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History of basketball

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James Naismith

The history of basketball starts with James Naismith.

James Naismith and the History of Basketball

Invention of the game

Massachusetts had cold winters, and people wanted a game that could be played inside. James Naismith also invented the game of basketball to have a sport for the YMCA students. He wanted to create a game of skill instead of one that relied solely on strength. He needed a game that could be played indoors and in a relatively small space.[1] Naismith was a Canadian teacher, born in Almonte, Ontario on the 16th of November, 1861.[2] Naismith was orphaned early in his life, and his uncle led him to study Hebraism and philosophy, and to train to become a priest. He graduated from McGill University, Montreal,[3] in 1887 (it was the first graduation of eleven), but at the college he discovered sports: he played in the rugby team for eight years, even when he studied at the Presbyterian College in Montreal. But he dropped out in 1890, to become a teacher at the International Young Men’s Christian Association Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.[4]

The First 13 Rules of Basketball

Naismith and Wheeler wrote the first 13 rules of the game.

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4, and such as described in Rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

YMCA, U.S. Army spread development

It was the YMCA that had a major role in spreading basketball throughout the United States and Canada, and then throughout the world. In 1893, Mel Rideout arranged the first European match in Paris, in Montmartre. At the same time, Bob Gailey went to Tientsin, China (1894[5]), Duncan Patton to India, Genzabaro Ishikawa to Japan, and C. Hareek to Persia.[6]

The First World War broke out in 1914, and the U.S. Army started fighting in Europe in 1917. During World War I, American Expeditionary Force brought basketball wherever they went. Together with the troops, there were hundreds of physical education teachers, who knew basketball quite well, and even James Naismith spent two years with YMCA in France, in that period. Not only did they bring basketball with them, but even the “modern” basketball, that is the game as it was played in the United States at that time.[7]

Professional leagues, teams and organizations

The first professional league was founded in 1898. Six teams took part in the National Basketball League, and the first champions were the Trenton Nationals, followed by the New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers and the Camden Electrics. The league was abandoned in 1904.[8] Then, many small championships were organized, but most of them were not as important as some teams who played for money against challengers.

The Original Celtics, for instance, are considered the "fathers of modern basketball",[9] and were presented as "World’s Basketball Champions";[9] the players had to sign a contract to play with them and the manager, Jim Furey, organized matches as a circus, moving daily from town to town. The Celtics became the strongest team, and their successes lasted from 1922 until 1928, when the team disbanded due to ownership problems. The Original Celtics are sometimes incorrectly thought of as forebears of the current Boston Celtics of the NBA; in reality, they share only a name, as today's Celtics were not founded until 1946, nearly two decades after the demise of the Original Celtics. In 1922, the first all-African American professional team was founded: the Rens (also known as New York Renaissance or Harlem Renaissance).[10] The Rens were the Original Celtics’ usual opponent, and for their matches a ticket cost $1.[11] They took part in some official championships and won the first World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1939.[12] The team disbanded in 1949.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909),[13] Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921)[14] and American Basketball League (founded in 1925)[15] were the most important leagues.

American colleges lead the way

The greatest level of early activity was seen in American colleges. The first recorded instance of an organized college basketball game was played between Geneva College and the New Brighton YMCA on April 8, 1893, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, which Geneva College won 3–0. Geneva College calls itself "The Birthplace of College Basketball".[16] In February 1895, Minnesota State School of Agriculture and Hamline University played the first intercollegiate match (won 9–3 by Minnesota). In that period, the Amateur Athletic Union took over the organization of collegiate activity. In 1905, Yale University was disqualified, and some universities created the Intercollegiate Athletic Association, which became National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1910.[17] For thirty years, there were many conferences: they were small state championships. The NCAA created a United States championship in 1939, adding the playoffs at the end of each conference.[18]

NBA founded

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[19] The league adopted the name National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949 after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL). The NBA is currently the most significant professional basketball league in the United States of America, in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.[20]

African-Americans in Basketball

The Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn and the St. Christopher Club of New York City was established as the first fully organized independent all-black basketball teams in 1906. These teams were amateur.[21]

In 1907, the amateur, all-black Olympian Athletic League was formed in New York City consisting of the Smart Set Athletic Club, St. Christopher Club, Marathon Athletic Club, Alpha Physical Culture Club, and the Jersey City Colored YMCA. The first inter-city basketball game between two black teams was played in 1907 when the Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn traveled to Washington, DC to play the Crescent Athletic Club.[21]

In 1908 Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn, a member of the Olympian Athletic League, was named the first Colored Basketball World's Champion.[22]

In 1910, Howard University’s first varsity basketball team began.

In 1922, the Commonwealth Five, the first all-black professional team was founded. The New York Renaissance was founded in 1923.

In 1939, the all-black New York Renaissance beat the all-white Oshkosh All-Stars in the World Pro Basketball Tournament.

The all-white National Basketball League began to racially integrate in 1942 with 10 black players joining two teams, the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets and the Chicago Studebakers. The NBA integrated in the 1950–51 season, with three black players each achieving a separate milestone in that process. In the draft held immediately prior to that season, Chuck Cooper became the first black player drafted by an NBA team. Shortly after the draft, Nat Clifton became the first black to sign an NBA contract. Finally, Earl Lloyd became the first black to appear in an NBA game, as his team started its season before either Cooper's or Clifton's.

American Basketball Association

The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded as an alternative to the NBA in 1967 [23] at a time when the NBA was experiencing a lot of popularity. The ABA offered an alternative ethos and game style as well as some changes in the rules. Julius Erving was the leading player in the league, and helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. His playing strength helped legitimize the American Basketball Association. The league emphasized excitement and liveliness, be it in the color of the ball (red, white and blue), the manner of play, wild promotions, or the three-point shot. National recognition and earnings were low, leading the league to look for a way out of its problems. Merger with the more established and very successful NBA was seen as a solution. The ABA was folded into the NBA in the summer of 1976, its four most successful franchises (the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs) being incorporated into the older league [24] . The aggressive, loose style of play and the three-point shot [25] were taken up by the NBA.

First international games

After its arrival in Europe, basketball developed very quickly. In 1909 there was the first international match in Saint Petersburg: Mayak Saint Petersburg beat a YMCA American team.[26] The first great European event was held in Joinville-le-Pont, near Germany, during the Inter-Allied Games. United States, led by future Hall of Fame player Max Friedman, won against Italy and France, and then Italy beat France. Basketball soon became popular among French and Italians. The Italian team had a white shirt with the House of Savoy shield and the players were: Arrigo and Marco Muggiani, Baccarini, Giuseppe Sessa, Palestra, Pecollo and Bagnoli.[27]

Formation of FIBA

World basketball was growing, but it was on June 18, 1932 that a real international organization was formed, to coordinate tournaments and teams: that day, Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland founded the International Basketball Federation (Fédération internationale de basket-ball amateur, FIBA) in Geneva.[28] Its work was fundamental for the first inclusion of basketball in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. The first Olympic title was won by the U.S. national team: Sam Balter, Ralph Bishop, Joe Fortenberry, Tex Gibbons, Francis Johnson, Carl Knowles, Frank Lubin, Art Mollner, Donald Piper, Jack Ragland, Willard Schmidt, Carl Shy, Duane Swanson, Bill Wheatley and the trainer James Needles.[29] Canada was runner-up; the games were played on an outdoor clay court. The first World Championship was held in Argentina in 1950.[30]

References

  1. ^ Laughead Jr., George. "History of Basketball". Kansas Heritage Group. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  2. ^ Mario Arceri, Valerio Bianchini, La leggenda del basket, Baldini Castoldi Dalai, Milano, 2005, p. 14.
  3. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 15.
  4. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 16.
  5. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 79.
  6. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 80.
  7. ^ Lesile Colbeck et al., The Basketball World, FIBA, Monaco, 1972, quoted by Arceri-Bianchini, p. 81.
  8. ^ Hoosierhistorian, National Basket Ball League, «Hoopedia», 9 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com
  9. ^ a b Arceri-Bianchini, p. 37.
  10. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 38.
  11. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 39.
  12. ^ Smith03, World Professional Basketball Tournament, «Wikipedia», 14 October 2006, in World Professional Basketball Tournament.
  13. ^ Hoosierhistorian, Eastern Basket Ball League, Hoopedia, 9 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  14. ^ Hoosierhistorian, Metropolitan Basketball League, Hoopedia, 12 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  15. ^ Hoosierhistorian, ABL (1925–1955), Hoopedia, 12 May 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  16. ^ Geneva.edu
  17. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 45.
  18. ^ Hoosierhistorian, NoseNuggets, NCAA Division I Men's Tournament, Hoopedia, 21 April 2008, in Hoopedia.nba.com.
  19. ^ The First NBA Game: 1946 New York-Toronto
  20. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 49.
  21. ^ a b "Black Fives Timeline".
  22. ^ Colored Basketball World's Champions - Hoopedia
  23. ^ http://www.remembertheaba.com/
  24. ^ http://www.remembertheaba.com/
  25. ^ http://www.remembertheaba.com/
  26. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 81.
  27. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 133.
  28. ^ History of FIBA, in FIBA.com.
  29. ^ Casmiki, Jed, Alfiobot, QuoBot, Filbot, ZeroBot, Valerio LG, Squattaturi, SieBot, Simo82, Rei-bot, Ysogo, BotSimo82, Gvnn, Osk, CommonsDelinker, IagaBot, 2diPikke, Pallacanestro alle olimpiadi estive 1936, Wikipedia, 11 luglio 2008, in http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallacanestro_alle_olimpiadi_estive_1936.
  30. ^ Arceri-Bianchini, p. 185.
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