Bobster's Trivia Corner

[The Bobster]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

Larry Nance?

Good guess, but no cigar.

Okay, I'm gonna guess that this was tied to the season-long dunk contest that they'd show at halftime of games in 1977. That seems to jibe with Thompson being part of it. Looking at the Suns roster for that year, I think the best bet is probably Ronnie Lee (who was hyper-athletic and would've been young enough to find it fun, probably). Second choice, Ricky Sobers. Outside chance that it was Paul Westphal, although Westy wasn't really known as a super athlete.

Correct on best bet. Ronnie Lee won when Skywalker missed a 360.
The dunk contest clips were featured at halftime of NBA feature games on CBS.
Lee's best dunk had him slamming the ball to the floor at the top of the key, and as the ball bounced near the rim, he caught it and dunked it.
The TV footage was cool -- the ball floated into view, then a second later, Lee flies in drops it through.
Lee was a joy to watch.

Alvan Adams was the other Suns participant in the slam dunk competition that year (which they featured weekly at halftime) but he was eliminated in the first round when he was a no-show (probably due to an injury).

CBS then switched to a H.O.R.S.E. competition the next year which was won by Paul Westphal. Westphal won the final round when Pete Maravich was out due to a knee injury.

[The Bobster]

LL [or anybody else with an inclination) -

Feel free to post more trivia questions if you come up with them. I'm probably going to limit myself to a couple every weekend.

[SunsRIt]

How many points did the Suns score in the first quarter of their first game as the Phoenix Suns?

[LazarusLong]

How many points did the Suns score in the first quarter of their first game as the Phoenix Suns?

The Suns scored 41 points in the first quarter on the way to a 116-107 win over the Seattle Supersonics in the first regular season game for the franchise, Oct. 18, 1968.

Gail Goodrich was the Suns' leading scorer, with 27. He also led in assists, with 10.
George Wilson had 19 rebounds.

[Mori Chu]

Here's a trivia question for you:

As you may know, Devin Booker holds the all-time record for most points by a Phoenix Suns player in a game, with 70 points, scored on 3/24/2017. In fact, Book has 7 of the Suns' top 10 individual scoring performances by a player! Who are the other two players who have at least one entry in the top-10 individual scoring performances?

Bonus question: Since 1/1/2000, Four players other than Booker have had a scoring performance in the Suns' top 20 all-time individual scoring performances. Who are these four players?

[LazarusLong]

Here's a trivia question for you:

As you may know, Devin Booker holds the all-time record for most points by a Phoenix Suns player in a game, with 70 points, scored on 3/24/2017. In fact, Book has 7 of the Suns' top 10 individual scoring performances by a player! Who are the other two players who have at least one entry in the top-10 individual scoring performances?

Tom Chambers, 60, 56 pts. Tony Delk, 53 pts.

Bonus question: Since 1/1/2000, Four players other than Booker have had a scoring performance in the Suns' top 20 all-time individual scoring performances. Who are these four players?

Tony Delk, 53, 2001
Jamal Crawford, 51, 2019
Amar'e Stoudemire, 50, 2005
Cliff Robinson, 50, 2000

[Mori Chu]

Here's a trivia question for you:

As you may know, Devin Booker holds the all-time record for most points by a Phoenix Suns player in a game, with 70 points, scored on 3/24/2017. In fact, Book has 7 of the Suns' top 10 individual scoring performances by a player! Who are the other two players who have at least one entry in the top-10 individual scoring performances?

Tom Chambers, 60, 56 pts. Tony Delk, 53 pts.

Bonus question: Since 1/1/2000, Four players other than Booker have had a scoring performance in the Suns' top 20 all-time individual scoring performances. Who are these four players?

Tony Delk, 53, 2001
Jamal Crawford, 51, 2019
Amar'e Stoudemire, 50, 2005
Cliff Robinson, 50, 2000

You got it, Laz! Here is the full list if anyone is curious:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/phoeni ... ingle-game

[pickle]

How the hell is Robert Horry ranked so low on that list by ESPN?

[The Bobster]

How the hell is Robert Horry ranked so low on that list by ESPN?

- Never an All-Star
- Never better than 3rd or 4th best player on his team
- Never any NBA postseason awards (he was All-Rookie 2nd Team)
- Career totals: 1107 games, 24.5 min, 7.0 pts, 4.8 reb, 2.1 ast
- Never finished in the top 10 in any statistical catagory

For example, if you can compare him to other players who were consistantly on winner (A.C. Green and Danny Ainge for instance), Green was named all-defense 2nd team once and an all-star once, was a better scorer and much better rebounder, and the league's iron man; Ainge was a much better scorer, one of the best 3Pt shooter in the '80s, and played in an all-star game.

Horry's claim to fame was playing for a lot of winners, but not being the main reason for those team's prolonged success - just like Green and Ainge. None of them were "drivin' the bus."

[Split T]

Horrys whole career was being mid-30s Nic Batum and just traveling from contender to contender as a 7th man.

[Superbone]

I'd prefer he wasn't on our list at all.

[The Bobster]

Here are the answers to last week's questions -

SUNS TRIVIA
This Suns player was named All-NBA while playing for the Suns, but was never named to the Western Conference All-Star team asa Sun. He was named to an All-Star Game later in his career however.

Goran Dragic 2013-14


NBA TRIVIA
These three NBA players were named All-NBA but never were selected for the NBA All-Star Game during their entire careers.

Al Jefferson 2013-14
Drazen Petrovic 1992-93
Rod Strickland 1997-98


BONUS QUESTION
Nine players have scored over 15,000 career regular season points but have never player in an NBA All-Star Game. Who are they? Hints: The top two played for the Suns and none are active.

Jamal Crawford - 19,419
Eddie Johnson - 19,202
Jason Terry - 18,881
Rudy Gay - 17,642
Andre Miller - 16,278
Derek Harper - 16,006
Lou Williams - 15,593
Sam Perkins - 15,324
Byron Scott - 15,097

[The Bobster]

And here are this week's questions -

SUNS TRIVIA
On November 10, 1990 the Suns set an NBA-record for first-half points and second quarter points en route to a record-tying 173-143 win over the Denver Nuggets (Believe it or not, the Suns didn't attempt a 3-point field goal the entire game). How many points did they score in the first half and the second quarter?

NBA TRIVIA
Four players in NBA history have played in NBA All-Star Game representing four different teams. Three of the four represented the Suns in the All-Star Game, the one who didn't play for the Suns also played in an ABA All-Star Game for a 5th team. Who are these four players?

[Split T]

And here are this week's questions -

SUNS TRIVIA
On November 10, 1990 the Suns set an NBA-record for first-half points and second quarter points en route to a record-tying 173-143 win over the Denver Nuggets (Believe it or not, the Suns didn't attempt a 3-point field goal the entire game). How many points did they score in the first half and the second quarter?

NBA TRIVIA
Four players in NBA history have played in NBA All-Star Game representing four different teams. Three of the four represented the Suns in the All-Star Game, the one who didn't play for the Suns also played in an ABA All-Star Game for a 5th team. Who are these four players?

Spoiler: show/hide

I feel like they topped 100 for some reason. I’m gonna say 103 and 57 in the 2nd Q

All-stars:

1. Shaq
2. CP3
3. Kevin Durant
4. No clue on the non suns guy…let me think

[The Bobster]

57 in the 2nd period is right. 103 for the half is a little low.

Your player guesses are correct so far.

[Split T]

A bit of a lucky guess, but I have seen that record before so I knew it was over 100…I’ll let others guess the rest as it would just be pure guessing for me at this point.

[The Bobster]

A bit of a lucky guess, but I have seen that record before so I knew it was over 100…I’ll let others guess the rest as it would just be pure guessing for me at this point.

Pretty good guessing though. I remember listening to that game on the radio.

Can you go back and use hidden text in case anyone wants to try to figure it out on their own?

[Split T]

You got it!

[Superbone]

I remember 107 in the first half.

[Mori Chu]

Thanks for these questions, Bobster! These are fun. You have a deeper well of knowledge of basketball history than I do, especially about the pre-1990s era, so I usually don't know the answers. But I will try to add some extra trivias from the 2000s - 2020s when I can.