Basketball history articles

Unlike other major sports, the origins of basketball are not very ancient and most historians agree that the sport was founded in 1891 by James Naismith.

Basketball history articles

However, its development was at times complex and was able to thrive as other major sports enthralled audiences in the United States and later the world.

Early History

With the invention of basketball in 1891, a new game that was very different than its contemporaries formed.

The specific founding of basketball are precisely known because James Naismith (Figure 1), who worked as a instructor at a YMCA, was given the task of creating an indoor game. This was seen as a way to keep children out of trouble and entertained during the winter months.

Initially, Naismith tried to create versions of American football or soccer as indoor sports. However, all of these proved too violent, as they also caused damage to pr