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History of Basketball

Basketball was invented in December 1891 by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a way to keep students fit indoors during winter. The sport evolved from its early days with peach baskets to becoming an Olympic sport in 1936 and the establishment of the NBA in 1946. Today, basketball is a global phenomenon with professional leagues worldwide and significant popularity, especially in the NBA.

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26 views2 pages

History of Basketball

Basketball was invented in December 1891 by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a way to keep students fit indoors during winter. The sport evolved from its early days with peach baskets to becoming an Olympic sport in 1936 and the establishment of the NBA in 1946. Today, basketball is a global phenomenon with professional leagues worldwide and significant popularity, especially in the NBA.

Uploaded by

Kyashira Kim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

Origins

• Invented: December 1891

• Inventor: Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor.

• Location: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA (at the International YMCA Training School).

• Reason: Naismith was trying to create a new indoor sport to keep his students fit during the cold
winter.

• First Game: Played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to a balcony 10 feet above
the ground.

• Rules: Naismith wrote 13 basic rules. Players had to throw the ball into the opposing team's
basket without dribbling at first—only passing.

Early Development

• 1893: Iron hoops and hammock-style baskets replaced peach baskets.

• 1896: First known professional game played in Trenton, New Jersey.

• 1906: Metal hoops, nets, and backboards were introduced.

• Growth: Basketball quickly spread through YMCA centers across the U.S. and internationally.

Professionalization

• 1936: Basketball debuted as an official Olympic sport at the Berlin Games (men’s tournament).

• 1946: Formation of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later became the NBA
(National Basketball Association) after merging with the National Basketball League (NBL) in
1949.

• 1950s: NBA integrated Black players; Chuck Cooper was the first Black player drafted.

Modern Era

• 1980s: Explosion in global popularity thanks to stars like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and
especially Michael Jordan.

• 1992: USA's "Dream Team" dominated the Olympics, making basketball a truly global sport.

• Women's Basketball: Grew steadily, leading to the creation of the WNBA (Women's National
Basketball Association) in 1996.
Today

• Basketball is one of the most popular sports worldwide, with professional leagues across Europe,
Asia, Australia, Africa, and Latin America.

• The NBA is a global brand, and players from all continents now star in the league.

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