| Basketball as a game needs no introduction. Legends | | | | of the game started the next year, in 1892. Senda |
| like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 'Magic' Johnson and Michael | | | | Berenson, a physical education teacher at Smith's |
| Jordan have achieved cult-status, both, within U.S.A | | | | College modified the rules for the women's version. |
| and outsides. However, this fascinating game that | | | | It may be hard to believe but the first basketball |
| went on to be the darling of the world began, rather | | | | games used soccer balls. The balls that were made |
| innocuously. | | | | for the game were brown in color. It was not until |
| It was December, 1891. Dr. James Naismith, a | | | | the late 1950's when the orange balls that have |
| Canadian physician of McGill University and minister on | | | | become a common sight now, made an appearance. |
| the faculty of Springfield College, Massachusetts, | | | | The credit goes to one Tony Hinkle. |
| U.S.A was worried about the long New England | | | | Dribbling did not form a part of the game's original ball |
| winters. Well, not exactly. He was preoccupied with | | | | movement. The bounce-pass was there but the |
| the indolent state of his students. They were not to | | | | predominant way of movement was by passing the |
| be blamed. The cold broke the back of the best. | | | | ball. The asymmetric shape of the early ball limited |
| He tweaked his mind for something that would beat | | | | the evolution of this one act that is the cornerstone |
| the cold. He had a brainwave. It would be a game. | | | | of the modern play. |
| And the game was basketball! | | | | The game spilled over from schools and colleges to |
| He was wrong on one account, though. Basketball did | | | | become a national rage. As a result, the NBA or the |
| not remain a simple game meant for winter. It went | | | | National Basketball Association came into fore. The |
| on to became a passion that touched millions. | | | | N.B.A organized the professional game and today the |
| The research activists claim that Dr Naismith had | | | | N.B.A has become synonymous with basketball. The |
| evolved the basics of a Mayan game and written his | | | | first professional game took place between the |
| own rules. What is interesting in this respect is the | | | | Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. |
| fact that the archetypal baskets had a bottom, | | | | The place was Toronto, Canada and the date was |
| totally unlike the modern counterparts. The balls that | | | | November 1, 1946. |
| went into the basket had to be poked out. | | | | From 2001, the NBA has formed a developmental |
| It became popular, quite fast. The women's version | | | | league called the NBDL. |