History of basketball

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The History of basketball begins with the invention of the game in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Throughout the 20th century, leagues developed such as the NCAA, the NBA and others. Today it is one of the most popular sports in the world.

Early history[edit]

Invention of the game[edit]

The game of basketball was created by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 to condition football players during the winter. It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball. He published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of 18 into 2 teams of 9 players each and set about to teach them the basics of his new game of Basketball.

The objective of the game was to throw the basketball, into the fruit baskets nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony. Every time a point was scored, the game was halted so the janitor could bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. Later, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.[1] That day, he asked his class to play a match in the Armory Street court: 9 versus 9, using a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Frank Mahan, one of his students, wasn’t so happy. He just said: "Huh. Another new game".[2] However, Naismith was the inventor of the new game. Someone proposed to call it “Naismith Game”, but he suggested "We have a ball and a basket: why don’t we call it basket ball"?[3] The eighteen players were: John J. Thompson, Eugene S. Libby, Edwin P. Ruggles, William R. Chase, T. Duncan Patton, Frank Mahan, Finlay G. MacDonald, William H. Davis and Lyman Archibald, who defeated George Weller, Wilbert Carey, Ernest Hildner, Raymond Kaighn, Genzabaro Ishikawa, Benjamin S. French, Franklin Barnes, George Day and Henry Gelan 1–0.[4] The goal was scored by Chase.[5] There were other differences between Naismith’s first idea and the game played today. The peach baskets were closed, and balls had to be retrieved manually, until a small hole was put in the bottom of the peach basket to poke the ball out using a stick. Only in 1906 were metal hoops, nets and back boards introduced. Moreover, earlier the soccer ball was replaced by a Spalding ball, similar to the one used today.[6][7]

YMCA, U.S. Army spread development[edit]

It was the YMCA that had a major role in spreading basketball throughout the United States, Canada, and the world. In 1893, Mel Rideout arranged the first European match in Paris, in Montmartre. At the same time, Bob Gailey went to Tientsin, China (1894[8]), Duncan Patton to India, Genzabaro Ishikawa to Japan, and C. Hareek to Persia.[9]

The First World War broke out in 1914, and the U.S. Army started fighting in Europe in 1917. During World War I, American Expeditionary Force brought basketball wherever they went. Together with the troops, there were hundreds of physical education teachers, who knew basketball quite well, and even James Naismith spent two years with YMCA in France, in that period. Not only did they bring basketball with them, but even the “modern” basketball, that is the game as it was played in the United States at that time.[10]

Professional leagues, teams and organizations[edit]

The first professional league was founded in 1898. Six teams took part in the National Basketball League, and the first champions were the Trenton Nationals, followed by the New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers and the Camden Electrics. The league was abandoned in 1904.[11] Then, many small championships were organized, but most of them were not as important as some teams who played for money against challengers.

The Original Celtics, for instance, are considered the "fathers of basketball",[12] and were presented as "World’s Basketball Champions";[12] the players had to sign a contract to play with them and the Jim Furey, organized matches as a circus, moving daily from town to town. The Celtics became the strongest team, and their successes lasted from 1922 until 1928, when the team disbanded due to ownership problems. The Original Celtics are sometimes incorrectly thought of as forebears of the current Boston Celtics of the NBA; in reality, they share only a name, as today's Celtics were not founded until 1946, nearly two decades after the demise of the Original Celtics. In 1922, the first all-African American professional team was founded: the Rens (also known as New York Renaissance or Harlem Renaissance).[13] The Rens were the Original Celtics’ usual opponent, and for their matches a ticket cost $1.[14] They took part in some official championships and won the first World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1939. The team disbanded in 1949.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909),[15] Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921)[16] and American Basketball League (founded in 1925)[17] were the most important leagues.

American colleges lead the way[edit]

The greatest level of early basketball activity was seen in American colleges. The first recorded instance of an organized college basketball game was played between Geneva College and the New Brighton YMCA on April 8, 1893, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, which Geneva College won 3–0. Geneva College calls itself "The Birthplace of College Basketball".[18] In February 1895, Minnesota State School of Agriculture and Hamline University played the first intercollegiate match (won 9–3 by Minnesota). In that period, the Amateur Athletic Union took over the organization of collegiate activity. In 1905, Yale University was disqualified, and some universities created the Intercollegiate Athletic Association, which became National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1910.[19] For thirty years, there were many conferences: they were small state championships. The NABC (founded in 1927 by University of Kansas Coach, Phog Allen) created a national tournament in 1939. The following season they asked the NCAA to take over the tournament that would become known as March Madness.[20]

NBA founded[edit]

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[21] The league adopted the name National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949 after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL). As of the early 21st century, the NBA is the most significant professional basketball league in the US in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.[22]

African-Americans in basketball[edit]

The Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn and the St. Christopher Club of New York City was established as the first fully organized independent all-black basketball teams in 1906. These teams were amateur.[23]


In 1908 Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn, a member of the Olympian Athletic League, was named the first Colored Basketball World's Champion.[24]

In 1910, Howard University’s first varsity basketball team began.

In 1922, the Commonwealth Five, the first all-black professional team was founded. The New York Renaissance was founded in 1923.

In 1939, the all-black New York Renaissance beat the all-white Oshkosh All-Stars in the World Pro Basketball Tournament.

The all-white National Basketball League began to racially integrate in 1942 with 10 black players joining two teams, the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets and the Chicago Studebakers. The NBA integrated in the 1950–51 season, with three black players each achieving a separate milestone in that process. In the draft held immediately prior to that season, Chuck Cooper became the first black player drafted by an NBA team. Shortly after the draft, Nat Clifton became the first black player to sign an NBA contract. Finally, Earl Lloyd became the first black player to appear in an NBA game, as his team started its season before either Cooper's or Clifton's.

American Basketball Association[edit]

The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded as an alternative to the NBA in 1967 [25] at a time when the NBA was experiencing a lot of popularity. The ABA offered an alternative ethos and game style as well as some changes in the rules. Julius Erving was the leading player in the league, and helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. His playing strength helped legitimize the American Basketball Association. The league emphasized excitement and liveliness, be it in the color of the ball (red, white and blue), the manner of play, wild promotions, or the three-point shot. National recognition and earnings were low, leading the league to look for a way out of its problems. Merger with the more established and very successful NBA was seen as a solution. The ABA was folded into the NBA in the summer of 1976, its four most successful franchises (the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs) being incorporated into the older league.[25] The aggressive, loose style of play and the three-point shot [25] were taken up by the NBA.

First international games[edit]

After its arrival in Europe, basketball developed very quickly. In 1909 there was the first international match in Saint Petersburg: Mayak Saint Petersburg beat a YMCA American team.[26] The first great European event was held in Joinville-le-Pont, near Germany, during the Inter-Allied Games. United States, led by future Hall of Fame player Max Friedman, won against Italy and France, and then Italy beat France. Basketball soon became popular among French and Italians. The Italian team had a white shirt with the House of Savoy shield and the players were: Arrigo and Marco Muggiani, Baccarini, Giuseppe Sessa, Palestra, Pecollo and Bagnoli.[27]

Formation of FIBA[edit]

World basketball was growing, but it was on June 18, 1932 that a real international organization was formed, to coordinate tournaments and teams: that day, Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland founded the International Basketball Federation (Fédération internationale de basket-ball amateur, FIBA) in Geneva.[28] Its work was fundamental for the first inclusion of basketball in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. The first Olympic title was won by the U.S. national team: Sam Balter, Ralph Bishop, Joe Fortenberry, Tex Gibbons, Francis Johnson, Carl Knowles, Frank Lubin, Art Mollner, Donald Piper, Jack Ragland, Willard Schmidt, Carl Shy, Duane Swanson, Bill Wheatley and the trainer James Needles. Canada was runner-up; the games were played on an outdoor clay court. The first World Championship was held in Argentina in 1950.[29]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 18-19.
  2. ^ Associated Press, Newly found documents shed light on basketball's birth, ESPN.com, 13 November 2006, Sports.espn.go.com.
  3. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 18.
  4. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 21.
  5. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 22.
  6. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 20.
  7. ^ Glenn, Dickey. The history of professional basketball since 1896. New York: Stein and Day, 1982.
  8. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 79.
  9. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 80.
  10. ^ Lesile Colbeck et al., The Basketball World, FIBA, Monaco, 1972, quoted by Arceri-Bianchini, p. 81.
  11. ^ Hoosierhistorian, National Basket Ball League, «Hoopedia», 9 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com
  12. ^ a b Arceri-Bianchini, p. 37.
  13. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 38.
  14. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 39.
  15. ^ Hoosierhistorian, Eastern Basket Ball League, Hoopedia, 9 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  16. ^ Hoosierhistorian, Metropolitan Basketball League, Hoopedia, 12 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  17. ^ Hoosierhistorian, ABL (1925–1955), Hoopedia, 12 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  18. ^ Geneva.edu
  19. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 45.
  20. ^ Hoosierhistorian, NoseNuggets, NCAA Division I Men's Tournament, Hoopedia, 21 April 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  21. ^ The First NBA Game: 1946 New York-Toronto
  22. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 49.
  23. ^ a b "Black Fives Timeline". 
  24. ^ Colored Basketball World's Champions - Hoopedia
  25. ^ a b c http://www.remembertheaba.com/
  26. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 81.
  27. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 133.
  28. ^ History of FIBA, in FIBA.com.
  29. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 185.


  • Arceri, Mario; Bianchini, Valerio (2004). La leggenda del basket. Milano: Baldini Castoldi Dalai. ISBN 9788884906267. 
  • James Naismith, Basketball: Its Origin and Development, University of Nebraska Press, 1941.

External links[edit]

  • Transcript of Naismith's original notes on the first basketball game