1985 in basketball

1986 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers

 * 1985 FIBA Asia Cup* at Malaysia:
 * (5th title)
 * EuroBasket 1985 at West Germany:
 * (14th title)
 * AfroBasket 1985 at Ivory Coast:
 * (2nd title)
 * AfroBasket 1985 at Ivory Coast:
 * (2nd title)
 * AfroBasket 1985 at Ivory Coast:
 * (2nd title)

Notes:

(*) — The remaining four teams vied for the championship. Nevertheless, the Philippines clinch the title with a 3-0 win–loss record in the championship round as opposed to the 2-1 of South Korea and 1-2 record of China.

Regular Season MVP

 * Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

NBA Finals MVP

 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers

Slam Dunk Contest

 * Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks

Collegiate awards

 * Men
 * John R. Wooden Award: Chris Mullin, St. John's
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Bubba Jennings, Texas Tech
 * Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Pervis Ellison, Louisville
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Bill Frieder, Michigan
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Hank Iba
 * Women
 * Naismith College Player of the Year: Cheryl Miller, USC
 * Wade Trophy: Cheryl Miller, USC
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Maria Stack, Gonzaga
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Tracy Claxton, Old Dominion

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 1985:
 * Harold Anderson
 * Al Cervi
 * Marv Harshman
 * Nate Thurmond
 * Margaret Wade

Deaths

 * May 18 — Win Wilfong, 52, American NBA player (St. Louis Hawks, Cincinnati Royals)
 * August 8 — Bobby Laughlin, 74, American college coach (Morehead State)
 * September — Louie Sauer, American NBL player (Kankakee Gallagher Trojans)
 * September 2 — Bob Kinney, 64, American NBA player (Fort Wayne Pistons)
 * November 6 — Harold Bradley, 73, American college coach (Duke, Texas)