Basketball gets its heritage from Springfield, Massachusetts. It is a game
that was invented to be played indoors and in relatively little space. The
original baskets that were used in basketball were peach baskets that were
hung ten feet in the air. Although Basketball originated in the United States,
the invention of the sport is attributed to Dr. James Naismith who was a
physical education professor from Canada. He wrote some rules for the game
and then nailed the peach basket to the wall. Back in the day, the balls had
to be taken from the basket when a shot was made as the peach basket still
had a bottom.
The game borrowed some of the rules from the game “Duck On A Rock,”
which was a popular children’s game in 1891 when Naismith invented
basketball. Women’s basketball started at Smith College by Senda
Berenson. Surprisingly, the first college basketball team was not made up of
men, but of women. Smith started the first team in 1893.
Basketball soon gained popularity, especially in YMCAs and high schools
across the United States and in Canada. College leagues were formed prior
to WWI, but soon disbanded. But by the 1950s, college basketball was a
major sport on campus. The Hall of Fame for basketball was founded in
1959.
Today, the NBA basketball games are among the most watched sporting
events in the world. The NBA, as we know it today, was formed in 1976
when it combined the American Basketball Association which was the National
Basketball Association formed in 1949.
Ready?
Then
let's begin!
