Defence! Clap! Clap! Clap!
A common cheer you hear today during a basketball game, a sport is widely followed today will millions of fans! However, back in the day, shooting a ball into a bucket like object seemed utterly preposterous.
So how exactly did this game evolve from a game with only 13 rules and few followers to a game that has over a billion followers?
20 January, 1892
On this day, the first official game of basketball was played in a YMCA gym in Albany, New York.
Basketball was ideated by James Naismith, who was a PE instructor. He wanted to create a game somewhat like American Football, except a less injury-prone one. “Basketball” seemed like a perfect idea- and it was created in 1891. Not only was this game less violent then football but it was mainly used a developed to keep athletes in condition during cold winter months.
Stay In The ‘Hoop’
🏀The first game, which was played in a YMCA gymnasium on Jan 20th, used soccer balls and peach baskets.
🏀Whenever a team made a shot, it would be referred to as goal, not hoop or basket.
🏀There were 15 minute halves, compared to right now which has 12 minute quarters.
🏀There were 9 players on each team, which totalled to 18 players on the court! (Today, there are teams of 5).
🏀The game was proposed to be called “the Naismith game,” however James said “we have a basket and a ball. Why don’t we call it basketball?”
🏀You weren’t even allowed to dribble the ball when the game was invented…you could only pass the ball.
🏀The basketball term Alley Oop (when a player throws a ball and another player dunks it midair) was developed from “allez oop”, which a French circus performer said before jumping.
Though people widely love basketball around the globe, James’s students weren’t ecstatic with the game. Frank Makan, one of the 18 players playing, responded with, “Hmph. Another new game.” Little did he know that this day was going down in history.
Who’s your favourite basketball player?
