Basketball: 5 Things You Should Know

Question: In 1891, teacher James Naismith invented basketball at a YMCA school in Massachusetts. Why did his class need a new sport?

Answer: Basketball was invented to keep restless students active indoors during harsh New England winters. Naismith nailed peach baskets to a gym balcony, and a global sport was born.

Question: Early basketball players were not allowed to run while holding the ball. How did dribbling become part of the game?

Answer: Dribbling started as a clever loophole around the no-running rule. Players turned a workaround into one of basketball’s most essential skills.

Question: In 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons beat the Lakers 19–18, the lowest-scoring game in NBA history. What caused such a low score?

Answer: Stalling made games slow and dull, so in 1954 the NBA added a 24-second shot clock. Scoring jumped right away, and basketball became the fast-paced game we know today.

Question: The NBA added the three-point line in 1979. Why do today’s teams attempt far more three-pointers than teams did back then?

Answer: A player who makes 35% of threes scores as much per shot as one who makes about 52% of twos. That math, plus shooters like Stephen Curry, reshaped how the game is played.

Question: At the 1992 Olympics, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson starred on the U.S. Dream Team. Why was the team a global turning point?

Answer: 1992 was the first Olympics to allow NBA players, and the Dream Team became a worldwide sensation. Today, about a quarter of NBA players come from outside the U.S., and many recent MVPs are international stars.