lindsey Harding, Duke

Naismith College Coach of the Year: Gail Goestenkors, Duke

Wade Trophy: Candace Parker, Tennessee

Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Lindsey Harding, Duke

Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Candace Parker, Tennessee

NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Candace Parker, Tennessee

Basketball Academic All-America Team: Chrissy Givens, Middle Tennessee

Carol Eckman Award: Theresa Grentz, Illinois

Maggie Dixon Award: Krista Kilburn-Steveskey, Hofstra

USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Tina Charles, Connecticut

Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Gail Goestenkors, Duke

List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Alison Bales, Duke

Nancy Lieberman Award: Lindsey Harding, Duke

Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Kay Yow

Deaths

January 9 — Zeke Zawoluk, American college All-American (St. John's) and NBA player (Indianapolis Olympians, Philadelphia Warriors) (born 1930)

February 7 — Ray Corley, American NBA player (born 1928)

February 8 — Shelby Metcalf, former college coach at Texas A&M (born 1930)

February 21 — Barry Stevens, former NBA player (born 1963)

February 22 — Dennis Johnson, American Hall of Fame NBA player (Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics) (born 1954)

March 1 — Bobby Speight, All-American at NC State (born 1930)

March 20 — Frank Baird, American NBL player (Indianapolis Kautskys) (born 1912)

April 13 — Steve Malovic, American NBA player (born 1956)

April 18 — Harry Miller, Toronto Huskies player (born 1923)

May 27 — Howard Porter, former NBA player and 1971 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (born 1948)

June 10 — Jim Killingsworth, American college coach (Idaho State, Oklahoma State, TCU) (born 1923)

June 11 — Ray Mears, American college coach (Tennessee) (born 1926)

July 26 — Skip Prosser, College coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (born 1950)

August 17 — Eddie Griffin, former Seton Hall and NBA player (born 1982)

August 22 — Butch van Breda Kolff, former college and NBA coach (born 1922)

September 17 — Charlotte Lewis, American Olympic women's basketball player (born 1955)

November 28 — Bob Simpson, Canadian Olympic player (1952) (born 1930)

November 29 — Ralph Beard, All-American at Kentucky. Two-time National Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist (born 1927)

December 13 — Jack Thornton, American NBL player (Hammond Ciesar All-Americans, Sheboygan Red Skins) (born 1914)

December 28 — Aidin Nikkhah Bahrami, Iran national basketball team player (born 1982)