1986 in basketball

Player awards ([National [Basketball Association|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 and the WNBA

  Deaths

• June 19 – Len Bias, American college player and Boston Celtics draft pick
• December 1 – Halbert Harvill, American college men's coach