1982 in basketball

Regular Season MVP

 * Moses Malone, Houston Rockets

NBA Finals MVP

 * Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

Collegiate awards

 * Men
 * John R. Wooden Award: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jack Moore, Nebraska
 * Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Akeem Olajuwon, Houston
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Ralph Miller, Oregon State
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Curt Gowdy
 * Women
 * Wade Trophy: Pam Kelly, Louisiana Tech

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 1982:
 * Everett Case
 * Clarence Gaines
 * Slater Martin
 * Frank Ramsey
 * Willis Reed

Births

 * January 6 — Gilbert Arenas
 * November 3 — Janel McCarville
 * December 6 — Mauro Liburdi

Deaths

 * January 5 — Jack Kiley, American NBA player (born 1929)
 * January 21 — Jules Bender, American college All-American (Long Island) and original ABL player (born 1914)
 * January 21 — Ned Irish, American Hall of Fame president of the New York Knicks (born 1905)
 * January 31 — Étienne Onimus, French Olympic player (born 1907)
 * February 21 — Jim Bradley, American ABA and CBA player (born 1952)
 * April 10 — Vic Hanson, Hall of Fame college player (Syracuse) (born 1903)
 * April 27 — Herbert Niiler, Estonian Olympic player (born 1905)
 * June 13 — Jim Montgomery, American NBL player (born 1915)
 * June 21 — Fred Zollner, American Hall of Fame professional owner (Fort Wayne Pistons) (born 1901)
 * July 6 — Junior Saffer, American NBL player (born 1918)
 * September 17 — Raúl Fernández, Mexican Olympic player (born 1905)
 * October 21 — Stan Zadel, American NBL player (born 1916)
 * October 23 — Gary Suiter, American NBA player (born 1942)
 * November 8 — Roy Leenig, American NCAA player and coach (born 1920)
 * December 9 — Janusz Patrzykont, Polish Olympic player (born 1912)
 * December 17 — Franco Marquicias, Filipino Olympic player (born 1905)