History of Basketball         




Who invented Basketball? James Naismith was a Canadian American sports coach and innovator. 

Where? In Canada 

When? He invented the sport in 1891

How? He took a soccer ball and a peach basket into the gym and invented basketball. In 1893, James Naismith replaced the peach basket with iron hoops and a hammock-style basket. Ten years later came the open-ended nets of today.

Why? James Naismith invented Basketball because they needed a sport to play indoors for the winter because it was too cold to play baseball or football outside. 

What were the circumstances at the beginning? The circumstances were that instead of a basketball they used a soccer ball. Instead of shooting at two hoops, the goals were a pair of peach baskets.


What was it like at the start? At the start students did seem to have much interest and they seemed to have a hard time trying to get used to the rules because most of them would just ran around with the ball.


What type of shots were taken? Modern basketball, the original rules did not include what is known today as the dribble. Since the ball could only be moved up the court via a pass early players tossed the ball over their heads as they ran up court. Also, following each "goal" a jump ball was taken in the middle of the court. Both practices are obsolete in the rules of modern basketball.



How is basketball different today than when it first started? Before was more of a finesse game, now is much more physical and grueling since the goal is to make the more easy close range shots that you can. Now the average height of the players is a minimum of 6'3 in many cases. In the past someone 6'3 was considered a big man of at least a forward. The skill level of players today is off the charts and that's the reason why I think many players are so underrated because to shine in a league today with so many talent is just too difficult as well as winning a Championship.