The history of basketball timeline timetoast timelines. Inside a gymnasium at springfield college then known as the international. Basketball basics the rules, concepts, definitions, and player. James naismith is known worldwide as the inventor of basketball. National basketball association nba, professional basketball league formed in the united states in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the national basketball league and the basketball association of america. This is where the height of 10 feet for the basket was arrived at. Many people throughout the world love the game of basketball. Naismith was a 31year old graduate student when he created the indoor sport to keep athletes indoors during the winters. As we look back over the many great years of basketball history, its safe to say that its become one of the best sports of all time, with the endless excitement and historymaking moments it has provided us over the years.
An instructor at the ymca training school in massachusetts, he sought a suitable indoor game to keep his. Naismith lived long enough to see basketball included in the olympics in 1936. This list is not comprehensive, especially pre1993, but contains as many rules changes and clarifications as could be compiled from past releases, rulebooks and other sources. In contrast to other sports, basketball has a clear origin. The possession of the ball is decided with a ball in the air, thrown by the referee, and each team. Take the following quiz to see just how much you know about basketball history. S and canada founded the basketball association of america, or nba. In the 199798 season, michael jordan earned his 5th and final mvp of his storied career in chicago. Naismith was a college professor who wanted to create a game that his physical education classes could play inside during the long winters. It must be understood that this is done for practical reasons only. Basketball history had a mile stone when the first college games took place in new yorks madison square garden stadium and this is when college level basketball started to get high levels of interest.
From barns, peach baskets and sepiatinged photos to 70,000seat stadiums, plexiglass backboards and highdefinition online streams, basketball has evolved apace over nearly 127 years. References to games resembling baseball in the united states date back to the 18th century. The first professional basketball league was formed in 1898. The book of basketball is a 700page work of hoops genius that would make dr. As it turns out, the real history of baseball is a little more complicated than the doubleday legend. As we look back over the many great years of basketball history, its safe to say that its become one of the best sports of all time, with the endless excitement and history making moments it has provided us over the years. James naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the international young mens christian association training school ymca today, springfield college in springfield, massachusetts, usa, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. Despite the loss of four teams the baa was having a lot of success against its rival the nbl. A brief history of college basketball an ncaa champion. The beginning of a brief history of basketball the concept of basketball was born out of his early school days when he played a simple game known as duckonarock outside his schoolhouse. Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball approximately 9.
Feb 7, 1945, inventor of 3 point line howard hobson dec. Aspects of the game that changed in the 1930s, kenny sailor invented the jump shot. Pdf a research article basketball basketball researchgate. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith. Feb 23, 2016 history basketball was invented by dr. Naismiths class played the first game of basket ball two words using a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to a balcony railing ten feet above the floor. On october, 1967, the anaheim amigos lose to the oakland oaks, 4129, in the inaugural game of the american basketball association. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts by canadian physical education instructor james naismith as a less injuryprone sport than football. Of his original rules, nine have been kept but changed somewhat. The baa started out with 11 teams in 1946 but lose four of them before the start of the next season. Collection of sally fox, 15752005 inclusive, 18601929 bulk, mc 638. Three years later he died, after nearly forty years as head of the physical education department at the university of kansas.
James naismith in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts. Throughout the official basketball rules, all references made to a player, coach, official, etc. The game was invented by springfield college instructor and graduate student james naismith in 1891, and has grown into the worldwide athletic phenomenon we know it to be today. Basketball history basketball was invented during the school year of 189192 at springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. It was included as a demonstration sport at thegames in 1904 in st louis. They changed their name to the national basketball association nba. The nba began life as the basketball association of america in 1946 and played under that monkier for 3 years before, in 1949, merging with the national basketball league and changing names to the nba. Even the shot had been invented it wasnt used in a professional game until a long time after its creation. History department coordinator north andover high school found. This is divided into 4 times, each with 10 minutes.
Basketball, game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. It is not the evolution from an ancient game or another sport and the inventor is well known. But in 1949, the basketball association of america and the national basketball league joined together. The first game was played at the maple leaf gardens, where the toronto huskies hosted the new york knickerbockers. Girls and womens basketball rules committee, which had been formed in 1979. Author bill simmons, best known as s the sports guy, explores the nba with hilarious insight, brilliant analysis, and a bevy of irreverent footnotes.
Ossie schectman made the first basket in nba history. History of the westward expansion of basketball basketball s early roots on the east coast are well document, from that cold december day in springfield, massachusetts in 1891 when the game first formed to the present, we know the stories, the players and the histories. Basketball is built into the fabric of springfield college. Feb 7, 1945, inventor of 3 point line howard hobson dec 8, 1961, great player of his time wilt chamberlain. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponents goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called a basket. The objective was to throw the basketball into fruit baskets strapped to the railing of the gym.
Basketball was invented in 1891 by dr james naismith, a canadian of scottish descent at springfield college. Oct 10, 2019 on october, 1967, the anaheim amigos lose to the oakland oaks, 4129, in the inaugural game of the american basketball association. In 1896, the first collegiate 5on5 game was played between iowa and the university of chicago, with chicago winning 1512. Basketball history nature of the game safetyetiquette care of. The history of basketball in the united states stretches back over 100 years to late 1891 to be exact. Author bill simmons, best known as s the sports guy, explores the nba with hilarious insight, brilliant analysis, and a bevy of irreverent footn. The basketball game consists of two teams, each with 10 players 5 holders and 5 reserves who aim to make as many points as possible during the game. The first game consisted of two, nineman teams, two peach baskets, and one soccer ball. The game of basketball is played by 2 teams of 5 players on a court. History of basketball in early december 1891, canadian american dr.
Womens basketball was included on the olympic programme for the first time in. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts by. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball through a hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. On february 8, 1986, spud webb, who at 57 was one of the shortest players in the history of professional basketball, wins the nba slam dunk contest, beating his atlanta hawks teammate and. A brief history of basketball summary of the games origin. Basketball history at 10 naismiths class played the first game of basket ball two words using a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to a balcony railing ten feet above the floor. Olympic studies centre, international olympic committee subject. A short history of basketball basketball was invented in 1891 by dr james naismith, a canadian of scottish descent at springfield college massachusetts. Pdf basketball is a sport, generally played by two teams of five. Basketball took the world by storm and was a major college sport and therefore leading the way into a more professional stage. James and maude soon became friends, and then fell in love. This thoroughly researched history of the national basketball league is an enjoyable read and forms an important chapter not only in american sports history but also illustrates the salient role of sports in the social history of small towns and cities in middle america. Basketball became a olympic sport august 1,1936 august 6, 1936. The ball can be advanced only by passing with the hands or by dribbling the ball on the floor.
The gym they played in was just 54 feet by 35 feet modern courts are 94 feet x 54 feet. A young woman named maude sherman was on one of the first womens teams. Schlesinger library sally fox collection subseries e. He wrote basic rules and nailed up two peach baskets at either end of a large room.
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The spelling of the name basketball was changed 1921. Dec 17, 2019 in 1895, the first recorded basketball game between two college teams was organized. In 1895, the first recorded basketball game between two college teams was organized. Dec 02, 2009 but in 1949, the basketball association of america and the national basketball league joined together. The game was invented by springfield college instructor and graduate student james naismith in 1891. James naismith, a canadian physical education instructor, invented the game of basketball in 1891.
Basketball was invented in december 1891 by canadian james w. Basketball is a team sport played by two teams of five players each. Naismith conceived the idea of attaching peach baskets at opposite ends of the gym on the track that encircled the playing floor. History of basketball, basketball history and origin and. Basketball derives its name from the original ball and basket used. In a few years, basketball started being played more like it is played. Many people consider michael jordan the best basketball player in the history of the game. He was born in 1861 in ramsay township, near almonte, ontario, canada. It has now grown into one of the most popular sports in the united states. Basketball equipment and history olympic sport history. A far cry from what the sport has evolved into today. The object of each team is to score by putting a ball into the opponents basket and to prevent the other team from scoring in yours. However a small thing left a big impact on its history when the first ever threepointer was shot and scored.
Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian association training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. The mens college game has long been near the epicenter of that growth, highlighted by rule. When the game was first played, peach baskets were nailed up at each end of the gymnasium as goals. Basketball is a relatively new sport, invented in 1891. The class of 18 was divided into two teams of nine players. Learn more about the history and organization of the nba in this article. This book, originally published in 1941, carries a new introduction by william j. Olympic games, sport, discipline, event, baseball, history, evolution, olympic programme created date. Basketball was invented during the school year of 189192 at springfield college in. The first games used peach baskets nailed to the wall for rims. His original rules and description of the game are published in january 1892 and read.
History and evolution of basketball as an olympic sport keywords. Prior to that time, a statewide invitation tournament was held at the university of kansas. Baker, a professor of history at the university of maine. Basketball history basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith. The college was the international ymca training school and the game was invented to provide an indoor activity for trainee ymca leaders. History of basketball a canadian doctor, william naismith, invented the game of basketball in january 1892, to provide an indoor winter sport for the ymca in springfield, massachusetts. Naismith was born in 1861 in ramsay township, ontario, canada. Nba rules history changesclarifications implemented prior to season, except where noted note. James naismith, instructor at ymca training school in springfield, massachusetts, in december 1891. History of boys state basketball winners the first state basketball tournament under the direction of the kshsaa was held at emporia state teachers college in 1912 and was won by the reno county high school team of nickerson.