# 2011 in basketball

The following are the basketball events of the year 2011 throughout the world.
Tournaments include international (FIBA), professional (club) and amateur and collegiate levels.

## Tournaments
### Men's tournaments
#### Olympic qualifiers

* 2011 FIBA Africa Championship – Antananarivo, Madagascar
** Tunisia
** Angola
** Nigeria
** 4th Ivory Coast
* 2011 FIBA Americas Championship – Mar del Plata, Argentina.
** Argentina
** Brazil
** Dominican Republic
** 4th Puerto Rico
* 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship – Australia
** Australia
** New Zealand
* EuroBasket 2011 – Lithuania
** Spain
** France
** Russia
** 4th North Macedonia
* 2011 FIBA Asia Championship – Wuhan, China
** China
** Jordan
** South Korea
** 4th Philippines

### Women's tournaments
#### Olympic qualifiers

* 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for Women – Bamako, Mali
** Angola
** Senegal
** Mali
** 4th Nigeria
* 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Women – Neiva, Colombia.
** Brazil
** Argentina
** Canada
** 4th Cuba
* 2011 FIBA Asia Championship for Women – Ōmura, Nagasaki, Japan
** China
** South Korea
** Japan
** 4th Chinese Taipei
* EuroBasket Women 2011 – Poland
** Russia
** Turkey
** France
** 4th Czech Republic
* 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women – Australia
** Australia
** New Zealand

### Youth tournaments

* 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship – Latvia
** Lithuania
** Serbia
** Russia
** 4th Argentina
* 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women – Chile
** United States
** Spain
** Brazil
** 4th Australia

## Club championships
### Continental championships

Men:
* 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
Women:
* 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–Hawaiʻi 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

## Awards and honors
### 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, Germany and Dallas Mavericks
** Euroscar Award: Dirk Nowitzki, Germany 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, Spain, 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)