1991 in basketball

Professional

 * Regular Season MVP
 * Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
 * NBA Finals MVP
 * Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
 * Slam Dunk Contest
 * Dee Brown, Boston Celtics
 * Three-point Shootout
 * Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls

Collegiate

 * Men
 * John R. Wooden Award: Larry Johnson, UNLV
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Randy Ayers, Ohio State
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Keith Jennings, East Tennessee State
 * Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Shaquille O'Neal, LSU
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Bobby Hurley, Duke
 * USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Rodney Rogers, Wake Forest
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Randy Ayers, Ohio State
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Clarence "Big House" Gaines
 * Women
 * Naismith College Player of the Year: Dawn Staley, Virginia
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Debbie Ryan, Virginia
 * Wade Trophy: Daedra Charles, Tennessee
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Shanya Evans, Providence
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Dawn Staley, Virginia
 * Basketball Academic All-America Team: Jan Jensen, Drake
 * Carol Eckman Award: Marian Washington, Kansas

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 1991:
 * Nate Archibald
 * Dave Cowens
 * Harry Gallatin
 * Bob Knight

Deaths

 * June 9 — Howard Hobson, Hall of Fame college coach (Oregon, Yale) (born 1903)
 * July 18 — Joel Eaves, American college coach (Auburn) (born 1914)
 * November 2 — Jimmy Hull, College All-American (Ohio State) and 1939 NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player (born 1917)
 * December 17 — Carl Shy, American Olympic gold medalist (1936) (born 1908)