Basketball history

Basketball is one of the top three most loved sports in united States and one of the most popular sports around the world. This team sport is played by millions of amateur and professional players in all kinds of environments starting from the streets and schools, finishing with grand arenas.

Beside the large number of basketball players this sport is also one of the most watched and wagered sports worldwide.  The National Basketball Association (NBA) is broadcasted live in many countries and the finest games always attract a lot of bettors.

The history of basketball starts in ancient times when the indigenous North American population used to play a ballgame. There are few evidences covering the development of the sport until late 19th century when Dr. James Naismith, a physical education professor created an indoor game much like basketball, to keep his students active during bad weather day.

At first the peach basket had a bottom so the ball had to be retrieved manually after each point. This was inefficient and slowed down the game so the bottom of the basket was removed. The game Naismith created did not allow dribbling and it was played using a brown soccer ball.

The first official basketball game took place in 1892 in a YMCA gymnasium. The game involving nine players ended 1-0. Few years later the two teams of five players become a standard and by 1906 the peach baskets are replaced with metal hoops with backboards. In 1950s the ball color is changed to orange and the shape is improved leading to increased importance of dribbling.

In 1949 the National Basketball Association (NBA) is created from the merger of Basketball Association of America and National Basketball League. At this point basketball becomes a professional sport. NBA is currently the top basketball league in the world as popularity, level of competition and salaries, but basketball is gaining more popularity around the world and other leagues also rise their level.