1986 in basketball

Regular Season MVP

 * Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

NBA Finals MVP

 * Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Slam Dunk Contest

 * Spud Webb, Atlanta Hawks

Three-point Shootout

 * Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Collegiate awards

 * Men
 * John R. Wooden Award: Walter Berry, St. John's
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jim Les, Bradley
 * Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Walter Berry, St. John's
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Keith Smart, Indiana
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Eddie Sutton, Kentucky
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Adolph Rupp
 * Women
 * Naismith College Player of the Year: Cheryl Miller, USC
 * Wade Trophy: Kamie Ethridge, Texas
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Kamie Ethridge, Texas
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Clarissa Davis, Texas
 * Carol Eckman Award: Laura Mapp, Bridgewater

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 1986:
 * Billy Cunningham
 * Tom Heinsohn
 * Red Holzman
 * Fred Taylor
 * Stan Watts

Births

 * May 7—Matee Ajavon American college basketball player (Rutgers) and the WNBA (Atlanta Dream)

Deaths

 * June 19 – Len Bias, American college player (Maryland) and Boston Celtics draft pick (born 1963)
 * December 1 – Halbert Harvill, American college men's coach (Austin Peay) (born 1893)