1986 in basketball

The following are the basketball events of the year 1986 throughout the world.

Player awards (NBA)

Regular Season MVP

• Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

NBA Finals MVP

• Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Slam Dunk Contest

• Spud Webb, Atlanta Hawks

Three-point Shootout

• Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Collegiate awards

• Men
  • John R. Wooden Award: Walter Berry, St. John's
  • Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jim Les, Bradley
  • Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Walter Berry, St. John's
  • NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Keith Smart, Indiana
  • Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Eddie Sutton, Kentucky
  • Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Adolph Rupp
• Women
  • Naismith College Player of the Year: Cheryl Miller, USC
  • Wade Trophy: Kamie Ethridge, Texas
  • Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Kamie Ethridge, Texas
  • NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Clarissa Davis, Texas
  • Carol Eckman Award: Laura Mapp, Bridgewater

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

• Class of 1986:
  • Billy Cunningham
  • Tom Heinsohn
  • Red Holzman
  • Fred Taylor
  • Stan Watts

Births

• May 7—Matee Ajavon American college basketball player (Rutgers) and the WNBA (Atlanta Dream)

Deaths

• June 19 – Len Bias, American college player (Maryland) and Boston Celtics draft pick (born 1963)
• December 1 – Halbert Harvill, American college men's coach (Austin Peay) (born 1893)

See also

• 1986 in sports