The history of basketball started in Springfield, Massachusetts with its invention in 1891.
It was invented by a Canadian physical education instructor named James Naismith.
It was considered as a sport less prone to injury as compared to football.
The game was admired and grew popular first in America and then all over the world as a professional game.
Where Basketball Originated?
It was the winter of 1891–1892 when at Springfield College after the end of football season, a group of restless college students was looking forward to some exciting indoor game as a substitute for football.
The first public basketball match was played at Springfield on 11th March 1982.
How Basketball was Invented?
James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was a second-year graduate student.
Who on watching other students dreading monotonous gymnasium work followed up on the challenge of Gulick (superintendent of physical education) to invent an indoor game.
That would be interesting, easy to learn, and easy to play in the winter and by artificial light.
After a lot of meditation, he invented a game in which two peach baskets with bottoms removed were considered goals nailed to the gymnasium balcony and a soccer-style ball.
Then 13 rules were drawn up which were tacked on a bulletin board at Springfield College.
In this way, Basketball was born. It was given the name “Basketball” by Naismith himself when someone proposed its name to be “Naismith Game”.
But, he put forward the idea that “We have a ball and a basket: why don’t we call it basketball?”
First Professional Team of Basketball
In 1898, the first professional league — National Basketball League — was founded in which six teams participated. Trenton Nationals were the first champions of the league.
The league was abandoned in 1904. Later, many small championships were organized but remained unpopular compared to those that played for money.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The basketball league was founded as Basketball Association of America in 1946.
It adopted the name National Basketball Association or NBA after integrating with the opponent National Basketball League in the year 1949.
In terms of popularity, level of competition, and skills, the NBA is known as the most significant and noteworthy professional league of basketball worldwide.
First International Match
The first international game was played in Saint Petersburg in the year 1909. During the inter-allied games, the first great European event was taken place near Paris in Joinville-le-point in 1919.
The United States of America won against Italy and France under the leadership of Max Friedman, the future Hall of Fame. Soon after that Basketball became a trendy game among Italians as well as French.
Differences between Original And Today’s Game
Originally, the peach baskets were closed, and the balls were retrieved manually but then their bottoms were removed.
In 1906, the backboards, nets, and hoops were introduced, and a Spalding ball replaced the soccer ball, which was similar to one that is used today.
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