2012 in basketball

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

National team tournaments

2012 Olympic Basketball Tournament

Men

• United States

Women

2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championships

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
• :

Professional club seasons

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

Transnational seasons

Men

Domestic league seasons for men

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Includes one team from New Zealand.

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

<nowiki>***</nowiki>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.

Awards and honors

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 &ndash; A documentary about the life and 1984 murder of Chicago high school superstar Ben Wilson.
• The Other Dream Team &ndash; A documentary about the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team.
• Thunderstruck

Deaths

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

See also

• Timeline of women's basketball

References

External links