2012 in basketball

Tournaments

Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Youth tournaments

2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women

Continental championships

Men:

Euroleague:

01 ! Olympiacos 02 ! CSKA Moscow 03 ! FC Barcelona Regal

Euroleague MVP: Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow

Euroleague Final Four MVP: Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos

Alphonso Ford Trophy (season's leading scorer): Bo McCalebb, Montepaschi Siena

Eurocup:

01 ! Khimki 02 ! Valencia Basket 03 ! Lietuvos rytas

EuroChallenge:

01 ! Beşiktaş Milangaz 02 ! Élan Chalon 03 ! Triumph Lyubertsy

Women:

EuroLeague Women:

01 ! Ros Casares Valencia 02 ! Rivas Ecópolis 03 ! UMMC Ekaterinburg

Transnational championships

Men:

NBA

Season:

Division champions: Boston Celtics (Atlantic), Chicago Bulls (Central), Miami Heat (Southeast), Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest), Los Angeles Lakers (Pacific), San Antonio Spurs (Southwest)

Best regular-season record: Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs (50–16); Bulls claim homecourt for the entire playoffs by tiebreaker

Eastern Conference: Miami Heat

Western Conference: Oklahoma City Thunder

Finals: The Heat defeat the Thunder 4–1 in the best-of-7 series, with the Heat's LeBron James named Finals MVP.

National Basketball League, 2011–12 season:

Premiers: New Zealand Breakers

Champions: The Breakers successfully defend their title from last season, defeating the Perth Wildcats 2–1 in the best-of-3 Grand Final.

Adriatic League, 2011–12: Maccabi Tel Aviv defeat Cedevita Zagreb 87–77 in the one-off final.

ASEAN Basketball League, 2012: Indonesia Warriors defeat San Miguel Beermen 2–1 in the best-of-3 finals.

Balkan League, 2011–12: Hapoel Gilboa Galil defeat Levski Sofia 89–84 in overtime in the one-off final.

Baltic League: Žalgiris Kaunas defeat Lietuvos rytas 74–70 in the one-off final.

Czech League: Nymburk sweep Prostějov 4–0 in the best-of-7 finals.

VTB United League, 2011–12: CSKA Moscow defeat UNICS Kazan 74–62 in the one-off final.

National championships

Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2011–12:

Regular season:

Playoffs:

Austrian Bundesliga: Xion Dukes Klosterneuburg defeat Allianz Swans Gmunden 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.

Belaruisan Premier League: Minsk-2006 defeat Grodno-93 97–74 in the one-off final.

Basketball League Belgium, 2011–12: Base Oostende defeat Spirou Charleroi 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Championship: Široki defeat Igokea 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.

Novo Basquete Brasil:

Bulgarian National League: Lukoil Academic sweep Levski Sofia 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.

Chinese Basketball Association:

Regular season: Guangdong Southern Tigers

Playoffs: The Beijing Ducks defeat the Tigers 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.

Croatian League, 2011–12: Cibona defeat Cedevita 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.

Dutch Basketball League, 2011–12: EiffelTowers Den Bosch defeat ZZ Leiden 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.

French Pro A League: Chalon defeat Le Mans 95–76 in the one-off final.

German Bundesliga, 2011–12: Brose Baskets defeat Ratiopharm Ulm 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.

Greek League, 2011–12: Olympiacos defeat Panathinaikos 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.

Iranian Super League, 2011–12:

Israeli Super League, 2011–12: Maccabi Tel Aviv defeat Maccabi Ashdod 83–63 in the one-off final.

Italian Serie A, 2011–12: Montepaschi Siena defeat Emporio Armani Milano 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.

Latvian League, 2011–12: VEF Rīga defeat Ventspils 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.

Lithuanian LKL, 2011–12: Žalgiris sweep Lietuvos rytas 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.

Montenegro League:

Philippine Basketball Association, 2011–12:

Philippine Cup: The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters successfully defend their 2011 Philippine Cup title, defeating the Powerade Tigers 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.

Commissioner's Cup: The B-Meg Llamados defeat the Texters 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.

Governors' Cup: The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters defeat the Llamados 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.

Polish League, 2011–12: Asseco Prokom Gdynia defeat Trefl Sopot 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.

Portuguese League: Benfica defeat Porto 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.

Divizia A: Asesoft Ploieşti sweep Elba Timişoara 4–0 in the best-of-7 finals.

Russian PBL, 2011–12: CSKA Moscow sweep Khimki 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.

League of Serbia, 2011–12: Partizan defeat Red Star 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.

Slovenian League: Krka defeat Union Olimpija 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.

Spanish ACB:

Season: FC Barcelona Regal

Playoffs: Barça defeat Real Madrid 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.

Super Basketball League:

Turkish League, 2011–12: Beşiktaş Milangaz defeat Anadolu Efes 4–2 in the best-of-7 finals.

Ukrainian SuperLeague, 2011–12: Aviastar Donetsk sweep Musson Azovmash 4–0 in the best-of-7 finals.

British Basketball League, 2011–12:

Season: Newcastle Eagles

Playoffs: The Eagles defeat the Leicester Riders 71–62 in the one-off final.

Women:

WNBA

Season:

Eastern Conference: Indiana Fever

Western Conference: Minnesota Lynx

Finals: The Fever defeat the Lynx 3–1 in the best-of-5 series.

College

Men

NCAA

Division I: Kentucky 67, Kansas 59

Most Outstanding Player: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

National Invitation Tournament: Stanford 75, Minnesota 51

College Basketball Invitational: Pitt defeated Washington State 2–1 in the best-of-3 final.

CollegeInsider.com Tournament: Mercer 70, Utah State 67

Division II: Western Washington 72, Montevallo 65

Division III: Wisconsin–Whitewater 63, Cabrini 60

NAIA

NAIA Division I:

NAIA Division II:

NJCAA

Division I:

Division II:

Division III:

UAAP Men's: Ateneo defeated UST 2–0 in the best-of-3 finals to win their fifth consecutive title.

NCAA (Philippines) Seniors': San Beda defeated Letran 2–1 in the best-of-3 finals to win their third consecutive title.

National Championship: UST defeated Ateneo 2–1 to win their first national championship.

Women

NCAA

Division I: Baylor 80, Notre Dame 61

Baylor becomes the first team in NCAA basketball history to win 40 games in a season.

Most Outstanding Player: Brittney Griner, Baylor

WNIT: Oklahoma State 75, James Madison 68

Women's Basketball Invitational:

Division II: Shaw 88, Ashland 82 (OT)

Division III: Illinois Wesleyan 57, George Fox 43

NAIA

NAIA Division I:

NAIA Division II:

Division I:

Division II:

Division III:

NJCAA

Division I:Trinity Valley Community College 69, Hutchinson Community College 55

Division II:Monroe College 78, Lake Michigan College 73

Division III:Rock Valley College 82, Roxbury Community College 64

UAAP Women's: FEU defeated La Salle in two games to win their second consecutive champion and finish an undefeated season.

Prep

USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1:

USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1:

NCAA (Philippines) Juniors:  San Beda Red Cubs defeated  La Salle Greenies 2+1–1 in the best-of-5 finals. Because San Beda were unbeaten in the elimination round, they were given a 1–0 series lead before finals play started.

UAAP Juniors:  NSNU Bullpups defeated  FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws 2–1 in the best-of-3 finals.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Class of 2012:

Players: Mel Daniels, Katrina McClain, Reggie Miller, Ralph Sampson, Chet Walker, Jamaal Wilkes

Coaches: Lidia Alexeyeva, Don Nelson

Contributors: Don Barksdale, Phil Knight

Referees: Hank Nichols

Teams: All American Red Heads

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Class of 2012

Nancy Fahey

Nikki McCray

Pamela McGee

Inge Nissen

Robin Roberts

Dawn Staley

Professional

Men

NBA Most Valuable Player Award: LeBron James, Miami Heat

NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Most Improved Player Award: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic

NBA Sportsmanship Award: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks

NBA Coach of the Year Award: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Executive of the Year Award: Larry Bird, Indiana Pacers

FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Andrei Kirilenko, 2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves

Euroscar Award:Andrei Kirilenko, 2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA All-Star Game MVP:Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award: Pat Riley, Miami Heat

Women

WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun

WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever

WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Renee Montgomery, Connecticut Sun

WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Kristi Toliver, Los Angeles Sparks

Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun

WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Carol Ross, Los Angeles Sparks

FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Expected to be announced in February 2013.

WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever

Collegiate

Combined

Legends of Coaching Award: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut

Men

John R. Wooden Award: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Naismith College Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas

Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Reggie Hamilton, Oakland

Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Luke Hancock, Louisville

USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Frank Haith, Missouri

Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Don Meyer

Women

John R. Wooden Award: Brittney Griner, Baylor

Naismith College Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor

Naismith College Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor

Wade Trophy: Brittney Griner, Baylor

Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Tavelyn James, Eastern Michigan

Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor

NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Brittney Griner, Baylor

Basketball Academic All-America Team: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware

Kay Yow Award: Karl Smesko, Florida Gulf Coast

Carol Eckman Award: Sue Ramsey, Ashland University

Maggie Dixon Award: Jennifer Hoover, High Point

USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Elizabeth Williams, Duke

Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor

List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford

Nancy Lieberman Award: Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame

Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Teresa Edwards

Events

April 18 – Tennessee Lady Volunteers coach Pat Summitt stepped down after 38 years and 8 NCAA championships. She was succeeded by assistant Holly Warlick.

December 17 – Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim became the third NCAA Division I men's coach with 900 career wins following the Orange's 72–68 win over Detroit. He had been preceded to 900 wins by Bob Knight and current leader Mike Krzyzewski.

Movies

Benji – A documentary about the life and 1984 murder of Chicago high school superstar Ben Wilson.

The Other Dream Team – A documentary about the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team.

Thunderstruck

Deaths

January 3 — Gene Bartow, American college coach (Memphis State, UCLA, UAB), and member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (born 1930)

January 5 — Alexander Sizonenko, Russian basketball player (born 1959)

January 10 — Jack Heron, American college coach (Sacramento State) (born 1926)

January 11 — Wally Osterkorn, NBA player (Syracuse Nationals) (born 1928)

January 23 — Larry Striplin, American college coach (Belmont) (born 1929)

January 28 — Joseph Curran, American college coach (Canisius) (born 1922)

February 1 — Charlie Spoonhour, American college coach (Saint Louis and others) (born 1939)

February 1 — Jerry Steiner, American National Basketball League player (Indianapolis Kautskys, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons) (born 1918)

February 8 — Lew Hitch, NBA player (Minneapolis Lakers, Milwaukee Hawks) (born 1929)

February 16 — Gene Vance, BAA/NBA player (Chicago Stags, Milwaukee Hawks) (born 1923)

February 25 — Dick Davies, gold medal-winning player for Team USA at the 1964 Summer Olympics (born 1936)

February 26 — Zollie Volchok, NBA Executive (Seattle SuperSonics) (born 1916)

March 8 — Charlie Hoag, 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winner and National Champion at Kansas (born 1931)

March 12 — Dick Harter, American coach (Charlotte Hornets, University of Oregon) (born 1930)

March 16 — Ed Dahler, NBA player (Philadelphia Warriors) (born 1926)

March 24 — Pete McCaffrey, gold medal-winning player for Team USA at the 1964 Summer Olympics (born 1938)

April 11 — Tippy Dye, American college coach (Brown, Ohio State, Washington) (born 1915)

April 11 — Bob Lewis, National champion at Utah (born 1925)

April 15 — Dwayne Schintzius, NBA player (San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, among others) (born 1968)

April 15 — Bob Wright, high school and college coach (Morehead State) (born 1926)

April 30 — Andrew Levane, NBA player and coach (New York Knicks) (born 1920)

April 30 — Frank Zummach, NBL coach (Sheboygan Red Skins) (born 1911)

May 1 — Greg Jackson, NBA player (New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns) (born 1952)

May 6 — Pat Frink, NBA player (Cincinnati Royals) (born 1945)

May 13 — Nolan Richardson III, American college coach (Tennessee State) (born 1964)

May 26 — Lou Watson, American college coach (Indiana) (born c. 1924)

May 28 — Ed Burton, NBA player (New York Knicks, St. Louis Hawks) (born 1939)

May 30 — Jack Twyman, Naismith Hall of Fame NBA player (Cincinnati Royals) (born 1934)

May 31 — Orlando Woolridge, NBA player (Los Angeles Lakers, among others) (born 1959)

June 2 — LeRoy Ellis, NBA player (Los Angeles Lakers, among others) (born 1940)

June 4 — Jim Fitzgerald, NBA owner (Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors) (born 1926)

June 7 — Chuck Share, NBA player (St. Louis Hawks, among others) (born 1927)

June 7 — Mervin Jackson, ABA player (Utah Stars) (born 1946)

June 8 — Pete Brennan, NBA player (New York Knicks) (born 1936)

June 18 — Dennis Hamilton, NBA/ABA player (Los Angeles Lakers, among others) (born 1944)

June 24 — Heino Kruus, Olympic Silver medalist for the Soviet Union in 1952. (born 1926)

June 24 — Ted Luckenbill, NBA player (San Francisco Warriors). (born 1939)

June 26 — Pat Cummings, NBA player (New York Knicks, Miami Heat). (born 1956)

June 26 — Jack Hewson, BAA player (Boston Celtics). (born 1924)

June 28 — Herb Scherer, NBA player (Tri-Cities Blackhawks, New York Knicks). (born 1929)

July 9 — Kenny Heitz, three-time NCAA champion at UCLA. (born 1947)

July 13 — Warren Jabali, ABA player (Oakland Oaks, among others). (born 1946)

July 26 — Neil Reed, College player (Indiana, Southern Miss) (born 1975)

August 2 — Ruy de Freitas, Olympic Bronze medalist for Brazil in 1948. (born 1916)

August 3 — John Pritchard, NBA player (Waterloo Hawks) and Washington Generals player (born 1927)

August 4 — Arnie Risen, Naismith Hall of Fame NBA player (Rochester Royals, Boston Celtics) (born 1924)

August 6 — Dan Roundfield, ABA and NBA player (Atlanta Hawks, among others) (born 1953)

August 17 — Pál Bogár, Hungarian Olympic player (born 1927)

August 27 — Art Heyman, NBA and ABA player (New York Knicks, among others) (born 1941)

September 21 — Ed Conlin, NBA player (Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia Warriors, Detroit Pistons) (born 1933)

September 29 — Bob Stevens, college coach (Oklahoma, South Carolina) (born 1924)

October 8 — Donnie Butcher, NBA player (New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons) and coach (Detroit Pistons) (born 1936)

October 9 — Kenny Rollins, NBA player, college national champion at Kentucky, Olympic gold medalist in 1948 (born 1923)

October 12 — Ervin Kassai, Hungarian referee, FIBA Hall of Fame member (born 1925)

October 18 — Slater Martin, Naismith Hall of Fame player, five-time NBA champion (Minneapolis Lakers, St. Louis Hawks) (born 1925)

October 30 — Dan Tieman, NBA player (Cincinnati Royals) (born 1940)

November 13 — Murray Arnold, college and professional coach (Chattanooga, Perth Wildcats) (born 1938)

November 25 — Carlisle Towery, American National Basketball League player (Fort Wayne Pistons) (born 1920)

December 1 — John Crigler, national championship college player at Kentucky (1958) (born 1936)

December 1 — Rick Majerus, college coach (Saint Louis, Utah, Ball State, Marquette) (born 1948)

December 4 — Ken Trickey, college coach (Middle Tennessee, Oral Roberts, Oklahoma City, Iowa State) (born 1933)

December 7 — Nikola Ilić, Serbian player (born 1985)

December 12 — Walt Kirk, American NBA player (Tri-Cities Blackhawks, among others) (born 1924)

December 20 — Jerome Whitehead, American NBA player (San Diego Clippers, Golden State Warriors, among others) (born 1956)

December 22 — Charles Cleveland, American college player (Alabama Crimson Tide) (born 1951)

December 28 — Dan Kraus, American BAA player (Baltimore Bullets) (born 1923)

December 28 — Fred Rehm, American NBL player (Oshkosh All-Stars), NCAA champion at Wisconsin (1941) (born 1921)

December 29 — Erv Staggs, American ABA player (Miami Floridians) (born 1948)