History of Basketball

Introduction
basketball, game played generally indoors by two opposing teams of five players each.
Basketball was conceived in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith , a physical education
instructor at the YMCA college in Springfield, Mass., as a way to condition outdoor
athletes during the winter months. His original list of 13 rules has undergone a century
of revision, leading to faster pacing and greater athleticism. Today basketball is one of
the most popular American sports and one the rest of the world has adopted.
basketball: Professional Basketball

Professional basketball began (1896) in New York City and was at one time played on courts
enclosed by wire mesh (basketball players are still occasionally referred to as cagers ). Until the
1950s it languished in popularity behind college basketball and such touring black teams as the
Harlem Globetrotters and the New York Rens.
The merger (1949) of the National Basketball League and the rival Basketball Association of
America into the National Basketball Association (NBA) led to greater popularity. The
appearance of stars like George Mikan , the signing of black players beginning in 1950, the
temporary disrepute of the college game owing to gambling scandals in the early 1950s, and the
adoption of the 24-sec shot clock in 1954, further boosted the NBA.
Basketball: Bibliography
See P. Axthelm, The City Game (1971); D. Smith, Basketball—Multiple Offense and
Defense (1982); A. Wolff, 100 Years of Hoops (1991); The Official NBA Basketball
Encyclopedia (2d ed. 1994).
History of basketball
The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by
Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith as a less injury-prone sport than football.
The game became established fairly quickly and grew very popular as the 20th century progressed,
first in America and then throughout the world. After basketball became established in American
colleges, the professional game followed. The American National Basketball Association (NBA),
established in 1946, grew to a multibillion-dollar enterprise by the end of the century, and basketball
became an integral part of American culture.
Early history
James Naismith
Invention of the game

The game of basketball as it is known today was created by Dr. James Naismith in December 1891
in Springfield, Massachusetts, to condition young athletes during cold months. It consisted of peach
baskets and a soccer style ball. He published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of
eighteen into two teams of nine players each and set about to teach them the basics of his new
game. The objective of the game was to throw the basketball into the fruit baskets nailed to the lower
railing of the gym balcony. Every time a point was scored, the game was halted so the janitor could
bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. After a while, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed.
The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.
Formation of FIBA
World basketball was growing, but it was on June 18, 1932 that a real international organization was
formed, to coordinate tournaments and teams: that day, Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy,
Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland founded the International Basketball
Federation (Fédération internationale de basketball amateur, FIBA) in Geneva. Its work was
fundamental for the first inclusion of basketball in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. The first
Olympic title was won by the U.S. national team, Canada was runner-up; the games were played on
an outdoor clay court. The first World Championship was held in Argentina in 1950.
NBA
The Basketball league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association
of America (BAA). The league adopted the name National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949
after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL). As of the early 21st century, the NBA
is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries,
talent, and level of competition.
American Basketball Association

The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded as an alternative to the NBA in 1967 at a
time when the NBA was experiencing a lot of popularity. The ABA offered an alternative ethos and
game style as well as some changes in the rules. the league emphasized excitement and liveliness,
be it in the color of the ball (red, white and blue), the manner of play, wild promotions, or the three-
point shot. National recognition and earnings were low, leading the league to look for a way out of its
problems. Merger with the more established and very successful NBA was seen as a solution.

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Introduction

basketball: Professional Basketball

Invention of the game

American Basketball Association

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