2011 in basketball

Tournaments include international (FIBA), professional (club) and amateur and collegiate levels.

Olympic qualifiers

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

Olympic qualifiers

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

Youth tournaments

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

Continental championships
Men: Women:
 * 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 (Atlantic), Chicago Bulls (Central), Miami Heat (Southeast), Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest), Los Angeles Lakers (Pacific), San Antonio Spurs (Southwest)
 * Best regular-season record: Chicago Bulls (62–20)
 * 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
Men:
 * 🇦🇷 Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2010–11 season: Guangdong Southern Tigers
 * Regular season: Obras Sanitarias
 * Playoffs: Peñarol defeat Atenas 4–1 in the best-of-7 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-7 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.
 * 🇪🇪 Estonian League, 2010–11: Kalev/Cramo sweep TÜ/Rock 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
 * 🇫🇷 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.

Women:
 * 🇺🇸 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

 * Men:
 * 🇺🇸 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 (MN) 78, Wooster 54
 * 🇺🇸 NAIA
 * NAIA Division I: Pikeville 83, Mountain State 76 (OT)
 * NAIA Division II: Cornerstone 80, Saint Francis (IN) 71
 * 🇺🇸 NJCAA
 * Division I:
 * Division II: Lincoln College (Lincoln, Illinois)74, Mott Community College (Flint, Michigan) 67
 * Division III:
 * 🇵🇭 UAAP Men's: Ateneo defeated FEU 2–0 in the best-of-3 finals
 * 🇵🇭 NCAA (Philippines) Seniors': San Beda defeated San Sebastian 2–0 in the best-of-3 finals


 * Women:
 * 🇺🇸 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 (MO) 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 (New Jersey)
 * 🇺🇸 USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1:
 * 🇵🇭 NCAA (Philippines) 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

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 (FL)
 * 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 (born 1919)
 * January 16 — Guðmundur Þorsteinsson, Icelandic national team player and coach (born 1942)
 * February 2 — Roger Strickland, NBA player (Baltimore Bullets) (born 1940)
 * February 4 — Lee Winfield, NBA player (Seattle SuperSonics, Buffalo Braves, Kansas City Kings) (born 1947)
 * February 6 — Cesare Rubini, Italian coach and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (born 1923)
 * February 20 — Troy Jackson, better known by his nickname "Escalade", streetball player for the AND1 Mixtape Tour (born 1976)
 * March 4 — Ed Manning, NBA and ABA player and father of 1988 #1 overall NBA Draft pick Danny Manning (born 1943)
 * March 7 — Rudy Salud, former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (born 1938)
 * March 22 — Edgar Lacey, ABA player (Los Angeles Stars) and national champion at UCLA (born 1944)
 * April 2 — Larry Finch, college coach and player (Memphis) (born 1951)
 * April 10 — Bob Shaw, American NBL player (born 1921)
 * April 14 — Joe Dan Gold, college player and coach (Mississippi State) (born 1942)
 * April 15 — Beryl Shipley, college coach (Southwestern Louisiana) (born 1926)
 * May 11 — Robert Traylor, NBL and NBA player (Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets) (born 1977)
 * May 27 — Margo Dydek, Polish WNBA player (Utah Starzz, San Antonio Silver Stars, Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks) (born 1974)
 * June 6 — Bill Closs, NBA player (Philadelphia Warriors, Fort Wayne Pistons) (born 1922)
 * June 9 — Mike Mitchell, NBA player (Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs) (born 1956)
 * June 15 — Marshall Rogers, NBA player (Golden State Warriors) and the 1976 NCAA Division I season scoring leader (born 1953)
 * June 27 — Lorenzo Charles, NBA player (Atlanta Hawks) famous for hitting the game-winning shot of the 1983 NCAA tournament for NC State (born 1963)
 * July 1 — Bob McCann, NBA player (five teams) (born 1964)
 * July 5 — Neil Dougherty, college coach (TCU) (born 1961)
 * July 5 — Armen Gilliam, NBA player (six teams) (born 1964)
 * July 9 — Don Ackerman, NBA player (New York Knicks) (born 1930)
 * July 16 — Joe McNamee, NBA player (Rochester Royals, Baltimore Bullets) (born 1926)
 * July 30 — Bob Peterson, NBA player (Baltimore Bullets, Milwaukee Hawks, New York Knicks) (born 1932)
 * August 3 — Ray Patterson, NBA executive (Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets)
 * August 4 — Sherman White, college player at Long Island famous for being indicted in point shaving scandal (born 1928)
 * August 8 — Mike Barrett, ABA player and Olympic gold medalist in 1968 (born 1943)
 * August 18 — Scotty Robertson, NBA and college coach (born 1930)
 * August 27 — Bob Hubbard, American NBL and BAA player (born 1922)
 * August 31 — Cal Christensen, NBA player (Milwaukee Hawks, Cincinnati Royals) (born 1927)
 * August 31 — Jack Stephens, NBA player (St. Louis Hawks) (born 1933)
 * September 14 — Lewis Brown, NBA player (Washington Bullets) (born 1955)
 * September 16 — Dave Gavitt, American basketball coach (Providence College) and founder of the Big East Conference; member of the Naismith Hall as a contributor (born 1937)
 * September 17 — Fedon Matheou, Greek basketball player and coach (born 1924)
 * September 21 — Mickey Rottner, American NBL (Sheboygan Red Skins) and BAA (Chicago Stags) player (born 1919)
 * September 22 — John H. Dick, starter on first NCAA championship team (1939 Oregon Ducks) (born 1918)
 * September 30 — Peter Gent, standout forward/center for Michigan State from 1962 to 1964 and author of North Dallas Forty (born 1942)
 * October 3 — Jim Neal, NBA player (Syracuse Nationals) (born 1930)
 * October 9 — Antonis Christeas, Greek basketball player (Panellinios, AEK Athens) (born 1937)
 * October 9 — Chauncey Hardy, 23-year-old American playing professionally in Romania (born 1988)
 * October 12 — Lewis Mills, college coach (Richmond) and athletic director
 * November 2 — Ilmar Kullam, Olympic silver medalist for the Soviet Union in 1952 (born 1922)
 * November 8 — Ed Macauley, Hall of Fame player (St. Louis Hawks) (born 1928)
 * November 9 — Bob Carney, NBA player (Minneapolis Lakers) (born 1932)
 * November 17 — Kurt Budke, women's college basketball coach (Oklahoma State) (born 1961)
 * November 18 — Walt Hazzard, NBA player and college coach (UCLA) (born 1942)
 * November 22 — Alberto Reynoso, Philippine Basketball Association player (born 1940)
 * November 25 — Hoddy Mahon, College basketball coach (Seton Hall)
 * November 30 — George McCarty, College coach (New Mexico State, UTEP) (born 1915)
 * December 1 — Dick Wehr, BAA player (Indianapolis Jets) and college coach (Georgia State) (born 1925)