1986 in basketball
# 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)
