2012 in basketball

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

Men

 * 🇺🇸 United States

Men

 * 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Lithuania:

Women

 * 2012 FIBA Women's Under-17 World Championships in Netherlands:

Other FIBA-sanctioned tournaments
Men:
 * 2012 William Jones Cup in Taipei:
 * Mahram Tehran BC
 * Mahram Tehran BC

Continental championships
Men:
 * Euroleague:
 * 🇬🇷 Olympiacos 🇷🇺 CSKA Moscow  🇪🇸 FC Barcelona Regal
 * Euroleague MVP: 🇷🇺 Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow
 * Euroleague Final Four MVP: 🇬🇷 Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos
 * Alphonso Ford Trophy (season's leading scorer): 🇲🇰 Bo McCalebb, 🇮🇹 Montepaschi Siena
 * Eurocup:
 * 🇷🇺 Khimki 🇪🇸 Valencia Basket  🇱🇹 Lietuvos rytas
 * EuroChallenge:
 * 🇹🇷 Beşiktaş Milangaz 🇫🇷 Élan Chalon  🇷🇺 Triumph Lyubertsy

Women:
 * EuroLeague Women:
 * 🇪🇸 Ros Casares Valencia 🇪🇸 Rivas Ecópolis  🇷🇺 UMMC Ekaterinburg

Domestic league seasons for Men
* Includes one team from New Zealand.

** Includes one team each from Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Latvia. The highest ranking team is also named as the Russian champions.

*** Includes one team from Canada.

Domestic league seasons for Women

 * 🇺🇸 WNBA
 * Season:
 * Eastern Conference: Indiana Fever
 * Western Conference: Minnesota Lynx
 * Finals: The Fever defeat the Lynx 3–1 in the best-of-5 series.

College seasons for Men

 * 🇺🇸 NJCAA
 * Division I:
 * Division II:
 * Division III:

College seasons for Women

 * 🇺🇸 NCAA
 * Division I: Baylor 80, Notre Dame 61
 * Baylor becomes the first team in NCAA basketball history to win 40 games in a season.
 * Most Outstanding Player: Brittney Griner, Baylor
 * WNIT: Oklahoma State 75, James Madison 68
 * Women's Basketball Invitational:
 * Division II: Shaw 88, Ashland 82 (OT)
 * Division III: Illinois Wesleyan 57, George Fox 43
 * 🇺🇸 NAIA
 * NAIA Division I:
 * NAIA Division II:
 * 🇺🇸 NJCAA
 * Division I:Trinity Valley Community College 69, Hutchinson Community College 55
 * Division II:Monroe College 78, Lake Michigan College 73
 * Division III:Rock Valley College 82, Roxbury Community College 64
 * 🇵🇭 UAAP Women's: FEU defeated La Salle in two games to win their second consecutive champion and finish an undefeated season.

Prep

 * 🇺🇸 USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1:
 * 🇺🇸 USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1:
 * 🇵🇭 NCAA (Philippines) Juniors:  defeated  2+1–1 in the best-of-5 finals. Because San Beda were unbeaten in the elimination round, they were given a 1–0 series lead before finals play started.
 * 🇵🇭 UAAP Juniors: defeated  2–1 in the best-of-3 finals.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 2012:
 * Players: Mel Daniels, Katrina McClain, Reggie Miller, Ralph Sampson, Chet Walker, Jamaal Wilkes
 * Coaches: Lidia Alexeyeva, Don Nelson
 * Contributors: Don Barksdale, Phil Knight
 * Referees: Hank Nichols
 * Teams: All American Red Heads

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 2012
 * Nancy Fahey
 * Nikki McCray
 * Pamela McGee
 * Inge Nissen
 * Robin Roberts
 * Dawn Staley

Professional

 * Men
 * NBA Most Valuable Player Award: LeBron James, Miami Heat
 * NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
 * NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
 * NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
 * NBA Most Improved Player Award: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
 * NBA Sportsmanship Award: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
 * NBA Coach of the Year Award: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
 * J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
 * NBA Executive of the Year Award: Larry Bird, Indiana Pacers
 * FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Andrei Kirilenko, 2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves
 * Euroscar Award:Andrei Kirilenko, 2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves
 * NBA All-Star Game MVP:Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
 * Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award: Pat Riley, Miami Heat
 * Women
 * WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun
 * WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
 * WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
 * WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Renee Montgomery, Connecticut Sun
 * WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Kristi Toliver, Los Angeles Sparks
 * Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun
 * WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Carol Ross, Los Angeles Sparks
 * FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Expected to be announced in February 2013.
 * WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever

Collegiate

 * Combined
 * Legends of Coaching Award: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
 * Men
 * John R. Wooden Award: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Reggie Hamilton, Oakland
 * Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Luke Hancock, Louisville
 * USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Frank Haith, Missouri
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Don Meyer
 * Women
 * John R. Wooden Award: Brittney Griner, Baylor
 * Naismith College Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor
 * Wade Trophy: Brittney Griner, Baylor
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Tavelyn James, Eastern Michigan
 * Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Brittney Griner, Baylor
 * Basketball Academic All-America Team: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
 * Kay Yow Award: Karl Smesko, Florida Gulf Coast
 * Carol Eckman Award: Sue Ramsey, Ashland University
 * Maggie Dixon Award: Jennifer Hoover, High Point
 * USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Elizabeth Williams, Duke
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor
 * List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford
 * Nancy Lieberman Award: Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Teresa Edwards

Events

 * April 18 – Tennessee Lady Volunteers coach Pat Summitt stepped down after 38 years and 8 NCAA championships. She was succeeded by assistant Holly Warlick.
 * December 17 – Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim became the third NCAA Division I men's coach with 900 career wins following the Orange's 72–68 win over Detroit. He had been preceded to 900 wins by Bob Knight and current leader Mike Krzyzewski.

Movies

 * Benji – A documentary about the life and 1984 murder of Chicago high school superstar Ben Wilson.
 * The Other Dream Team – A documentary about the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team.
 * Thunderstruck

Deaths

 * January 3 — Gene Bartow, American college coach (Memphis State, UCLA, UAB), and member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (born 1930)
 * January 5 — Alexander Sizonenko, Russian basketball player (born 1959)
 * January 10 — Jack Heron, American college coach (Sacramento State) (born 1926)
 * January 11 — Wally Osterkorn, NBA player (Syracuse Nationals) (born 1928)
 * January 23 — Larry Striplin, American college coach (Belmont) (born 1929)
 * January 28 — Joseph Curran, American college coach (Canisius) (born 1922)
 * February 1 — Charlie Spoonhour, American college coach (Saint Louis and others) (born 1939)
 * February 1 — Jerry Steiner, American National Basketball League player (Indianapolis Kautskys, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons) (born 1918)
 * February 8 — Lew Hitch, NBA player (Minneapolis Lakers, Milwaukee Hawks) (born 1929)
 * February 16 — Gene Vance, BAA/NBA player (Chicago Stags, Milwaukee Hawks) (born 1923)
 * February 25 — Dick Davies, gold medal-winning player for Team USA at the 1964 Summer Olympics (born 1936)
 * February 26 — Zollie Volchok, NBA Executive (Seattle SuperSonics) (born 1916)
 * March 8 — Charlie Hoag, 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winner and National Champion at Kansas (born 1931)
 * March 12 — Dick Harter, American coach (Charlotte Hornets, University of Oregon) (born 1930)
 * March 16 — Ed Dahler, NBA player (Philadelphia Warriors) (born 1926)
 * March 24 — Pete McCaffrey, gold medal-winning player for Team USA at the 1964 Summer Olympics (born 1938)
 * April 11 — Tippy Dye, American college coach (Brown, Ohio State, Washington) (born 1915)
 * April 11 — Bob Lewis, National champion at Utah (born 1925)
 * April 15 — Dwayne Schintzius, NBA player (San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, among others) (born 1968)
 * April 15 — Bob Wright, high school and college coach (Morehead State) (born 1926)
 * April 30 — Andrew Levane, NBA player and coach (New York Knicks) (born 1920)
 * April 30 — Frank Zummach, NBL coach (Sheboygan Red Skins) (born 1911)
 * May 1 — Greg Jackson, NBA player (New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns) (born 1952)
 * May 6 — Pat Frink, NBA player (Cincinnati Royals) (born 1945)
 * May 13 — Nolan Richardson III, American college coach (Tennessee State) (born 1964)
 * May 26 — Lou Watson, American college coach (Indiana) (born c. 1924)
 * May 28 — Ed Burton, NBA player (New York Knicks, St. Louis Hawks) (born 1939)
 * May 30 — Jack Twyman, Naismith Hall of Fame NBA player (Cincinnati Royals) (born 1934)
 * May 31 — Orlando Woolridge, NBA player (Los Angeles Lakers, among others) (born 1959)
 * June 2 — LeRoy Ellis, NBA player (Los Angeles Lakers, among others) (born 1940)
 * June 4 — Jim Fitzgerald, NBA owner (Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors) (born 1926)
 * June 7 — Chuck Share, NBA player (St. Louis Hawks, among others) (born 1927)
 * June 7 — Mervin Jackson, ABA player (Utah Stars) (born 1946)
 * June 8 — Pete Brennan, NBA player (New York Knicks) (born 1936)
 * June 14 — Dick Acres, 78, American college coach (Oral Roberts).
 * June 18 — Dennis Hamilton, NBA/ABA player (Los Angeles Lakers, among others) (born 1944)
 * June 24 — Heino Kruus, Olympic Silver medalist for the Soviet Union in 1952. (born 1926)
 * June 24 — Ted Luckenbill, NBA player (San Francisco Warriors). (born 1939)
 * June 26 — Pat Cummings, NBA player (New York Knicks, Miami Heat). (born 1956)
 * June 26 — Jack Hewson, BAA player (Boston Celtics). (born 1924)
 * June 28 — Herb Scherer, NBA player (Tri-Cities Blackhawks, New York Knicks). (born 1929)
 * July 9 — Kenny Heitz, three-time NCAA champion at UCLA. (born 1947)
 * July 13 — Warren Jabali, ABA player (Oakland Oaks, among others). (born 1946)
 * July 26 — Neil Reed, College player (Indiana, Southern Miss) (born 1975)
 * August 2 — Ruy de Freitas, Olympic Bronze medalist for Brazil in 1948. (born 1916)
 * August 3 — John Pritchard, NBA player (Waterloo Hawks) and Washington Generals player (born 1927)
 * August 4 — Arnie Risen, Naismith Hall of Fame NBA player (Rochester Royals, Boston Celtics) (born 1924)
 * August 6 — Dan Roundfield, ABA and NBA player (Atlanta Hawks, among others) (born 1953)
 * August 17 — Pál Bogár, Hungarian Olympic player (born 1927)
 * August 27 — Art Heyman, NBA and ABA player (New York Knicks, among others) (born 1941)
 * September 21 — Ed Conlin, NBA player (Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia Warriors, Detroit Pistons) (born 1933)
 * September 29 — Bob Stevens, college coach (Oklahoma, South Carolina) (born 1924)
 * October 8 — Donnie Butcher, NBA player (New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons) and coach (Detroit Pistons) (born 1936)
 * October 9 — Kenny Rollins, NBA player, college national champion at Kentucky, Olympic gold medalist in 1948 (born 1923)
 * October 12 — Ervin Kassai, Hungarian referee, FIBA Hall of Fame member (born 1925)
 * October 18 — Slater Martin, Naismith Hall of Fame player, five-time NBA champion (Minneapolis Lakers, St. Louis Hawks) (born 1925)
 * October 30 — Dan Tieman, NBA player (Cincinnati Royals) (born 1940)
 * November 13 — Murray Arnold, college and professional coach (Chattanooga, Perth Wildcats) (born 1938)
 * November 25 — Carlisle Towery, American National Basketball League player (Fort Wayne Pistons) (born 1920)
 * December 1 — John Crigler, national championship college player at Kentucky (1958) (born 1936)
 * December 1 — Rick Majerus, college coach (Saint Louis, Utah, Ball State, Marquette) (born 1948)
 * December 4 — Ken Trickey, college coach (Middle Tennessee, Oral Roberts, Oklahoma City, Iowa State) (born 1933)
 * December 7 — Nikola Ilić, Serbian player (born 1985)
 * December 12 — Walt Kirk, American NBA player (Tri-Cities Blackhawks, among others) (born 1924)
 * December 20 — Jerome Whitehead, American NBA player (San Diego Clippers, Golden State Warriors, among others) (born 1956)
 * December 22 — Charles Cleveland, American college player (Alabama Crimson Tide) (born 1951)
 * December 28 — Dan Kraus, American BAA player (Baltimore Bullets) (born 1923)
 * December 28 — Fred Rehm, American NBL player (Oshkosh All-Stars), NCAA champion at Wisconsin (1941) (born 1921)
 * December 29 — Erv Staggs, American ABA player (Miami Floridians) (born 1948)