2011 in basketball

Tournaments

Men's tournaments

Olympic qualifiers

• 2011 FIBA Africa Championship – Antananarivo, Madagascar
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Americas Championship – Mar del Plata, Argentina.
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship – Australia
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• *
• EuroBasket 2011 – Lithuania
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Asia Championship – Wuhan, China
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• *
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• * 4th

  Women's tournaments

Olympic qualifiers

• 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for Women – Bamako, Mali
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• *
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Women – Neiva, Colombia.
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• *
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Asia Championship for Women – Ōmura, Nagasaki, Japan
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• *
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• * 4th
• EuroBasket Women 2011 – Poland
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women – Australia
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• *

  Youth tournaments

• 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship – Latvia
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• *
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• * 4th
• 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women – Chile
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• *
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• * 4th

  Club championships

Continental championships

• Euroleague:
• * Panathinaikos Maccabi Tel Aviv Montepaschi Siena
• Eurocup:
• * UNICS Kazan Cajasol Cedevita Zagreb
• EuroChallenge:
• * Krka Novo Mesto Lokomotiv–Kuban Krasnodar Telenet Oostende
• Asia Champions Cup:
• * Al-Riyadi Beirut Mahram Tehran Al-Rayyan
• Americas League:
• * Regatas Corrientes Capitanes de Arecibo Halcones UV Xalapa

• EuroLeague Women:
• * Halcón Avenida Salamanca Spartak Moscow Region UMMC Ekaterinburg

  Transnational championships

• NBA
• *Season:
• ** Division champions: Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs
• ** Best regular-season record: Chicago Bulls
• ** Eastern Conference: Miami Heat
• ** Western Conference: Dallas Mavericks
• * Finals: The Mavericks win their first NBA title, defeating the Heat 4–2 in the best-of-7 series. The Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki is named Finals MVP.
• National Basketball League, 2010–11 season:
• * Premiers: New Zealand Breakers
• * Champions: The Breakers defeat the Cairns Taipans 2–1 in the best-of-three Grand Final, becoming the first New Zealand team to win an Australian national league title in any sport.
• Adriatic League, 2010–11 season: Partizan Belgrade defeat Union Olimpija Ljubljana 77–74 in the one-off final.
• ASEAN Basketball League, 2010–11 season: Chang Thailand Slammers defeat Philippine Patriots 2–0 in the best-of-three finals.
• Baltic League: Žalgiris Kaunas defeat VEF Riga 75–67 in the one-off final.
• VTB United League, 2010–11 season: BC Khimki defeat CSKA Moscow 66–64 in the one-off final.

  National championships

• Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2010–11 season: Guangdong Southern Tigers
• * Regular season: Obras Sanitarias
• * Playoffs: Peñarol defeat Atenas 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• Basketball League Belgium: Spirou Charleroi sweep Okapi Aalstar 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Championship:
• Novo Basquete Brasil: UniCEUB/BRB Brasília defeat Franca 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.
• Bulgarian National League: Lukoil Academic complete a 36–0 season in domestic play with a 3–0 sweep of Levski Sofia in the best-of-5 finals.
• Chinese Basketball Association: 2010–11 season: Guangdong Southern Tigers defeat Xinjiang Flying Tigers 4-2 in the best-of-seven finals.
• Croatian League: KK Zagreb sweep Cedevita Zagreb 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
• Czech League: ČEZ Nymburk defeat Prostějov 4–2 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Dutch Basketball League: ZZ Leiden defeat GasTerra Flames 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.
• French Pro A League: Nancy defeat Cholet 76–74 in the one-off final.
• German Bundesliga, 2010–11 season: Brose Baskets defeat ALBA Berlin 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.
• Greek League, 2010–11 season: Panathinaikos defeat Olympiacos 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals. Before the finals, Olympiacos had gone 36–0 in domestic competition this season.
• Iranian Super League, 2010–11 season:
• Israeli Super League, 2010–11 season: Maccabi Tel Aviv defeat Hapoel Gilboa Galil 91–64 in the one-off final.
• Italian Serie A, 2010–11 season: Montepaschi Siena defeat Bennet Cantù 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Latvian League: VEF Riga defeat Ventspils 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Lithuanian LKL: Žalgiris defeat Lietuvos Rytas 4–1 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Montenegro League:
• Philippine Basketball Association, 2010–11 season:
• *Philippine Cup: The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters defeat the San Miguel Beermen 4–2 in the best-of-7 finals.
• *Commissioner's Cup: The Texters win their second trophy of the season, defeating the Barangay Ginebra Kings 4–2 in the best-of-7 finals.
• *Governors Cup: The Petron Blaze Boosters deny the Texters a Grand Slam, defeating them 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Polish League: Asseco Prokom Gdynia defeat Turów Zgorzelec 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Russian PBL: CSKA Moscow defeat Khimki 3–1 in the best-of-5 finals.
• League of Serbia, 2010–11 season: Partizan sweep Hemofarm 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
• Slovenian League:
• Spanish ACB:
• *Season: Regal FC Barcelona
• *Playoffs: Barça sweep Bizkaia Bilbao 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
• Turkish Basketball League: Fenerbahçe Ülker defeat Galatasaray Café Crown 4–2 in the best-of-7 finals.
• Ukrainian SuperLeague: Budivelnyk defeat Donetsk 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.
• British Basketball League, 2010–11:
• *Season: Mersey Tigers
• *Playoffs: The Tigers defeat the Sheffield Sharks 79–74 in the one-off final.
• Super Basketball League:Taiwan Beer defeat Dacin Tigers 4-1 in the best-of-7 finals.

• WNBA
• *Season:
• ** Eastern Conference: Indiana Fever
• ** Western Conference: Minnesota Lynx
• * Finals: The Lynx win their first WNBA title, sweeping the Fever 3–0 in the best-of-5 series. The Lynx' Seimone Augustus is named Finals MVP.

  College

• NCAA
• *Division I: Connecticut 53, Butler 41
• **Most Outstanding Player: Kemba Walker, Connecticut
• *National Invitation Tournament: Wichita State 66, Alabama 57
• *College Basketball Invitational: Oregon defeated Creighton 2–1 in the best-of-3 final.
• *CollegeInsider.com Tournament: Santa Clara 76, Iona 69
• *Division II: Bellarmine 71, BYU–Hawaii 68
• *Division III: St. Thomas 78, Wooster 54
• NAIA
• *NAIA Division I: Pikeville 83, Mountain State 76
• *NAIA Division II: Cornerstone 80, Saint Francis 71
• NJCAA
• *Division I:
• *Division II: Lincoln College 74, Mott Community College 67
• *Division III:
• UAAP Men's: Ateneo defeated FEU 2–0 in the best-of-3 finals
• NCAA Seniors': San Beda defeated San Sebastian 2–0 in the best-of-3 finals

• NCAA
• *Division I: Texas A&M 76, Notre Dame 70
• **Most Outstanding Player: Danielle Adams, Texas A&M
• *WNIT: Toledo 76, USC 68
• *Women's Basketball Invitational: UAB 68, Cal State Bakersfield 60
• *Division II: Clayton State 69, Michigan Tech 50
• *Division III: Amherst 64, Washington 55
• NAIA
• *NAIA Division I:
• *NAIA Division II:
• NJCAA
• *Division I:North Idaho College 90, Trinity Valley Community College 81
• *Division II:Monroe College 78, Lake Michigan College 73
• *Division III:Anoka-Ramsey Community College 60, Roxbury Community College 55
• UAAP Women's: FEU defeated Adamson Falcons 2-1 in the best-of-3 finals

  Prep

• USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1: St. Anthony High School
• USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1:
• NCAA Juniors: San Beda defeated LSGH 2-1 in the best-of-5 finals, with San Beda having a 1-0 advantage
• UAAP Juniors: NU defeated FEU-FERN 2–1 in the best-of-3 finals

  Awards and honors

[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]

• Class of 2011:
• *Players: Teresa Edwards, Artis Gilmore, Chris Mullin, Dennis Rodman, Arvydas Sabonis, Reece "Goose" Tatum
• *Coaches: Herb Magee, Tara VanDerveer, Tex Winter
• *Contributors: Tom "Satch" Sanders

  [Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]

• Class of 2011
• * Val Ackerman
• * Ruthie Bolton
• * Vicky Bullett
• * Muffet McGraw
• * Pearl Moore
• * Lometa Odom

  Professional

• Men
• *NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
• *NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
• *NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
• *NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers
• *NBA Most Improved Player Award: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
• *NBA Sportsmanship Award: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• *NBA Coach of the Year Award: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls
• *J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers
• *NBA Executive of the Year Award: Gar Forman, Chicago Bulls and Pat Riley, Miami Heat
• *FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Dirk Nowitzki, and Dallas Mavericks
• *Euroscar Award: Dirk Nowitzki, and Dallas Mavericks
• *Mr. Europa:
• Women
• *WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
• *WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky
• *WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
• *WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix Mercury
• *WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Kia Vaughn, New York Liberty
• *Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm and Ruth Riley, San Antonio Silver Stars
• *WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
• *WNBA All-Star Game MVP: Swin Cash, Seattle Storm
• *WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx
• *FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Alba Torrens,, Perfumerías Avenida, and Galatasaray Medical Park

  Collegiate

• Combined
• *Legends of Coaching Award: Tom Izzo, Michigan State
• Men
• *John R. Wooden Award: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
• *Naismith College Coach of the Year: Steve Fisher, San Diego State
• *Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
• *Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
• *NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
• *USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
• *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Mike Brey, Notre Dame
• *Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Dick Enberg
• Women
• *John R. Wooden Award: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *Naismith College Player of the Year: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *Naismith College Coach of the Year: Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
• *Wade Trophy: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga
• *Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Danielle Adams, Texas A&M
• *Basketball Academic All-America Team: Maya Moore, UConn
• *Kay Yow Award: Matt Bollant, Green Bay
• *Carol Eckman Award: Joanne Boyle, California
• *Maggie Dixon Award: Stephanie Glance, Illinois State
• *USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Odyssey Sims, Baylor
• *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
• *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Katie Meier, Miami
• *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
• *List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *Nancy Lieberman Award: Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga
• *Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Cheryl Miller

  Events

• On June 1, Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement from basketball after 19 seasons and four world championships. O'Neal made the announcement on his Twitter page.
• On July 1, the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players union expires, and the league immediately imposes a lockout of its players.
• On July 20, Yao Ming officially announced his retirement from basketball after nine seasons and a series of foot and ankle injuries. Yao has been credited with fueling greatly increased interest in the NBA in his home country of China since his selection as the #1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft.
• On September 26, New Jersey Nets minority owner Jay-Z announced that the team would change its name to the Brooklyn Nets when it moves to its new arena for the 2012–13 season.

  Movies

• The Fab Five - an ESPN Films documentary about the 1990s Michigan Wolverines players known collectively as the Fab Five: Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson
• Off the Rez - a TLC documentary chronicling the high school career of current University of Louisville women's player Shoni Schimmel, a Native American who grew up on an Oregon reservation
• Runnin' Rebels of UNLV - a Home Box Office documentary chronicling the UNLV men's team's success in the late 1980s through early 1990s
• Salaam Dunk
• Unguarded - an ESPN Films documentary about former NBA player Chris Herren, including his struggle with and ongoing recovery from drug addiction

  Deaths

• January 12 — Howard Engleman, All-American player and interim head coach for the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team
• January 16 — Guðmundur Þorsteinsson, Icelandic national team player and coach
• February 2 — Roger Strickland, NBA player
• February 4 — Lee Winfield, NBA player
• February 6 — Cesare Rubini, Italian coach and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
• February 20 — Troy Jackson, better known by his nickname "Escalade", streetball player for the AND1 Mixtape Tour
• March 4 — Ed Manning, NBA and ABA player and father of 1988 #1 overall NBA Draft pick Danny Manning
• March 7 — Rudy Salud, former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association
• March 22 — Edgar Lacey, ABA player and national champion at UCLA
• April 2 — Larry Finch, college coach and player
• April 10 — Bob Shaw, American NBL player
• April 14 — Joe Dan Gold, college player and coach
• April 15 — Beryl Shipley, college coach
• May 11 — Robert Traylor, NBL and NBA player
• May 27 — Margo Dydek, Polish WNBA player
• June 6 — Bill Closs, NBA player
• June 9 — Mike Mitchell, NBA player
• June 15 — Marshall Rogers, NBA player and the 1976 NCAA Division I season scoring leader
• June 27 — Lorenzo Charles, NBA player famous for hitting the game-winning shot of the 1983 NCAA tournament for NC State
• July 1 — Bob McCann, NBA player
• July 5 — Neil Dougherty, college coach
• July 5 — Armen Gilliam, NBA player
• July 9 — Don Ackerman, NBA player
• July 16 — Joe McNamee, NBA player
• July 30 — Bob Peterson, NBA player
• August 3 — Ray Patterson, NBA executive
• August 4 — Sherman White, college player at Long Island famous for being indicted in point shaving scandal
• August 8 — Mike Barrett, ABA player and Olympic gold medalist in 1968
• August 18 — Scotty Robertson, NBA and college coach
• August 27 — Bob Hubbard, American NBL and BAA player
• August 31 — Cal Christensen, NBA player
• August 31 — Jack Stephens, NBA player
• September 14 — Lewis Brown, NBA player
• September 16 — Dave Gavitt, American basketball coach and founder of the Big East Conference; member of the Naismith Hall as a contributor
• September 17 — Fedon Matheou, Greek basketball player and coach
• September 21 — Mickey Rottner, American NBL and BAA player
• September 22 — John H. Dick, starter on first NCAA championship team
• September 30 — Peter Gent, standout forward/center for Michigan State from 1962–64 and author of North Dallas Forty
• October 3 — Jim Neal, NBA player
• October 9 — Antonis Christeas, Greek basketball player
• October 9 — Chauncey Hardy, 23-year-old American playing professionally in Romania
• October 12 — Lewis Mills, college coach and athletic director
• November 2 — Ilmar Kullam, Olympic silver medalist for the Soviet Union in 1952
• November 8 — Ed Macauley, Hall of Fame player
• November 9 — Bob Carney, NBA player
• November 17 — Kurt Budke, women's college basketball coach
• November 18 — Walt Hazzard, NBA player and college coach
• November 22 — Alberto Reynoso, Philippine Basketball Association player
• November 25 — Hoddy Mahon, College basketball coach
• November 30 — George McCarty, College coach
• December 1 — Dick Wehr, BAA player and college coach