The History Of Basketball

It’s More Than a Game

Basketball has become an international sport. People all around the world enjoy playing it with friends, or even competing for a championship. But haven’t you always wondered where it all began, who were the first people to play it, and who thought of something as simple as putting a ball through a hoop?

When you think of basketball you probably think of the names LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or Kobe Bryant. Even though these are some superstars of the game there is one man way more important than them and without him they wouldn’t be playing the sport they love. This man goes by the name of Dr. James Naismith. Naismith was a physical education teacher at the YMCA International Training school. One day Naismith had the challenge of finding an indoor game as an “athletic distraction” for the students. Instead of adapting outdoor games like soccer and lacrosse, Naismith remembered a game for his childhood days called duck-on-a-rock where you had to throw a rock at a “duck” on another large rock. To do this it takes extremely good accuracy. From this Naismith created 13 rules for the game

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.

4. The ball must be held by the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there ...

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... always see that which team wants it more, and that’s what entertains people the most. Some may say the game is becoming to mainstream, but I think it’s on the right track.

Basketball has been around for 118 years. It has evolved so much. I bet Naismith never thought that something so simple would change the world. Basketball has even changed lives, by reaching out to other countries, and all kinds of charities. For some people basketball is life, and it has even saved lives. A lot of players in the NBA have come from nothing, but since they excelled in basketball all their biggest dreams have come true. Basketball can even help you escape from all your troubles and worries. You can ask any player what it is like to step on a basketball court and I bet they will tell you it’s the best feeling in the world. Basketball really is more than a game, it’s a way of life.