2004 in basketball
Champions
Olympics">Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics">Olympics
Professional
College
- Men
- *NCAA Division I: Connecticut 82, Georgia Tech 73
- *National Invitation Tournament: Michigan 62, Rutgers 55
- *NCAA Division II: Kennesaw State 84, Southern Indiana 59
- *NCAA Division III: UW-Stevens Point 84, Wiliams 82
- *NAIA Division I Mountain State 74, Concordia 70
- *NAIA Division II Oregon Tech 81, Bellevue 70
- Women
- *NCAA Division I: Connecticut 70, Tennessee 61
- *Women's National Invitation Tournament: Creighton 73, UNLV 52
- *NCAA Division II: California 75, Drury 72
- *NCAA Division III: Wilmington 59, Bowdoin 53
- *NAIA Division I: Southern Nazarene 77, Oklahoma City 61
- *NAIA Division II Morningside 87, Cedarville 74
Awards and honors
Professional
- Men
- *NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Kevin Garnett
- *NBA Rookie of the Year Award: LeBron James
- *NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Ron Artest
- *NBA Coach of the Year Award: Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix Suns
- *Euroscar Award: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks and
- *Mr. Europa: Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies and
- Women
- *WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
- *WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
- *WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
- *WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Kelly Miller, Charlotte Sting & Wendy Palmer, Connecticut Sun
- *Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Teresa Edwards, Minnesota Lynx
- *WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Suzie McConnell-Serio, Minnesota Lynx
- *WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Betty Lennox, Seattle Storm
Collegiate
- Combined
- *Legends of Coaching Award: Mike Montgomery, Stanford
- Men
- *John R. Wooden Award: Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's
- *Naismith College Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's
- *Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's
- *Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's
- *NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Sean May, North Carolina
- *USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Luol Deng, Duke
- *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's
- *Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: George Killian
- Women
- *John R. Wooden Award: Alana Beard, Duke
- *Naismith College Player of the Year: Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
- *Naismith College Coach of the Year: Pat Summitt, Tennessee
- *Wade Trophy: Alana Beard, Duke
- *Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Erika Valek, Purdue
- *Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Beard, Duke
- *NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Diana Taurasi, UConn
- *Basketball Academic All-America Team: Kelly Mazzante, Penn State
- *Carol Eckman Award: Deirdre Kane, West Chester
- *USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Tiffany Jackson, Texas
- *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Joe Curl, Houston
- *List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Alana Beard, Duke
- *Nancy Lieberman Award: Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
- *Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Sonja Hogg
Deaths
- January 9 — Yinka Dare, Nigerian center for the New Jersey Nets
- January 18 — Hook Dillon, All-American at North Carolina
- January 26 — Stanley Nantais, Canadian Olympic player
- January 28 — Sox Walseth, American college coach
- April 11 — Hy Gotkin, All-American at St. John's
- July 30 — Ed Melvin, American BAA player and college coach
- July 24 — Cotton Fitzsimmons, NBA basketball coach
- August 12 — George Yardley, Hall of Fame player for the Fort Wayne Pistons
- September 4 — Alphonso Ford, 3000-point NCAA scorer and Greek A1 League MVP
- December 14 — Anselmo López, Spanish coach and administrator. FIBA Hall of Fame member
- December 18 — Eddie Oram, All-American college player, NBL player
- December 25 — Howie Williams, American AAU player and Olympic gold medalist