NATURE AND BACKGROUND OF BASKETBALL

Basketball - Invented in December 1891

- By James Naismith (Canadian Clergyman, Educator, and Physician)
- Instructor at Young Men’s Christian Association Training School in Springfield
- At the request of his superior, Dr. Luther H. Gulick, he created a vigorous
recreation suitable for indoor winter play.
- Involves elements of;
a. American Football
b. Soccer
c. Hockey
- First ball used was Soccer Ball
- Has (9) nine players, goals were wooden peach baskets affixed to the walls.

YEAR EVENTS
12/1891 Invention of Basketball
1893 - 1895 U.S Colleges adopted the game
1898 National Basketball League was created to protect players from exploitation and
to promote less rough game in 1898. [Lasted 5 years before disbanding, its
demise spawned a ranged of loosely organized leagues throughout America]
1915 First and Greatest Pro Teams was Original Celtics
1934 First College games were staged in New York City, Madison Square Garden
1937 National Basketball League was created
1946 Basketball Association of America was created
1949 Two professional leagues, National Basketball League and Basketball
Association of America merged to created NBA National Basketball
Association
1950 Basketball becomes a Major Basketball Sport
1950 - 1960 Lead by Bill Russel, Boston Celtics dominated NBA. [Wilt Chamberlain
another leading player]
1970 NBA suffered a drop in popularity

1980 Larry Bird (Boston Celtics) and Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers) [superior
skills and decade long rivalry]