Basketball and The Olmec People

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Recommended: A research paper on the history of basketball

The first basketball game was played by the Olmec people in the 1800’s. At first they were using a soccer ball and wooden baskets to make the hoops for the game. While the first official basketball game was played January 20th 1892 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Canadian doctor James Naismith created the game for people and athletes to play in the winter. He also created rules and regulations for the game. In 1894 the free throw line was moved from 15-20 feet. In 1895 the value o9f the field goal was moved from 3 points to 2 points. The next year the BAA outlaws the zone defense (Mogul).The first game played consisted of 18 players and nine were put on each team. The game grew form the YMCA. United States North Eastern facilities and Canada facilities also. The first leagues were local leagues and they were usually Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The first ever professional game took place in Trenton, New Jersey between the Trenton YMCA and the Brooklyn YMCA November 7th, 1896(faurschou).
Back in that time each player was paid $15 every game except for Fred Cooper who was paid $16 a game which made him the first highest paid player ever to play the game of basketball. However Trenton defeated Brooklyn 15-1 to win the first professional basketball game. Two years after the first basketball game was played the National Basketball League was formed. Shortly after that league was formed a lot of other leagues began to form all across Eastern United States. There were four that formed (The Philly Basketball League, Eastern League, New York League, and The Interstate League). Most early basketball leagues only lasted a few weeks at that. The NBL lasted five seasons and was successful up until that time. In 1902 the England basketbal...

... middle of paper ...

...he game and intensity. I would have to say the best conference in college basketball today would have to be the Big 10 conference. My favorite team in college basketball is the Duke Blue Devils. They are part of the SEC conference. This year they are ranked No. 8 in the country. But rankings change throughout the season. Duke is usually in the top ten each year. Each team tries to get to the NCAA tournament each year but only 20 from each conference make it and it all comes down to the championship game.

Works Cited
"Basketball Statistics." CSG Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2007.
Faurschou, Bran. "History of Basketball." NBA Hoops Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2008.
"Michael Jordan Fast Facts." CNN. CNN Library, 3 July 2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
Mogul, Scott. "History of Basketball Timeline." Ultimate Youth Basketball Guide. 14 June 2006. Web. 1 Jan. 2011.

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