Without a doubt, basketball is one of the most popular sports worldwide. The success of international sports groups and organizations like the National Basketball Association or NBA as well as the International Basketball Federation or FIBA has contributed to the overall popularity of the game. Likewise, the emergence of the Women’s National Basketball Association or WNBA gave women the opportunity to participate in this well-loved sport. In order to know the game more, it is good to know who invented basketball.
The Invention of Basketball
Who invented basketball? James Naismith was credited for the invention of this team sport some time in December 1891. He was at that time a YMCA Training School instructor in the City of Springfield in Massachusetts. His primary purpose for inventing the game was to give his students a vigorous indoor game to play especially during the extremely cold winter season.
Additional Facts and Other Interesting Information
At first, the game of basketball was played exclusively indoors. Before, a peach basket was nailed 10 feet high. Players usually shot the ball inside the basket in order to score. When a goal was made, the ball was to be retrieved manually. They solved this problem by cutting a hole under the basket in order for the ball to pass directly through it. The use of peach basket lasted until 1906. After that, it was replaced by backboards and metal hoops, just like in the basketball as it is today.
The first official basketball game took place on January 20, 1892, which was held right inside the YMCA gymnasium. The playing field used then only measured half of the current regulation-size basketball court. The official score after that game was 1-0. After the game was invented, its popularity immediately reached other parts of the United States as well as Canada. In 1898, the very first professional basketball league was established under the name National Basketball League.
When people talk about basketball, it is very hard not to include the NBA. Today, this professional league remains as the most popular all over the world. It was established in 1946, under the name Basketball Association of America. In 1949, it merged with the National Basketball League that led to the creation of the National Basketball Association.
The emergence of NBA legends such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan helped popularized the sport even more. This sport continues to gain popularity. Today, the popularity of the game has spread to countries like Germany, France and Turkey. These nations have already produced their very own basketball superstars in the form of players such as Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Hedo Turkoglu of the Toronto Raptors.
Additional Reading on Basketball
