Basketball n n The inventor of basketball was

Basketball n n The inventor of basketball was a guy from Canada named Dr. James Naismith. While working for the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891, he was trying to find an indoor sport to play during the winter months. It was 1 st played with a soccer ball & 2 peach baskets on a court that measured 50 x 35 (today’s court is 94 x 50) High School is only 84 x 50

n 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Naismith’s 1 st set of rules were: The ball can be thrown in any direction with one or both hands. The ball can be batted with one or both hands, but not with a fist. A player can not run with the ball. He must throw it from the spot that he catches it. The ball must be held in and between 2 hands, not the arms or body. No shouldering, pushing, holding, striking or tripping an opponent. If either side makes 3 consecutive fouls, it counts as a goal for the opponent. Basketball Rules

Basketball Rules 7) A goal is scored when a ball is thrown or batted into the basket and stays there 8) When the ball goes out of bounds, it can be thrown in by the first person touching it, but has only 5 seconds. 9) The time is 2, fifteen minute halves, with 5 minutes rest between. 10) The side making the most goals in this time is the winner.

1 st Games l l l The first official game was played at a YMCA gym in Jan. , of 1892, with 9 players on a team, & a court ½ today’s size. The sport spread quickly throughout the U. S. through the local YMCAs. Women also played their 1 st game in 1892, although with different rules.

1950 s n n Many major changes happened in the 1950 s including the color of the ball went from brown to orange so people could see it better. This was first introduced by Tony Hinkle. And the dribble became common when a better quality ball was made to allow for a consistent dribble.

College Basketball n n n Naismith helped to introduce the sport to colleges when he became the first head coach at the Univ. of Kansas. Football coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg, introduced it to the Univ. of Chicago Adolf Rupp, who played for Naismith, became the 1 st great coach at the Univ. of Kentucky.

1 St Women’s Game The 1 st college women’s game was played between Stanford and Berkeley in April of 1896. They played 9 on 9 and the final score was 2 to 1.

Changes in Basketball § 1896, open rims replace closed baskets to help speed up the game. Nets were attached to help officials see if the ball went through the basket or not. And wooden backboards were added. § 1900, for safety purposes, the number of players was reduced to 5 at a time. § 1906, wire “cages” or fencing is placed around the courts to protect fans, but caused injuries to players. § 1908, a player is ejected after 5 fouls.

More Rule Changes § § § 1915, The dribbler is allowed to shoot. 1923, The designated free-throw shooter is eliminated. 1936, The center jump is eliminated after each basket.

Pro Basketball is Born • 1896, A team in Trenton, New Jersey rented a Masonic Lodge and charged admission. • Each player was paid $15. ( The captain of the winning team made $16) • The first pro league started in 1896, but quickly folded, as did many that followed.

Pro Basketball n 1937, Firestone, Goodyear, & General Electric sponsored the 1 st all pro basketball league called the National Basketball League. n In 1949, after WWII, the NBL folded and the remaining teams joined other pro teams to form the 1 st true national basketball league called the National Basketball Association, or the NBA.

More Changes l 1944, The 3 second lane is introduced to pro basketball. l 1950, The first black players enter the NBA. (Nate Clifton, Earl Lloyd, Charles Cooper) l 1954, The NBA adopts a 24 second shot clock. l By the 1970 s, 5 on 5 full court games become standard for girls. 1979 – NBA adds 3 -point shot 1986 – College adds 3 -point shot l l

Early Barnstorming Teams 1939 – Harlem Wrens were the best team in that era with a 112 -7 record. They were the first all black pro team. The original Celtics became the best team because they were the first to use a switching defense and to use a true pivot player. The first Harlem Globetrotters were actually from Chicago & won 100 games their first year.

NIT l 1938, College basketball held its first year ending tournament in New York’s Madison Square Garden called the National Invitational Tournament. (This tournament determined the national championship. ) l This remains the biggest tournament for about 20 years until the NCAA took over.

1 St Televised Game l l l February, 1940, the first televised game took place between Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh, which was won by Pitt, 50 -37. It was only seen locally in the New York City area. They only used one camera to film the entire game.

Names That Changed the Game u u u Bill Russell – Widely considered the best defensive center in NBA history. Played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 -1969 Russell led the league in rebounding 5 times He also was a 5 -time MVP Russell is in the Basketball Hall of Fame

Wilt Chamberlain n n Wilt was 7’ 1” and began his professional career as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. He is the only player in history to average more than 50 points a game in a season. He is the only player to score 100 points in a game, which he did in March of 1962, while being coached by Frank Mc. Guire. Wilt is one of only 2 players ever to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in his first season

More Wilt l Wilt also holds the all-time rebound record for a game with 55. l 1961 -1962 - He averaged playing over 48 minutes a game. How? ? l Won the MVP 4 times l Finally won the league championship in 1967 after losing to Russell’s Celtics 4 times in the finals. l 1967 -68, became the 1 st & only center to ever lead the league in assists with 702.

Julius Erving “Dr. J” n n n Drafted out of the Univ. of Mass. , he decided to play in the new ABA (American Basketball Association) 5 -time ABA All Star Led the league in scoring twice & was the MVP twice. When the ABA folded, 5 teams were taken in & Erving was traded to the Philadelphia 76 ers He became an 11 -time NBA All Star. Won one NBA Title in 1983.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar l l Lew Alcindor dominated the college game while at UCLA, winning 3 National Titles from 1967 -1969 (freshmen couldn’t play varsity) His high school team won 72 games in a row & his college team won 88 games in a row, still a record. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which was his name when he became a Muslim, won 6 NBA Titles and 6 MVPs. He declined a $1 million offer to play for the Globetrotters out of college.

More Kareem l His dominance convinced the NCAA to have a no dunk rule for a year. l With Russell just retired, and Chamberlain in his last years, Kareem was the next big star. l Was traded from Milwaukee to LA in 1974, where he joined with rookie Magic Johnson. Together they won 5 NBA Titles. l

Magic & Bird • They played against each other in the NCAA Finals in 1979, won by Magic’s Michigan State Spartans. • Bird’s Celtics won 3 Championship, while Magic Johnson’s Lakers won 5. • They both won the MVP 3 times each. • Most noted for together bringing the NBA back into the spotlight of American professional sports.

Michael “Air Jordan” • Most argue that he is the greatest player of all time. • Won the NCAA Championship at UNC in 1984. • 5 -time League MVP • Won League Title 6 times • 9 -time All Defensive 1 st Team • Left basketball in 1993 to pursue pro baseball career for a year

Air Jordan • Won the Gold Medal in the 1984 Olympics, then joined the famous “Dream Team” to dominate the 1992 Games and become one of only 3 players to win gold medals as amateurs & professionals. • (Patrick Ewing & Chris Mullins were the others. ) • Jordan led the league in scoring a record 10 times. • Ranked above Babe Ruth and Muhammed Ali as the Greatest American Athletes of the 20 th Century.

Women’s College Basketball l l Through the years, a few women’s teams have dominated college basketball. Old Dominion dominated the 1980 s Southern Cal, Connecticut and Tennessee, the 1990 s. While Tenn. , U. N. C. and Duke appear do be the most dominant current teams. The all time record for wins by a college coach is Pat Summitt with 7 NCAA titles, 14 SEC titles and almost 1, 000 career wins.

UCONN l The dominant womens’ team currently is the University of Connecticutt. Huskies