- Basketball was invented in December 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor who was trying to create a new indoor game to keep his students active during the winter months.
- The first basketball game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to the walls of the gymnasium.
- The game was originally called “basket ball” and had only 13 rules, which is pretty simple compared to some sports today.
- The first official basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts on December 21, 1891, and it ended with a score of 1-0. Clearly, they were still working out the kinks.
- The first basketball court was half the size of today’s court, measuring only 84 feet by 50 feet.
- The first professional basketball league was formed in 1898, and it was called the National Basketball League (NBL). The league eventually merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- The tallest basketball player ever was Gheorghe Muresan, who was 7 feet 7 inches tall. That’s taller than most door frames!
- The Harlem Globetrotters, one of the most famous basketball teams in the world, was founded in 1926 and has been entertaining fans with their trick shots and comedy routines ever since.
- Basketball was added to the Olympics in 1936, and the United States has won the gold medal 15 times since then. Talk about a winning streak!
- Today, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans tuning in to watch NBA games and players becoming household names. From the peach baskets of the 19th century to the high-flying dunks of today’s athletes, basketball has come a long way!
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