The History of Basketball

Invention of Basketball

• Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith.
• Naismith was a physical education instructor in Springfield, Massachusetts.
• He created the game to be played indoors during winter.
• He used peach baskets and a soccer ball.
• He created 13 rules for the game.
• Initially, games were played with two teams of nine players each.
• The goal was to throw the ball into the peach baskets.

Early Basketball Games

• The first game was played in 1891.
• The early game was quite rough and led to injuries.
• Basketball's popularity quickly spread within the U.S.
• Later, the game also spread to different countries.

Basketball's Development

• Basketball became a popular college sport in the early 1900s.
• The first professional basketball league was formed in 1898.
• The National Basketball Association (NBA) was established in 1946.
• The NBA gained significant popularity and revenue by the late 20th century.
• Basketball is now a global sport played by all ages.
• The game is popular across various settings, from playgrounds to television.