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Hoops · Puzzle #37 · Thursday, November 5

Hoops: the board

Eight items, eight categories, one place each. Here is the board with every figure and where it comes from, and the best way to place them. Play today's Hoops.

The categories

The best board

  1. Chauncey Billups in Charity stripe: made 89.4% of his free throws (9.8)
  2. Dominique Wilkins in Scoring machine: scored about 26,635 NBA points (10.0)
  3. Wilt Chamberlain in Bucket getter: averaged 30.1 points a game (10.0)
  4. Lenny Wilkens in Top 75: made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (10.0)
  5. Michael Finley in Iron man: played 1,103 NBA games (8.5)
  6. Jalen Green in Skipped college: went pro without playing college ball (10.0)
  7. Jimmy Butler in Most looked-up: his Wikipedia article was read 1.91 million times in 2025 (10.0)
  8. Brook Lopez in Big man: stands 85 inches tall (10.0)

The most this board could score: 78.3 of 80.

The lineup, figure by figure

  1. Chauncey Billups

    “Mr. Big Shot” · Celtics, Raptors, Nuggets, Timberwolves and more

    Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0

    On this board Chauncey Billups scored best in Charity stripe (9.8): he made 89.4% of his free throws. Top 75 was his weakest fit (0.0): he didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The best board puts him there too.

    Top 75
    didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (0.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Chauncey Billups" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q298531
    Scoring machine
    scored about 15,854 NBA points (6.3) Source: Wikipedia, "Chauncey Billups" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q298531
    Charity stripe
    made 89.4% of his free throws (9.8) Source: Wikipedia, "Chauncey Billups" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q298531
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 923,141 times in 2025 (6.2) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

  2. Dominique Wilkins

    “The Human Highlight Film” · Hawks, Clippers, Celtics, Spurs and more

    Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0

    Dominique Wilkins scored about 26,635 NBA points, so his best fit on this board was Scoring machine, worth 10.0. His weakest was Skipped college, worth 0.0, since he played college ball. That is where the best board puts him as well.

    Top 75
    made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Dominique Wilkins" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q311533
    Scoring machine
    scored about 26,635 NBA points (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Dominique Wilkins" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q311533
    Charity stripe
    made 81.1% of his free throws (7.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Dominique Wilkins" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q311533
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 348,649 times in 2025 (2.3) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

  3. Wilt Chamberlain

    “The Big Dipper” · Warriors, 76ers, Lakers

    Photo: Bill Allen, Public domain

    Wilt Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points a game, so his best fit on this board was Bucket getter, worth 10.0. His weakest was Charity stripe, worth 0.0, since he made 51.1% of his free throws. That is where the best board puts him as well.

    Top 75
    made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Wilt Chamberlain" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q182455
    Bucket getter
    averaged 30.1 points a game (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Wilt Chamberlain" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q182455
    Scoring machine
    scored about 31,455 NBA points (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Wilt Chamberlain" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q182455
    Charity stripe
    made 51.1% of his free throws (0.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Wilt Chamberlain" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q182455
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 1.51 million times in 2025 (10.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

  4. Lenny Wilkens

    Hawks, SuperSonics, Cavaliers, Trail

    Photo: Malcolm Emmons, Public domain

    On this board Lenny Wilkens scored best in Top 75 (10.0): he made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Skipped college was his weakest fit (0.0): he played college ball. The best board puts him there too.

    Top 75
    made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Lenny Wilkens" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q316161
    Bucket getter
    averaged 16.5 points a game (6.6) Source: Wikipedia, "Lenny Wilkens" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q316161
    Scoring machine
    scored about 17,771 NBA points (7.1) Source: Wikipedia, "Lenny Wilkens" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q316161
    Charity stripe
    made 77.4% of his free throws (5.8) Source: Wikipedia, "Lenny Wilkens" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q316161
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 385,437 times in 2025 (2.6) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

  5. Michael Finley

    Suns, Mavericks, Spurs, Celtics

    Photo: David Krichmar, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Michael Finley played 1,103 NBA games, so his best fit on this board was Iron man, worth 8.5. His weakest was Top 75, worth 0.0, since he didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. That is where the best board puts him as well.

    Top 75
    didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (0.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Michael Finley" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q318916
    Bucket getter
    averaged 15.7 points a game (6.3) Source: Wikipedia, "Michael Finley" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q318916
    Scoring machine
    scored about 17,317 NBA points (6.9) Source: Wikipedia, "Michael Finley" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q318916
    Charity stripe
    made 81.3% of his free throws (7.1) Source: Wikipedia, "Michael Finley" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q318916
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 132,319 times in 2025 (0.9) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

  6. Jalen Green

    Rockets, Suns

    Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0

    On this board Jalen Green scored best in Skipped college (10.0): he went pro without playing college ball. Top 75 was his weakest fit (0.0): he didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The best board puts him there too.

    Top 75
    didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (0.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Jalen Green" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q58009130
    Bucket getter
    averaged 19.9 points a game (8.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Jalen Green" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q58009130
    Scoring machine
    scored about 6,746 NBA points (2.7) Source: Wikipedia, "Jalen Green" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q58009130
    Charity stripe
    made 79.6% of his free throws (6.5) Source: Wikipedia, "Jalen Green" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q58009130
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 1.03 million times in 2025 (6.9) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
    Skipped college
    went pro without playing college ball (10.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Jalen Green" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q58009130

  7. Jimmy Butler

    “Jimmy Buckets” · Bulls, Timberwolves, 76ers, Heat and more

    Photo: Xuthoria, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Jimmy Butler's best fit on this board was Most looked-up, worth 10.0: his Wikipedia article was read 1.91 million times in 2025. His weakest was Top 75, worth 0.0, since he didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. That is where the best board puts him as well.

    Top 75
    didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (0.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Jimmy Butler" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q498348
    Bucket getter
    averaged 18.4 points a game (7.4) Source: Wikipedia, "Jimmy Butler" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q498348
    Scoring machine
    scored about 16,689 NBA points (6.7) Source: Wikipedia, "Jimmy Butler" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q498348
    Charity stripe
    made 84.4% of his free throws (8.1) Source: Wikipedia, "Jimmy Butler" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q498348
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 1.91 million times in 2025 (10.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

  8. Brook Lopez

    “Splash Mountain” · Nets, Lakers, Bucks, Clippers

    Photo: User:Zafer, CC BY-SA 4.0

    On this board Brook Lopez scored best in Big man (10.0): he stands 85 inches tall. Top 75 was his weakest fit (0.0): he didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The best board puts him there too.

    Top 75
    didn't make the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (0.0) Source: Wikipedia, "Brook Lopez" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q460131
    Bucket getter
    averaged 15.4 points a game (6.2) Source: Wikipedia, "Brook Lopez" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q460131
    Scoring machine
    scored about 18,172 NBA points (7.3) Source: Wikipedia, "Brook Lopez" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q460131
    Charity stripe
    made 79.7% of his free throws (6.6) Source: Wikipedia, "Brook Lopez" (infobox and career statistics), and Wikidata Q460131
    Most looked-up
    his Wikipedia article was read 385,865 times in 2025 (2.6) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025

All of puzzle #37 · The archive