Austin Whitton

Professor Loudermilk

English Composition II

26 April 2020

The Sport for All

The legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson once said “the strength of the team is in

each member. The strength of each member is in the team.” Basketball is an inclusive game for

everyone. The game helps you build many strong characteristics like toughness, fortitude, and

perseverance. Basketball is a game for everyone and promotes great things like diversity and

inclusion. Basketball is an incredibly popular sport. If you take a walk in any park it is highly

likely you will see a basketball court with people playing friendly pick-up games. Basketball is a

universal game; many different races, cultures, and backgrounds enjoy the game in many

different ways. Many individuals enjoy playing this game.

You do not need to know or even speak the same language when playing the game, you

just play. If you are unable to actively play the game you can watch it. Turn on any television

and you are likely able to find something that relates to basketball. Many NBA, college, and

even some premier high school basketball games are televised throughout the year. Another great

way to be involved in the game is by buying stylish basketball clothes like shoes from some of

the biggest athletic clothing brands in the world like Jordan or Nike. The great game of

basketball impacts all aspects of life and brings many different people from different

backgrounds together. So, if basketball is such a great game that is very influential what is

basketballs history? How has basketball influenced culture? The history of basketball has a
unique beginning and a distinct history throughout the world; basketball has positively

influenced many aspects of society including race, culture, and entertainment.

The history of basketball is one of the most unique beginnings in sports. It was a cold

December in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891. James Naismith, a Canadian born teacher, was

tasked with creating a new game for his students to play inside during the cold winter months

(“Where Basketball Was Invented). Naismith wanted to create a fun game that was a

combination of American and English rugby, lacrosse, and soccer (“James Naismith”). Even in

basketball's beginnings, it is unique and fun by combining many different amazing sports and

games. Naismith had come up with a game and needed two baskets as goals to score. He found 2

peach baskets to use as goals, he then nailed each one to the balcony on each side of the gym.

Naismith created the famous 13 rules and debuted his game in his class. The game had two teams

of nine players on the court at once which is quite different from today (“Where Basketball Was

Invented”). Today, teams play five versus five in any regulated game. The game ended with only

one point being scored, the final score was one to zero (“James Naismith”).
Fig. 1 Dr. Naismith helps teach a woman basketball (“First Game of Basketball Played in

Springfield.”).

Soon after the game had been played it became very popular. Many YMCAs began to

play the game and it became very popular. Rule changes made the game easier and more fun to

play. Dribbling was allowed, a backboard was added, and the swapped out the peach basket for a

net (“The History of Basketball”). Basketball became an official winter sport in 1905 and by the

1920s professional teams started to form (“James Naismith”). One of the first basketball leagues

was the National Basketball League which was formed in 1935. The league mostly had teams in

small cities in the Midwest. Not much is known about this league, but it had multiple teams and

later merged with the NBA (“NBL”). Basketball first debuted in the Olympics in 1936. It was the

Berlin, Germany Olympics and Naismith was able to throw the ball up for tipoff as well as award

the athletes with medals (“James Naismith”). Unfortunately, Naismith died 3 short years later in

1939 from a stroke. Naismith was never able to see his creation explode in the 1940s and 1950s

(“Biography”).

Later in 1939, the first-ever NCAA college basketball tournament was held. The

University of Oregon defeated the Ohio State University in the championship game, this is what

we famously know today as march madness (Burnsed). Another major professional basketball

league was formed in 1946 and was called the Basketball Association of America. The league

debuted with eleven teams and 6 teams are actually in the current NBA today. The BAA formed

in major cities and played in big arenas to attract more fans than their rival league the NBL.

Those teams are the Boston Celtics, The New York Knicks, the Philadelphia Warriors which are

now called the Golden State Warriors, the Fort Wayne Pistons which are now the Detroit

Pistons, The Minneapolis Lakers which are now the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Rochester
Royals which are now the Sacramento Kings. Both the BAA and NBL had to compete for fans

and revenue, so they joined forces in 1949 (“BAA”). On a warm summer day on August 3, 1949

representatives from both leagues met in New York City to officially merge the two leagues. The

new league was called the National Basketball Association. It featured teams from both big and

small cities all across the United States of America (History.com Editors).

Like many other things in America in this time basketball was a mostly segregated sport

except college basketball. Many people are familiar with the Negro Leagues in baseball and

Jackie Robinson breaking down the color barrier, but not many people know that there were all-

black basketball leagues too. The NBA broke the color barrier in 1950 when Earl Lloyd took the

court for the Washington Capitals (History.com Editors). In the 1950s the NBA struggled to find

fan support and many teams began disbanding. The NBA started with 17 teams and by 1954 had

just 8 teams left. League officials came up with the twenty-four-second shot clock rule which

increased pace of play and made the game much more enjoyable to watch which led to an

increase in popularity (NBA Hoops Online). The first European basketball league was

established in 1958 and was called the EuroLeague. Basketball has continued to forge paths into

new countries (EuroLeague Basketball).

In the 60s the Boston Celtics were undeniably dominant. They were led by one of the

greatest players ever in Bill Russell. 1962, Wilt Chamberlin set an almost unbreakable record by

scoring 100 points in a single game. The only player to come somewhat close to this incredible

feat was Kobe Bryant when he scored 81 points in a game in 2006 (Fromal). The game of

basketball is truly amazing. In the 1960s Jerry West became the iconic NBA logo that we all

know today. Also, in this decade the American Basketball Association was created as a rival to

the NBA in 1967 (Fromal). The ABAs primary goal was to set up teams in cities where the NBA
was not. The ABA helped change the game forever by adding a 3-point line to its game. The

ABA found popularity because of the new rules (Franz). The 1960s were dominated by baseball

and so much of basketball went unnoticed, however, it started to forge a new path into the

seventies.

The ABA started to become a real problem for the NBA in the seventies. The ABA had

become popular and could be described as quirky compared to the NBA. Unfortunately for the

ABA dwindling finance supply caused them to merge with the NBA making the NBA even

bigger. In 1976 the two leagues merged and the New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, Denver

Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs became a member of the NBA (About the ABA). In the 1970s

the slam dunk became hugely popular and boosted the image of the game (Fromal).

The 1980s were one of the best decades for basketball. NCAA basketball and March

Madness started to gain popularity with future NBA superstars playing in college. The Magic

Johnson Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird Boston Celtics were a great rivalry and both

dominant in this decade. Basketball was being started to air on National Television and became

wildly popular. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest players of all time, began his extraordinary

career in the mid-eighties (Fromal). The eighties gave a clear path to one of the greatest

basketball decades of all time: the 1990s.

The nineties created a path to make the NBA what it is today. In the nineties, you had

incredible talents like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and the beginning of Shaquille

O’Neal’s career. Sure, the nineties were one of the best competitive basketball decades, but it

gave way to something almost even more important: sports marketing. Nike and basketball

became a marketing empire. Basketball shoes and clothes became the cool thing to wear. Nike

created a huge basketball empire featuring Michael Jordan as their Premier athlete. Michael
Jordan had his signature shoes that customers could buy. The sport exploded in popularity even

more from the 1980s (Fromal). College basketball also became even more popular than it already

was. You had the University of Michigan Fab Five. The Fab Five was the first time five

freshman college players all started on the same team at once. They wore baggy basketball shorts

just like Michael Jordan did, making the culture and popularity of the game increase (Bentley).

Overall, the 1990s were truly revolutionary.

Fig 2. Micahel Jordan was truly dominant on and off the court in the nineties (Bengston).

Since 2000, basketball has increased in popularity. The 2000s brought forward all-time

greats like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett. In this decade athletes continued to

progress with big endorsement deals with athletics apparel companies. The early part of the

decade was dominated by the Los Angeles Lakers and also saw a young superstar on and off the

court in LeBron James. Both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have not only been great
influences on the court but have had a positive impact on the community and society.

Basketball's popularity soared even more from the 1990s in this era. Players continued to make a

vital positive influence on their communities. College basketball has continued to see popularity

in this era, however many high school basketball players were not required to go to college

before entering the NBA. This means than many NBA stars would’ve had to go to one year at a

college or university before entering the NBA (Fromal). The NBA then enacted a rule in 2006

which would require all potential NBA draftees to be nineteen or one years removed from high

school (NBA Draft Rules). The 2000s continued to pave the way for the next generation of stars

to positively impact their culture and community.

The 2010s continued its basketball dominance from the 2000s. This era has again been

dominated by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and more recently Giannis

Antetokounmpo. LeBron James has continued to lead the way in impact on and off the court

Signature shoes and basketball clothing culture has a big economic state. Everything about

basketball has become synonymous with cool. Almost every star basketball has its signature shoe

and some sort of clothes. NBA teams are generating tons of money in revenue. College

basketball has also seen great success as March Madness has become a huge revenue generator

for the sport (Fromal). Unfortunately, at the end of the 2010s-era basketball lost two very

important men to the game. David Stern, a commissioner for the NBA from 1984 to 2014,

passed away. Kobe Bryant also tragically passed away in a helicopter crash. Overall, the history

of basketball has influenced almost every aspect of life including entertainment, culture, and

even economics.

The history of basketball is a history like no other sport. Basketball has also put itself out

there as being one of the most influential sports ever. It has had an overwhelmingly positive
influence on social issues, culture, and entertainment. The NBA is far ahead of other major

leagues when it comes to progressiveness and impact on society. The basketball and the NBA

have impacted many different social issues like race, diversity, and even politics. Basketball is a

truly transcendental sport.

Race has been a big part of basketball ever since its creation. The game was first created

and played by white Americans, however, quickly many immigrants and people from all over the

world would fall in love with the game. Since the United States was mostly segregated in the

early 1900s many all-black basketball teams and leagues began to form. The color barrier was

broken in 1950 in the NBA and soon many African Americans would bring their talents and

integrate the NBA. Black superstars would soon begin to shine in college basketball as well. The

NBA would become dominated by minorities and help give them a voice and something to look

up to in racially tough times. Basketball has a history of being an inclusive sport for everyone to

play no matter age, race, or gender orientation (The NBA). Today, the league is majority

African-American, many players are also from different countries other than the United States.

The African America Registry tells us that “Black players in the NBA have helped to transform

the game into a billion-dollar industry” which just shows the importance of African Americans to

the NBA. Many NBA players have spoken up about modern racial issues like police brutality.

NBA superstars such as LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony have

been at the forefront of representing minority issues and speaking up for those without a voice.

In 2016, the NBA had over 70 initiatives to help out with things about social justice.

NBA players and teams have agreed that they need to be active in the community and speak out

about how race and sports intersect (Hall). Having NBA players be positive role models is super

beneficial to the community. It is also beneficial for minorities to have these starts step up for
them as well. NBA teams are starting to host events that bring police departments and the

community together rather than being divided. The Milwaukee Bucks have started community

basketball leagues so that the police can have positive interaction with the community (Hall).

The NBA is a league that celebrates diversity and inclusion and is a strong positive influence on

society and the community.

Diversity is also a very big part of basketball's history. Dan Klores tells us that basketball

“has established itself as a culture of progressive ideas, leadership, and diversity” which is very

important to society. Many different people from many different backgrounds love to play this

great game. Basketball is a truly global game and encourages inclusion in all aspects. Not only is

basketball a big sport in America, but people from all across the globe love to play the game.

There are professional basketball leagues throughout six of the seven continents on earth. Some

other major leagues excluding the NBA are the EuroLeague, the Australian National Basketball

League, and the China Basketball Association (Fraschilla). In 2018 the NBA had 108

international players from 42 different countries, this is around one-fourth of total NBA players

(NBA.com).

Not only are there many foreign players in the NBA, but some of them are some of the

best players to play the game. Guys like Yao Ming from China, Dikembe Mutombo from Congo,

Steve Nash from South Africa, Dirk Nowitzki from Germany, and Hakeem Olajuwon have been

NBA superstars and have inspired many kids all across the globe to get involved in the great

game of basketball (Favale). Even in a poor country like the Philippines, you can find many

young kids enjoying the great game of basketball. Sopan Deb tells us that if you “go to any street

corner in the Philippines. Any village. Any beach. Even a church. You’re likely to see a

basketball jersey” this shows us how basketball has had such a powerful impact all over the
world. Social status, race, or where you come from has no impact on how much someone can

enjoy the game. Basketball is loved by many all across the globe.

Not only is basketball accessible to people of many races and countries, but it is also

accessible to women. Women have their professional basketball league called the WNBA for the

super talented. Women’s college basketball is also very successful allowing many young women

to get a degree on a scholarship. Women’s high school basketball is also very popular with just

about every high school having a team. Many NBA players have talked about how talented these

women are at basketball (History – WNBA.com). Although many basketball associations and

leagues are separated by sex, women still have an opportunity to shine on the court just like the

men.

Professional basketball athletes even have a voice in some political issues. LeBron James

has voiced his opinions in support of certain presidential candidates over others. LeBron has also

voiced concerns over things like racial inequality as well as police brutality. A talk show host

told James to “shut up and dribble” in response to what James had been saying. James responded

by saying “I will not shut up and dribble,” this shows the power and influence basketball athletes

have on everything, even politics. Golden State Warriors superstar guard also put out his

thoughts on the matter by saying “there are guys that are going out, putting resources and funds

and raising awareness in the community.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver also commended the

players for using their platform to speak out and be a positive influence on society (Bembry).

Overall, players not only have impacts on big things like society, but they also can influence

things like politics.

Basketball has influenced many different areas of life, but it arguably has influenced

culture the most. Basketball culture has a stigma of being cool. Basketball shoes have exploded
in popularity and so have big-name sports apparel companies like Nike and Jordan. Many people

like to wear clothes with different basketball references like a logo or saying. Scoop Jackson was

interviewing LaMarcus Aldridge, an NBA player, when Aldridge said “Growing up in my

neighborhood, (Jordans) were kind of like the holy grail” this shows the importance of basketball

culture to kids and adults alike. As previously mentioned, many of the best professional

basketball players have their shoes which anyone can buy. Basketball has a big economic impact

because it is such a big and important thing. Not only is basketball big on the fashion side, but

also in Hollywood. Three very big movies have impacted the way people view basketball.

“Hoosiers,” which is based on a High School basketball team in Indiana, showed everyone how

important basketball was to everyone, especially to high schoolers. “White Men Can’t Jump”

showed us how basketball could have a truly strong impact of poor inner-city life. Lastly, “Space

Jam” showed us how big these NBA superstars were to everyone (Logan). Basketball has had an

arguably strong impact on all cultures, especially American culture.

Basketball has had a truly positive impact on everyone’s life including my own. Many

people love and have a strong passion for the game. It has had a truly unique history that has

impacted many major things along the way. The game helps you build many strong

characteristics like toughness, fortitude, and perseverance. It also encourages diversity and

getting involved. Anyone can play a great game and many people from many different

backgrounds have played it. So, if basketball is such a great game that is very influential what is

basketballs history? How has basketball influenced culture? The history of basketball has a

unique beginning and a distinct history throughout the world; basketball has positively

influenced many aspects of society including race, culture, and entertainment. Basketball is a

game for everyone.

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