For a little over a century of existence, this kind of sport has won the hearts of millions of fans around the globe. The US National Basketball Association has become one of the world’s leading sports organizations in terms of fan base and prestige. Basketball is the number one sport in the US. In other countries, this sport is almost always in the top three. In Lithuania, basketball is recognized as a national sport. Despite its simplicity, this sport is a difficult challenge for athletes who train hard to be successful on the basketball court. Let’s learn more about the history of the development of this spectacular sport.
At the end of the 19th century, introducing students to sports consisted of monotonous gymnastics, which bored and discouraged any desire to play sports. A young teacher, James Naisweet, from the Youth Christian Association College, decided to change the situation and invented the first prototype of the game, which subsequently spread throughout the world. On December 21, 1891, he suggested that the students split into two teams and try to take turns throwing the ball into the baskets, which James fixed on the railing of the gym. The students were delighted with the innovation and happily began throwing balls trying to outdo the opposing team. At that time, the ball did not bounce off the surface, instead, college students threw the ball to each other.
Naiswit’s invention was liked by the leadership of the college and other educational institutions. The game soon spread throughout the US and Canada. The college even had to create a special committee to regulate and regulate such games. Due to the rapidly growing popularity of the game, the college was unable to combine its main activities with matches, and in connection with which in 1898 it was decided to create the National Basketball League.
The inventor of the game, James Neiswith, took an active part in the development and popularization of basketball.
It was he who wrote the first 13 principles:
These rules were later improved by James himself and his associates.
At the beginning of the 20th century, basketball became a serious sport in which the high-class squads competed. There were about a hundred teams in the US alone.
In 1936, this kind of sport became part of the official competitive program of the Olympic Games. The inventor of the game, James Naismith, was invited to the games as a guest of honor.
The National Association, which is still active today, was formed in 1946 as a result of the merger of two organizations: the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League.
The first international basketball match took place in 1904 and attracted great attention from the world community. In 1932, an international convention of basketball associations was held at which a decision was made to establish a multinational basketball federation. The first composition of this federation included such countries as Czechoslovakia, Greece, Argentina, Portugal, Switzerland, and Romania. Very soon, almost all countries of the world were accepted into this organization, which allowed athletes from all over the globe to take part in international competitions.
For a long time, the US team was considered the strongest in the world until the defeat of the USSR team in 1972.
At the moment, basketball teams are truly international thanks to the open draft of players. Basketball competitions are broadcast on television, on the Internet and gather hundreds of thousands of fans at the stadiums.
The popularity of basketball is ensured by its simplicity and entertainment. Matches are filled with adrenaline, the spirit of competition, and the will to win. Watching spectacular games on TV or the Internet causes unforgettable emotions, not to mention the presence directly at the stadium during the match.
The basketball community of fans is replenished every day with new fans of this sport. Become one of them and get an unforgettable pleasure!