# 2013 in basketball

The following are the basketball events of the year 2013 throughout the world.
Tournaments include international (FIBA), professional (club) and amateur and collegiate levels.

## National tournaments
### Other tournaments

* 28 May–1 June: Games of the Small States of Europe in D'Coque, Luxembourg:
** Men's tournament:
*** Cyprus
*** Luxembourg
*** Iceland
** Women's tournament:
*** Luxembourg
*** Iceland
*** Cyprus
* 18–25 June: Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey:
** Turkey
** Serbia
** Tunisia
* 2013 William Jones Cup in Taipei City, Taiwan
** 6–15 July: Men's tournament:
*** Iran
*** Chinese Taipei
*** South Korea
* 15–20 September: Islamic Solidarity Games in Palembang, Indonesia:
** Men's tournament:
*** Turkey
*** Palestine
*** Indonesia
** Women's tournament:
*** Indonesia
*** Egypt
*** Qatar
* 8–16 December: Southeast Asian Games in Naypidaw, Myanmar
** Men's tournament:
*** Philippines
*** Thailand
*** Singapore
** Women's tournament:
*** Thailand
*** Philippines
*** Malaysia

### Youth tournaments
#### 2013 FIBA Europe youth championships

* 8–18 August: U-16 European Championship Men Division A in Kyiv
* 8–18 August: U-16 European Championship Men Division B in Sarajevo
* 2–7 July: U-16 European Championship Men Division C in Gibraltar
* 18–28 July: U-18 European Championship Men Division A in Liepāja, Ventspils and Riga
* 18–28 July: U-18 European Championship Men Division B in Strumica
* 15–20 July: U-18 European Championship Men Division C in Andorra la Vella
* 9–21 July: U-20 European Championship Men Division A in Tallinn
* 12–21 July: U-20 European Championship Men Division B in Pitești
* 1–11 August: U-16 European Championship Women Division A in Varna and Albena
* 1–11 August: U-16 European Championship Women Division B in Matosinhos
* 2–7 July: U-16 European Championship Women Division C in Gibraltar
* 15–25 August: U-18 European Championship Women Division A in Vukovar and Vinkovci
* 15–25 August: U-18 European Championship Women Division B in Miskolc
* 15–20 July: U-18 European Championship Women Division C in Andorra la Vella
* 4–14 July: U-20 European Championship Women Division A in Samsun
* 4–14 July: U-20 European Championship Women Division B in Albena

## Club championships
### Continental championships

Men:
* FIBA Intercontinental Cup:
** Olympiacos EC Pinheiros
* Euroleague:
** Olympiacos Real Madrid CSKA Moscow
*** Euroleague MVP and Euroleague Final Four MVP: Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos
*** Alphonso Ford Trophy (season's leading scorer): Bobby Brown, Montepaschi Siena
* Eurocup:
** Lokomotiv-Kuban Uxue Bilbao Basket Budivelnyk Kyiv, Valencia
* EuroChallenge:
** Krasnye Krylia Samara Pınar Karşıyaka EWE Baskets Oldenburg
* FIBA Americas League:
** EC Pinheiros Lanús Capitanes de Arecibo
* FIBA Asia Champions Cup:
** Foolad Mahan Isfahan Al Rayyan ASU
Women:
* EuroLeague Women:
** UMMC Ekaterinburg Fenerbahçe Bourges Basket

### Transnational championships

Men:
* NBA
** Season:
*** Division champions: New York Knicks (Atlantic), Indiana Pacers (Central), Miami Heat (Southeast), Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest), Los Angeles Clippers (Pacific), San Antonio Spurs (Southwest)
*** Best regular-season record: Miami Heat (66–16)
*** Eastern Conference: Miami Heat
*** Western Conference: San Antonio Spurs
** Finals: The Heat defend their title from last season, defeating the Spurs 4–3 in the best-of-7 series. LeBron James repeats as Finals MVP.
* National Basketball League, 2012–13 season:
** Premiers: New Zealand Breakers
** Champions: The Breakers win their third straight championship, sweeping the Perth Wildcats 2–0 in the best-of-3 Grand Final.
* Adriatic League, 2012–13: Partizan Belgrade defeat Red Star Belgrade 71–63 in the one-off final.
* ASEAN Basketball League, 2013: San Miguel Beermen sweep the Indonesia Warriors 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
* Balkan League, 2012–13: Hapoel Gilboa Galil defeat Levski Sofia 87-79 in the one-off final.
* Baltic League: Ventspils defeat Prienai 161–150 on aggregate (91–69, 70–71) in the two-legged final.
* Czech League: Nymburk sweep Prostějov 4–0 in the best-of-7 final. This is Nymburk's 10th straight league title.
* VTB United League, 2012–13: CSKA Moscow defeat Lokomotiv-Kuban 3–1 in the best-of-5 final.

### National championships

* Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2012–13:
** Regular season championship Round: Regatas
** Playoffs: Regatas sweep the Lanús 4-0 in the best-of-7 final.
* Austrian Bundesliga: BC Vienna defeat Oberwart Gunners 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.
* Belaruisan Premier League:BC Tsmoki-Minsk sweep BK Grodno-93 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
* Basketball League Belgium, 2012–13: Telenet Oostende sweep Belfius Mons-Hainaut 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
* Bosnia and Herzegovina Championship, 2012–13: KK Igokea defeat Široki WWin 3–2 in the best-of-5 finals.
* Novo Basquete Brasil, 2012–13: Flamengo defeat Uberlândia 77–70 in the final.
* Bulgarian National League: Lukoil Academic defeat Levski Sofia 3–2 in the best-of-5 final, claiming their 11th straight league title.
* Chinese Basketball Association:
** Regular season: Guangdong Southern Tigers
** Playoffs: Guangdong Southern Tigers sweep the Shandong Lions 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
* Croatian League, 2012–13: Cibona sweep Zadar 3–0 in the best-of-5 final.
* Dutch Basketball League, 2012–13: ZZ Leiden sweep Aris Leeuwarden 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
* Estonian League, 2012–13: Kalev/Cramo sweep TÜ/Rock 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
* French Pro A League, 2012–13: Nanterre defeat Strasbourg 3–1 in the best-of-5 final.
* German Bundesliga, 2012–13: Brose Baskets sweep EWE Baskets Oldenburg 3–0 in the best-of-5 final, claiming their fourth consecutive title.
* Greek League, 2012–13: Panathinaikos sweep Olympiacos 3–0 in the best-of-5 final.
* National Basketball League (Indonesia), 2012–13: Dell Aspac defeat Pelita Jaya Esia 63-50 in the one-off final.
* Iranian Super League, 2012–13: Petrochimi defeat Mahram 3-2 in the best-of-5 final.
* Israeli Super League, 2012–13: Maccabi Haifa defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv 86–79 in the one-off final.
* Italian Serie A, 2012–13: Montepaschi Siena defeat Acea Roma 4–1 in the best-of-7 final, claiming their seventh straight title.
* Japan Basketball League, 2012–13: Toshiba Brave Thunders defeat the Aishin Sea Horses 3-2 in the best-of-5 final.
* Korean Basketball League, 2012–13: Ulsan Mobis Phoebus sweep the Seoul SK Knights 4-0 in the best-of-7 final.
* Latvian League, 2012–13: VEF Rīga defeat Ventspils 4–1 in the best-of-7 final.
* Lithuanian LKL, 2012–13: Žalgiris sweep Lietuvos rytas 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
* Mexican League, 2012–13: Toros de Los Dos Laredos defeat Halcones UV Xalapa 4–2 in the best-of-7 final.
* Montenegro League: Budućnost sweep the Sutjeska 3-0 in the best-of-5 final.
* Philippine Basketball Association, 2012–13:
** Philippine Cup: The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters sweep the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 4–0 in the best-of-7 finals.
** Commissioner's Cup: The Alaska Aces sweep Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3–0 in the best-of-5 finals.
** Governors' Cup: The San Mig Coffee Mixers defeat the Petron Blaze Boosters 4–3 in the best-of-7 finals.
* Polish League, 2012–13: Stelemet Zielona Góra sweep PGE Turów 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
* Portuguese League: Benfica defeat Académica de Coimbra 3-1 in the best-of-5 final.
* Divizia A: CSU Asesoft Ploiești defeat Mureș 4–2 in the best-of-7 final.
* Russian PBL, 2012–13: CSKA Moscow (regular-season play only; no playoffs)
* League of Serbia, 2012–13: Partizan Belgrade defeat Red Star Belgrade 3–1 in the best-of-5 final.
* Slovenian League: Krka Novo Mesto defeat Union Olimpija Ljubljana i3–1 n the best-of-5 final.
* Spanish ACB:
** Season: Real Madrid
** Playoffs: Real Madrid defeat FC Barcelona Regal 3–2 in the best-of-5 final.
* Super Basketball League: Pure Youth defeat Dacin Tigers
* Turkish League, 2012–13: Galatasaray Medical Park defeat Banvit 4–1 in the best-of-7 final.
* Ukrainian SuperLeague, 2012–13: Budivelnyk Kyiv defeat Azovmash Mariupol 4–3 in the best-of-7 final.
* British Basketball League, 2012–13:
** Season: Leicester Riders
** Playoffs: The Riders defeat the Newcastle Eagles 68–57 in the one-off final.
Women:
* WNBA
** Season:
*** Eastern Conference: Atlanta Dream
*** Western Conference: Minnesota Lynx
** Finals: The Lynx sweep the Dream 3–0 in the best-of-5 series, claiming their second title in three years. Maya Moore of the Lynx in named Finals MVP.

### College seasons: Men's Division

| Nation | League / Tournament | Champion | Result | Runner-up | Playoff format |
| United States | NCAA Division I | Louisville Cardinals | 82–76 | Michigan Wolverines | One-game playoff |
| United States | 2013 National Invitation Tournament | Baylor Bears | 74–54 | Iowa Hawkeyes | One-game playoff |
| United States | 2013 College Basketball Invitational | Santa Clara Broncos | 2–1 | George Mason Patriots | Best-of-3 series |
| United States | 2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament | East Carolina Pirates | 77–74 | Weber State Wildcats | One-game playoff |
| United States | NCAA Division II | Drury University | 74–73 | Metro State | One-game playoff |
| United States | NCAA Division III | Amherst College | 87–70 | Mary Hardin–Baylor | One-game playoff |
| United States | NAIA Division I | Georgetown (KY) | 88–62 | SAGU (TX) | One-game playoff |
| United States | NAIA Division II | Cardinal Stritch (WI) | 73–59 | William Penn (IA) | One-game playoff |
| United States | NJCAA Division I | College of Central Florida | 74–69 | Northwest Florida State College | One-game playoff |
| United States | NJCAA Division II | Rend Lake College | 87–69 | Moraine Valley Community College | One-game playoff |
| United States | NJCAA Division III | Brookdale Community College | 61–55 | Eastfield College | One-game playoff |
| Philippines | UAAP Season 76 | De La Salle Green Archers | 2–1 | UST Growling Tigers | Best-of-3 series |
| Philippines | NCAA Season 89 | San Beda Red Lions | 2–1 | Letran Knights | Best-of-3 series |
| Philippines | Philippine Collegiate Champions League | De La Salle Green Archers | 2–0 | SWU Cobras | Best-of-3 series |

#### Women

* NCAA
** Division I: Connecticut 93, Louisville 60
*** Most Outstanding Player: Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
** WNIT: Drexel 46, Utah 43
** Women's Basketball Invitational: Detroit 73, McNeese State 62
** Division II: Ashland 71, Dowling 56
** Division III: DePauw 69, Wisconsin–Whitewater 51
* NAIA
** NAIA Division I: Westmont College 71, Lee University 65
** NAIA Division II: Indiana Wesleyan 61, Davenport 43
* NJCAA
** Division I: Trinity Valley 83, Central Arizona 71
** Division II: Louisburg 75, Mesa 65
** Division III: Rock Valley 78, Mohawk Valley 60
* UAAP Women's: La Salle defeated NU 2–1 in the best-of-3 finals.

### Prep

* USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1:
* USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1:
* NCAA (Philippines) Juniors: San Beda defeated LSGH in 2 games in the finals en route to winning all 20 games of the season.
* UAAP Juniors: NU defeated Ateneo in 2 games in the finals en route to winning all 18 games of the season.

## Awards and honors
### Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

* Class of 2013:
** Players: Roger Brown, Richie Guerin, Bernard King, Gary Payton, Oscar Schmidt, Dawn Staley
** Coaches: Sylvia Hatchell, Guy Lewis, Rick Pitino, Jerry Tarkanian
** Contributors: Russ Granik, Edwin Bancroft Henderson

### Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

* Class of 2012
** Gary Blair
** Jim Foster
** Peggie Gillom-Granderson
** Jennifer Rizzotti
** Annette Smith-Knight
** Sue Wicks

### FIBA Hall of Fame

* Class of 2013:
** Players: Jean-Jacques Conceiçao, Teresa Edwards, Andrew Gaze, Paula Gonçalves, David Robinson, Zoran Slavnić
** Coaches: Jack Donohue, Cesare Rubini, Pat Summitt
** Technical officials: Valentin Lazarov, Costas Rigas
** Contributors: Aldo Vitale

### Professional

* Men
** NBA Most Valuable Player Award: LeBron James, Miami Heat
** NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
** NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
** NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: J. R. Smith, New York Knicks
** NBA Most Improved Player Award: Paul George, Indiana Pacers
** NBA Sportsmanship Award: Jason Kidd, New York Knicks
** NBA Coach of the Year Award: George Karl, Denver Nuggets
** J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets
** Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award: Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers
** NBA Executive of the Year Award: Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets
** FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award:
** Euroscar Award:
** Mr. Europa:
* Women
** WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
** WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
** WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Elena Delle Donne, Chicago Sky
** WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky
** WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Shavonte Zellous, Indiana Fever
** Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Swin Cash, Chicago Sky & Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
** WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Mike Thibault, Washington Mystics
** WNBA All-Star Game MVP: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
** FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award
** WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

### Collegiate

* Combined
** Legends of Coaching Award: Bill Self, Kansas
* Men
** John R. Wooden Award: Trey Burke, Michigan
** Naismith College Coach of the Year: Jim Larrañaga, Miami (FL)
** Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Peyton Siva, Louisville
** Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Trey Burke, Michigan
** NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
** USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
** Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Jim Larrañaga, Miami
** Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Lute Olson
* Women
** John R. Wooden Award: Brittney Griner, Baylor
** Naismith College Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor
** Naismith College Coach of the Year: Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
** Wade Trophy: Brittney Griner, Baylor
** Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Alex Bentley, Penn State
** Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor
** NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Breanna Stewart, UConn
** Basketball Academic All-America Team: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
** Kay Yow Award: Sue Semrau, Florida State
** Carol Eckman Award: Jan Ross, Oklahoma
** Maggie Dixon Award: Holly Warlick, Tennessee
** USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame
** Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
** List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
** Nancy Lieberman Award: Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
** Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Pat Summitt

## Events

* January 21 – The Maloof family announces that it has reached an agreement to sell the Sacramento Kings to a Seattle-based group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer that plans to move the team to Seattle for the 2013–14 season and resurrect the SuperSonics name.
* April 15 – The 2013 WNBA draft is held at the ESPN studios in Bristol, Connecticut, with Baylor center Brittney Griner chosen first overall.
* April 29 – After Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson recruits an ownership group to make a counter-offer to keep the Kings in Sacramento, a league committee unanimously recommends that owners reject the Seattle group's deal.
* May 31 – The sale of the Kings to the Sacramento-based group led by Vivek Ranadive is closed.
* June 27 – The 2013 NBA draft is held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with Anthony Bennett, a power forward from UNLV, becoming the first Canadian to be chosen as the first overall pick.
* December 6 – In the highest-scoring game in NCAA Division I women's history, Kentucky defeats Baylor 133–130 in four overtimes. The game, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was the front end of a doubleheader that included the two schools' men's teams.

## Movies

* Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story
* Medora

## Deaths

* January 7 — Gonzalo Puyat II, former president of FIBA (born 1934)
* January 10 — Jay Handlan, College All-American (Washington and Lee) and AAU player (born 1928)
* January 12 — Chuck Dalton, Canadian Olympic player (1952) (born 1927)
* January 15 — George Gund III, NBA owner (Cleveland Cavaliers) (born 1937)
* January 16 — Wayne D. Anderson, American college coach (Idaho) (born 1930)
* January 19 — Jim Marking, American college coach (South Dakota State) (born 1927)
* January 24 — Jim Line, two-time NCAA championship player at Kentucky (1948, 1949) (born 1926)
* January 31 — Larry Killick, 10th overall selection in the 1947 BAA draft (born 1922)
* February 3 — B. H. Born, 1953 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (Kansas), AAU player (born 1932)
* February 7 — Howard Lassoff, American player (Maccabi Tel Aviv) (born 1955)
* February 11 — Jim Boatwright, American player (Maccabi Tel Aviv) (born 1951)
* February 11 — Matthew White, American player known for his collegiate career (University of Pennsylvania) (born 1957)
* February 13 — Harry Miller, 86, American college coach (Fresno State, Eastern New Mexico, Wichita State, Stephen F. Austin).
* February 13 — Tibor Zsíros, Hungarian Olympic player (1948, 1952) (born 1930)
* February 17 — Phil Henderson, three-time Final Four player at Duke (born 1968)
* February 18 — Jerry Buss, Los Angeles Lakers owner and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (born 1933)
* March 2 — Giorgos Kolokithas, Greek player (Panathinaikos B.C.) (born 1945)
* March 3 — Bart Quinn, American NBL player (Fort Wayne General Electrics) (born 1917)
* March 3 — George Wearring, Canadian Olympic player (1952) (born 1928)
* March 4 — Chick Halbert, American BBA player (born 1919)
* March 5 — Calvin Fowler, ABA player (Carolina Cougars) and 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist (born 1940)
* March 7 — Harold Hunter, College coach (NC Central), first African-American to sign an NBA contract (born 1926)
* March 8 — Mickey Marty, 91, All-American college player (Loras).
* March 14 — Jack Curran, American high school coach (Archbishop Molloy High School) (born 1930)
* March 22 — Ray Williams, NBA player (New York Knicks, among others) (born 1954)
* March 26 — Tom Boerwinkle, NBA player (Chicago Bulls) (born 1945)
* March 30 — Bob Nichols, 82, American college coach (Toledo).
* March 30 — Bobby Parks, American player (San Miguel, Shell, Aspac Jakarta) (born 1962)
* April 1 — Greg Willard, NBA referee (born 1958)
* April 7 — Marty Blake, NBA GM (Atlanta Hawks and scout (born 1927)
* April 12 — Marv Harshman, Naismith Hall of Fame college coach (Washington State, Washington) (born 1917)
* April 24 — Murray Satterfield, 87, American college coach (Boise State, College of Idaho)
* May 5 — Jack Turner, NBA player (Chicago Packers) (born 1939)
* May 16 — Carl Bennett, NBA coach and GM (Fort Wayne Pistons) (born 1915)
* May 23 — Flynn Robinson, NBA player (born 1941)
* May 29 — Cliff Meely, NBA player (Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers) (born 1947)
* June 4 — Monti Davis, NBA player (Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks) (born 1958)
* June 7 — Charlie Coles, College coach (Central Michigan, Miami of Ohio) (born 1942)
* June 19 — Ólafur Rafnsson, Icelandic president of FIBA Europe (born 1963)
* July 6 — Rudy Keeling, College coach (Maine, Northeastern) (born 1947)
* July 6 — Leland Mitchell, ABA player (New Orleans Buccaneers) (born 1941)
* July 14 — Simmie Hill, ABA player (born 1946)
* July 23 — Red McManus, college coach (Creighton) (born 1925)
* July 30 — Ossie Schectman, BAA player (New York Knicks) (born 1919)
* August 2 — George Hauptfuhrer, third overall pick in the 1948 BAA draft (born 1926)
* August 5 — Roy Rubin, NBA (Philadelphia 76ers) and college (Long Island) coach (born 1925)
* August 14 — Jack Garfinkel, BAA player (Boston Celtics) (born 1918)
* August 17 — Devin Gray, NBA player (Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets) (born 1972)
* August 23 — Dean Meminger, NBA player (New York Knicks) (born 1948)
* August 30 — Howie Crittenden, college (Murray State) and AAU (Peoria Cats) player (born 1933)
* September 3 — Don Meineke, NBA player (Fort Wayne Pistons, Cincinnati Royals) (born 1930)
* September 7 — Zelmo Beaty, NBA/ABA player (St. Louis Hawks, Utah Stars, Los Angeles Lakers) (born 1939)
* September 16 — Jim Palmer, NBA player (Cincinnati Royals, New York Knicks) (born 1933)
* September 17 — Dick O'Neal, All-American college player (TCU) (born 1935)
* September 29 — Bob Kurland, Hall of Fame college (Oklahoma State) and AAU (Phillips 66ers) player (born 1924)
* October 3 — Sergei Belov, Russian Olympic gold medalist (1972) (born 1944)
* October 13 — Joe Meriweather, NBA player (Kansas City Kings, among others) (born 1953)
* October 23 — Wes Bialosuknia, ABA player (Oakland Oaks) (born 1945)
* October 25 — Bill Sharman, Hall of Fame player and coach (born 1926)
* October 25 — Chico Vaughn, NBA and ABA player (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Pittsburgh Pipers) (born 1940)
* November 2 — Walt Bellamy, Hall of Fame player and 1960 Olympic Gold medalist (born 1939)
* November 7 — Ian Davies, Australian player (Sydney Kings) and Olympian (born 1956)
* November 7 — Lenny Rzeszewski, American college basketball player (Indiana State) (born 1923)
* November 17 — Joe Dean, Collegiate basketball Hall of Fame player, administrator (LSU) (born 1930)
* November 21 — Vern Mikkelsen, Hall of Fame player (Minneapolis Lakers) (born 1928)
* November 29 — Valdis Muižnieks, Latvian player who won three Olympic silver medals as a part of the Soviet Union national team (born 1935)
* December 6 — M. K. Turk, college coach (Southern Miss) (born 1942)
* December 15 — Dyron Nix, NBA player (Indiana Pacers) (born 1967)
* December 18 — Harry Boland, Irish Olympic player (born 1925)
* December 29 — Connie Dierking, NBA player (Cincinnati Royals, Philadelphia 76ers) (born 1936)
* December 29 — Khushi Ram, Indian player (born 1936)
* December 31 — Johnny Orr, NBA player and college coach (Michigan, Iowa State) (born 1927)
* December 31 — Art Stolkey, BAA player (Detroit Falcons) (born 1920)