Basketball is a demanding sport to master; it requires stamina, teamwork, and exceptional talent to outscore rivals and win the game. Moreover, if you’re a basketball fan who enjoys wagering on the game, you must explore college basketball picks, as it gives you access to detailed analysis along with top picks of the match, which undoubtedly help you place more informed bets.
Basketball is more than just a court, a ball, and a referee. Here are some exciting basketball facts that you probably didn’t know.
1. Basketball was invented by James Naismith
James Naismith is credited with inventing basketball after being asked by his boss at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891 to create an indoor winter pastime. Naismith, a physical education instructor, created the first basketball rule book and established the University of Kansas basketball program.
2. Fouls committed
It was never permitted to shoulder, hold, shove, trip, or strike an opponent. However, such violations were not declared fouls until 1910, when a rule was introduced that disqualified a player for incurring four of them. In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (now the National Basketball Association) established a five-team limit, which increased to six the following year.
3. Michael Jordan had to pay a fee for wearing his shoes
You undoubtedly associate Michael Jordan with his renowned Air Jordans. You might not know that these shoes were formerly prohibited under the NBA dress code. The NBA fined Michael Jordan every time he wore them while playing. The NBA eventually permitted the sneakers to be worn on the court.
4. The 1979 NCAA tournament marked the beginning of basketball legends
Many remember the 1979 NCAA tournament game between Michigan State and Indiana State as one of the best-rated events in the sport’s history. This game inaugurated the era of basketball greats and NBA stars as a clash between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, who had never faced each other before this tournament.
5. Initially, a separate ball was used for basketball
A soccer ball was used for playing basketball and a peach basket, with officials needing to recover the ball each time a player scored. Backboards were added to prevent spectators from blocking a shot with the introduction of string baskets in 1900.
6. Dribbling was not permitted
Players were never able to advance the ball. Instead, each player was required to throw the ball wherever he caught it—the first team which dribbled for the first time played in Yale in 1897. The formal rule allowing a single dribble per possession was introduced four years later.
