20 Fun Facts About Basketball

Basketball is one of the most popular sports. It takes players to develop great team spirit, effective communication skills, stamina, determination, and discipline. Estimates suggest that basketball is the most played sport after soccer and before cricket. If you are a basketball fan, you must have heard some names such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Did you know that this game was originally played with a different ball? Read this blog till the end to discover some interesting fun facts about basketball. 

Interesting Facts About Basketball

1. Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian teacher, is the inventor of basketball. 

2. This outdoor sport was invented in 1891. 

3. Instead of basketballs, people initially used football to play this sport. 

4. When basketball was first invented, players were not allowed to dribble.

5. In 1936, basketball became an Olympic sport. 

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6. The National Basketball Association (NBA), a league for basketball players, was established in 1946.

7. Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol are the tallest NBA players who were 7 feet 7 inches tall. 

8. Michael Jordon, who played for the Chicago Bulls, won six NBA championships. 

9. In basketball, each team is made up of five players on the court. 

10. This sport is played on a rectangular court.

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11. Each team tries to win the game by tossing the ball through the opponent’s goal or basket and scoring a point. 

12. Each player in a basketball team has a special role to play. He can be looking after shooting, passing, rebounding, or playing defence. 

13. Before the three-point line was introduced, players would only get two points for a basket. 

14. Canada was the first country outside the United States to play basketball. 

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15. Basketball was introduced in France in 1893, England in 1894, followed by Australia, India, China, and Japan in 1900. 

16. The original uniforms of basketball players included knee-length football trousers, jersey tights, short padded pants, and knee guards. 

17. Wilt Chamberlain is the player with the most points ever scored in an NBA game. He scored 100 points against the Knicks in March 1962. 

18. The most points ever scored in an NBA game by one team is 186. It happened during a match between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets.

19. Shouldering, tripping, holding, or pushing an opponent was not considered a foul until 1910. 

20. Jumping Joe Fulks holds the record for the most missed field goals in a postseason game. He missed 38 field goals in a game against the St. Louis Bombers. 

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