History of Basketball
The first game of
basketball was played at Springfield College in Springfield Massachusetts, USA
in 1891. The rules were later changed to allow two players on each team instead
of one. The sport of basketball was originally known as soccer. In 1895 college
students James Naismith, John Rulon, Amos Alonzo Stagg, and Francis Schmidt
came together to develop a game they called basketball. Naismith's original
rule book consisted of 10 rules including how fast the game should be played.
The sport grew in popularity due to its simplicity, and Naismith's original
rules. By 1898 the sport had grown to the point where colleges began playing games
under their own set of rules.
Early Professional Basketball
In 1902, James
Naismith became an official referee. He organized the first professional
basketball league in 1904. There were 12 teams competing in the league. The NBA
(National Basketball Association) began play in 1946 and continues today.
National Basketball Association
Today, the NBA is
considered to be the premier professional basketball league in North America
and is among the world's highest paid sports leagues. The NBA features 30 teams
divided into four divisions; Eastern Conference, Western Conference, Northwest
Division, and Southwest Division. Each team plays 82 regular season games plus
three additional pre-season games. Teams have home and away opponents in their
division. After the regular season ends, the top eight teams advance to the
playoffs.
Women's Basketball
Women's basketball is
played by women around the world and is the second most popular girls' sport
behind softball. The International Federation of Associated Football (IFAF) has
sanctioned the sport since 1913 and governs international competitions. The
IFAF organizes the World Girl's Junior Championship between September and
October.
Amateur Athletic Union
The AAU, founded in
1896, is the oldest existing national governing body for amateur athletics in
the United States. Its mission is to promote amateur athletic programs
throughout the nation, encourage fair play and integrity in those programs, and
safeguard the rights of athletes and coaches.
Olympic Games
Basketball has been
played at the Summer Olympics since 1900. Since then basketball has become the
third most popular sport after football and swimming. The first Summer Olympics
to feature men's basketball were held in Paris, France in 1900. The U.S. won
gold medals in both 1908 and 2012.
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Basketball Hall
of Fame is located in Springfield, Massachusetts. It honors individuals who
have made significant contributions to the sport of basketball. Inductees are
honored annually in April.
Basketball History Starts with a Game Called “Skeet”
The first recorded
game was played in 1891, between two teams from Boston. It was called Skeet and
lasted 11 minutes. In 1895 the game grew a little bit larger and became known
as basketball after James Naismith came up with a scoring system. The game
became highly popular during the Great Depression.
Charles Barkley Is a Legend
Charles Barkley was
born in Philadelphia in 1962. He is a former NBA player who won five MVP awards
and seven championships titles. He is also known for his colorful personality
and often says things that make headlines. He was suspended twice during his career
due to his profanity laced interviews. His most famous line comes from his
infamous interview where he says, “I don’t have to dribble! I am Charles
Barkley! I can shoot!”
Michael Jordan Was A True Champion
Michael Jordan was
born in St. Louis Missouri on March 13th 1963. He is regarded as one of the
greatest players in NBA history. He led his Chicago Bulls team to six NBA
Championships during his time. He is also famous for his iconic Nike shoes and
his legendary ‘fluid�
style of play.
Larry Bird Played Ball at Indiana University
Larry Bird was raised
in Indianapolis, IN. At the age of 16 he left school to join the National
Guard. After leaving the military, he went to college at Indiana University.
There he received many honors including All-American, NCAA Final Four Most
Outstanding Player, and NCAA MOP.
Kobe Bryant Is One Of The Best Players Ever
Kobe Bryant was born
in Manhattan Beach California on February 17th 1979. He is regarded as the best
player in the NBA today and even though he retired back in 2013, he still holds
several records. He is probably most known for being named the regular season
MVP three times in the last four years.
What does “basketball” mean?
Basketball is a game
played between two teams of five players each; they shoot at a basket (usually
a pole) using a ball called a "basketball". If the player gets the
ball past the rim of the basket he scores a point, if not, then no points are
scored. Two teams compete against each other to score the most points.
How did basketball start?
The first recorded
basketball game took place at Harvard University in 1891. Basketball was
invented by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher who wanted to
find a way to keep his students physically fit and entertained. He created a
simple game using peach baskets and a softball-sized rubber ball. His idea
caught on and soon enough, other schools around the country were playing
basketball.
Who was the first NBA superstar?
In 1954, Bill Russell
became the first NBA MVP, after leading the Boston Celtics to a league
championship. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain won the scoring title, becoming the
first man to average 100 points per game in a season. However, his career ended
at the hands of Dr. J., who famously dunked over him.
Which three guys dominated the 1980's?
Michael Jordan, Magic
Johnson, and Larry Bird led their respective teams to back-to-back
championships in 1986 and 1987. These three players were known as the "Big
Three."
Which two players dominated the 1990’s?
Shaquille O'Neal and
Kobe Bryant both have had tremendous success in the NBA throughout the 1990's
and 2000's respectively. Shaq is widely considered to be the greatest center
ever and Bryant is generally regarded as being the best shooting guard in the
history of the sport. Their rivalry helped fuel the popularity of the NBA until
2011.
Which two players dominated early 21st century?
Kevin Durant and
LeBron James both have been dominant forces in the NBA since 2010. KD holds
many records including most triple doubles, most playoff games, and most
regular seasons wins. Lebron James is the only player in history to win a
scoring title, an MVP award, and a Finals MVP award before turning 24 years
old.
Who was the last great NBA team?
The San Antonio Spurs
are the greatest current iteration of an NBA dynasty. Led by Tim Duncan, Manu
Ginobili, Tony Parker, and company, the Spurs have had several consecutive 50+
win seasons and have won 13 titles. Since 2004, they have never lost a finals
matchup and have gone 22 straight playoffs appearances without losing a single
series.
