2010 in basketball

Professional club seasons

Continental championships

• Euroleague: Regal FC Barcelona
• Eurocup: Power Electronics Valencia
• EuroChallenge: BG Göttingen
• Asia Champions Cup: Mahram Tehran
• Liga Sudamericana: Quimsa

• EuroLeague Women: Spartak Moscow Region

National championships

• NBA
• *[2009–10 National Basketball Association|NBA season|Season]:
• ** Division champions: Boston Celtics, [2009–10 2009–10 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers], Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
• ** Best regular-season record: Cleveland Cavaliers
• ** Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics
• ** Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers
• * Finals: The Lakers defeat the Celtics 4–3 in the best-of-seven series, with Kobe Bryant named Finals MVP.
• Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2009–10 season:
• * Regular season: Peñarol
• * Playoffs: Peñarol defeat Atenas 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• National Basketball League, 2009–10 season:
• * Premiers: Perth Wildcats
• * Champions: Perth Wildcats defeat the Wollongong Hawks 2–1 in the best-of-three Grand Final.
• Basketball League Belgium:
• Bulgarian National League: Lukoil Academic defeat Levski Sofia 3–1 in the best-of-five final.
• Chinese Basketball Association:
• * Regular season: Guangdong Southern Tigers
• * Playoffs: Guangdong Southern Tigers defeat Xinjiang Flying Tigers 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• Croatian League: Cibona defeat Zadar 3–2 in the best-of-five final.
• Czech League: Nymburk defeat Prostějov 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• Dutch Eredivisie: GasTerra Flames Groningen defeat WCAA Giants Bergen op Zoom 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• Estonian League, 2009–10: TÜ/Rock defeat Rakvere Tarvas 4–2 in the best-of-7 final.
• French Pro A League: Cholet defeat Le Mans 81–65 in the one-off final.
• German Bundesliga, 2009–10 season: Brose Baskets defeat Deutsche Bank Skyliners 3–2 in the bist-of-five final.
• Greek League, 2009–10 season: Panathinaikos defeat Olympiacos 3–1 in the best-of-five final.
• Iranian Super League, 2009–10 season: Mahram defeat Zob Ahan 2–0 in the best-of-three final.
• Israeli Super League, 2009–10 season: Gilboa/Galil defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv 90–77 in the one-off final.
• Italian Serie A, 2009–10 season: Montepaschi Siena sweep AJ Milano 4–0 in the best-of-seven final.
• Latvian League: Barons defeat VEF Riga 4–3 in the best-of-seven final.
• Lithuanian LKL: Lietuvos Rytas defeat Žalgiris 4–3 in the best-of-seven final.
• Montenegro League:
• Philippine Basketball Association, 2009–10 season:
• *Philippine Cup: Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants sweep the Alaska Aces 4–0 in the best-of-seven final.
• *Fiesta Conference: Alaska Aces defeat the San Miguel Beermen 4–2 in the best-of-seven final.
• Polish League: Asseco Prokom Gdynia sweep Anwil Włocławek 4–0 in the best-of-seven final.
• Russian Super League: CSKA Moscow sweep Khimki Moscow Region 3–0 in the best-of-five final.
• Serbia Super League:
• Slovenian League: Krka defeat Union Olimpija 3–2 in the best-of-five final.
• Spanish ACB:
• *Season: Regal FC Barcelona
• *Playoffs: Caja Laboral Baskonia sweep Regal FC Barcelona 3–0 in the best-of-five final.
• Turkish Basketball League: Fenerbahçe Ülker defeat Efes Pilsen 4–2 in the best-of-seven final.
• Ukrainian SuperLeague: Azovmash Mariupol defeat Budivelnyk Kyiv 3–2 in the best-of-five final.
• British Basketball League, 2009–10:
• *Season: Newcastle Eagles
• *Playoffs: Everton Tigers defeat the Glasgow Rocks 80–72 in the one-off final.
• Adriatic League: Partizan Belgrade defeat Cibona 75–74 in overtime in the one-off final.
• Baltic League: Žalgiris defeat Lietuvos Rytas 73–66 in the one-off final.
• VTB United League, 2009–10 season: CSKA Moscow defeat UNICS Kazan 66–55 in the one-off final.
• Super Basketball League:Yulon Dinos defeat Dacin Tigers 4–2 in the best-of-seven final.

• WNBA
• *Season:
• ** Eastern Conference: Atlanta Dream
• ** Western Conference: [2010 2010 Seattle Storm season|Seattle Storm season|Seattle Storm]
• * Finals: The Storm sweep the Dream 3–0, with their center Lauren Jackson becoming the first non-U.S. player to be named Finals MVP.

College

• NCAA
• *Division I: [2009–10 2009–10 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke] 61, Butler 59
• **Most Outstanding Player: Kyle Singler, Duke
• *National Invitation Tournament: Dayton 79, North Carolina 68
• *College Basketball Invitational: Virginia Commonwealth defeats Saint Louis 2–0 in the best-of-three final.
• *CollegeInsider.com Tournament: Missouri State 78, Pacific 65
• *Division II: Cal Poly Pomona 65, Indiana (PA) 53
• *Division III: Wisconsin–Stevens Point 78, Williams 73
• NAIA
• *NAIA Division I: Oklahoma Baptist 84, Azusa Pacific 83
• *NAIA Division II: Saint Francis (IN) 67, Walsh 66
• NJCAA
• *Division I: Howard (TX) 85, Three Rivers 80
• *Division II: Lincoln (IL) 71, Cincinnati State 60
• *Division III: Joliet 94, Rochester (MN) 82
• UAAP Men's: Ateneo sweeps FEU in the best of three finals 2–0
• NCAA (Philippines) Seniors': San Beda sweeps San Sebastian in the best of five finals 3–0

• NCAA
• *Division I: [2009–10 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball|Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team|Connecticut] 53, Stanford 47
• **Most Outstanding Player: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *WNIT: California 73, Miami (FL) 61
• *Women's Basketball Invitational: Appalachian State 79, Memphis 71
• *Division II: Emporia State 65, Fort Lewis 53
• *Division III: Washington University in St. Louis 65, Hope 59
• NAIA
• *NAIA Division I: Union (TN) 73, Azusa Pacific 65
• *NAIA Division II: Northwestern (IA) 85, Shawnee State 66
• NJCAA
• *Division I:Gulf Coast Community College 83, Jefferson College 61
• *Division II:Kirkwood Community College 72, Patrick & Henry Community College 62
• *Division III:Madison College 74, Onondaga Community College 55
• UAAP Women's:

Prep

• USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1:
• USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1:
• NCAA (Philippines) Juniors:
• UAAP Juniors:

Awards and honors

[Basketball Hall of Fame]

• Class of 2010:
• *Players: Cynthia Cooper, Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson, Karl Malone, Maciel Pereira, Scottie Pippen
• *Coaches: Bob Hurley, Sr.
• *Contributors: Jerry Buss
• *Teams: 1960 USA Olympic Team, 1992 USA Olympic Men's Team

[Women's [Basketball Hall of Fame]]

• Class of 2010
• * Leta Andrews
• * Teresa Edwards
• * Rebecca Lobo
• * Gloria Ray
• * Teresa Weatherspoon
• * Chris Weller

FIBA Hall of Fame

• Class of 2010

Professional

• Men
• *NBA Most Valuable Player Award: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
• *NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
• *NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
• *NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks
• *NBA Most Improved Player Award: Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets
• *NBA Sportsmanship Award: Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns
• *NBA Coach of the Year Award: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder
• *J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers
• *NBA Executive of the Year Award: John Hammond, Milwaukee Bucks
• *FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Announced in February 2011
• *Euroscar Award:
• *Mr. Europa:
• Women
• *WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
• *WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Tamika Catchings, [2010 2010 Indiana Fever season|Indiana Fever season|Indiana Fever]
• *WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun
• *WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix Mercury
• *WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Leilani Mitchell, New York Liberty
• *Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
• *WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Brian Agler, Seattle Storm
• *WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
• *FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Announced in February 2011

Collegiate

• Combined
• *Legends of Coaching Award: Billy Donovan, Florida
• Men
• *John R. Wooden Award: Evan Turner, Ohio State
• *Naismith College Coach of the Year: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
• *Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Sherron Collins, Kansas
• *Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Evan Turner, Ohio State
• *NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Kemba Walker, Connecticut
• *USBWA National Freshman of the Year: John Wall, Kentucky
• *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
• *Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: John Thompson Jr
• Women
• *John R. Wooden Award: Tina Charles, Connecticut
• *Naismith College Player of the Year: Tina Charles, Connecticut
• *Naismith College Coach of the Year: Connie Yori, Nebraska
• *Wade Trophy: Maya Moore, Connecticut
• *Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Alexis Gray-Lawson, California
• *Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Tina Charles, Connecticut
• *NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Maya Moore, UConn
• *Basketball Academic All-America Team: Maya Moore, UConn
• *Kay Yow Award: Connie Yori, Nebraska
• *Carol Eckman Award: Kevin Cook, Gallaudet University
• *Maggie Dixon Award: Teresa Weatherspoon, Louisiana Tech
• *USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor
• *Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Connie Yori, Nebraska
• *List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska
• *Nancy Lieberman Award: Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State
• *Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Marsha Sharp

Events

• July 8 – LeBron James makes the decision to sign with the Miami Heat joining new signee Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. The decision was televised in an hour-long special on ESPN.
• December 21 – The University of Connecticut women's team wins its 89th consecutive game, surpassing the NCAA Division I record previously held by the UCLA men's team of 1971–1974.
• December 30 – UConn's record winning streak ends at 90 when the Huskies lose 71–59 to Stanford.

Movies

Deaths

• January 8 — Bob Blackburn, American radio and TV play-by-play announcer
• January 19 — Dan Fitzgerald, American college coach
• January 28 — Bud Millikan, American college coach
• February 3 — Dick McGuire, Hall of Fame player for the New York Knicks
• February 10 — Carl Braun, player and coach for the New York Knicks
• February 10 — Fred Schaus, American coach of West Virginia University and the Los Angeles Lakers
• February 13 — Red Rocha, American BAA and NBA player
• February 15 — Dana Kirk, former college coach at Memphis State University
• June 4 — John Wooden, Hall of Fame player and coach
• June 11 — Bus Whitehead, All-American college and AAU player
• June 13 — Tom Stith, All-American at St. Bonaventure University
• June 19 — Manute Bol, Sudanese NBA player, tallest player in league history
• July 8 — Melvin Turpin, All-American at Kentucky and NBA veteran
• July 16 — Aleksandr Boloshev, Russian Olympic champion
• July 19 — Lorenzen Wright, American NBA player
• August 30 — Sharm Scheuerman, American college player and coach
• October 14 — Larry Siegfried, won five NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and an NCAA title at Ohio State
• October 25 — Roy Skinner, American college coach at Vanderbilt
• October 28 — Marshall Hawkins, American NBL and NBA player
• October 31 — Maurice Lucas, American ABA and NBA player. Won an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977
• November 8 — Quintin Dailey, All-American at San Francisco and NBA player
• November 13 — Red Curren, Canadian Olympic player
• December 6 — Art Quimby, NCAA rebounding leader; a Connecticut Huskie of Honor
• December 6 — Hank Raymonds, American college coach