A brief history of basketball
Basketball is a popular sport and has taken the world by storm due to its athletic nature. Everyone can throw themselves against a wall and practice alone or with a small group of friends.
Basketball was originally invented by the Canadian coach named Dr. James Naismith. He was asked to create an activity to entertain the YMCA Training College trainees during the winter.
The inspiration for the game came from a childhood game called ‘duck on a rock’ which was played by throwing a rock at another rock on top of which was an object.
The first basketball game was played in 1892 with a soccer ball and two peach baskets suspended from the walls of the YMCA gym. After ten years, the open basket was designed. YMCA in Springfield Massachusetts is the home of basketball and it was through it that basketball spread across the US.
In 1929, the ball was redesigned to give it more ounces than a soccer ball. It also got lighter and bigger. The National Basketball Association was formed in 1949 when the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League merged.
The most famous team in the history of basketball is the one that does not compete, the team called the Harlem Globetrotters is a showcase team that entertains spectators with their skills.
College basketball really attracted the most interest in the mid-20th century and made it possible for professional basketball to become the franchise it is today.
Basketball had become very popular after WWII and the FIBA World Championship was created in 1950. Originally it was created with 10 national teams, it grew to 26 in 2009 and is expected to grow even more. Argentina won the World Championship and the United States finally won the coveted trophy in 2002.
Korfball and Netball are derived from basketball, although the rules are changed in the case of men’s and women’s or co-ed teams.
