History of Basketball

One of the greatest sports in the world is goes by the name of basketball. This great game was invented by James Naismith December of 1891. James Naismith was a physician from Canada and attended McGill’s University in Montreal, Canada. After working as McGill’s Athletic director he went to Springfield, Massachusetts. He introduced the game when he was an instructor at the Young Men Christian Association Training School in Springfield. He created the game because he needed to think of something the kids would be able to play during those cold winters, in a small area. He wanted to come up with something where you wouldn’t have to be the strongest but have to have to be skilled.

The game involved elements of football, soccer, and hockey the first game was actually played with a soccer ball. The goals were made of wooden peach baskets placed on the wall. Teams consisted of nine players but by 1897-1898 teams had then consist of five players. The game spread threw the nation, Canada and even certain parts of the world. It became popular even outdoors with servicemen playing it in other countries during War World II.

In 1893 and 1895 many U.S. colleges adopted this great sport. The first college games were played at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in 1934. By 1950 college basketball was becoming very huge and paved the way for more interest in basketball being played on the professional level. Formed in 1898 the National Basketball League was the first professional league formed. Unfortunate this professional league only lasted for five years. The leagues break-up spawned a numerous unorganized leagues throughout the northeast United States.

In 1926 British immigrant by the name of Abe Saperstein recruited five black basketball players from the slums of Chicago. He was able to get them two games a week at the Savoy Ballroom on the south side of Chicago. Abe Saperstein became the owner, coach, chauffeur, and sixth man on his team which was called the... [continues]

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