The History of Hoops

By Chris Tao

I. Invention and Early Development

In early December 1891, Dr. James Naismith was asked by Springfield College physical education department chairman Luther Gulick to create a game that would keep students preoccupied in the winter. It was from two half-bushel peach baskets and a soccer ball that Dr. Naismith introduced his game of Basket Ball (then two words) to the students.

The peach baskets were closed at the bottom, meaning someone had to climb up on a ladder and retrieve the ball from the basket every time a basket was scored. The peach basket was later replaced by a metal rim with a net hanging below. In 1906, people began opening the nets to let the ball fall through.

The first basketballs were made from panels of leather stitched together with a rubber bladder inside. Later, a cloth lining was added to the leather for support and uniformity. In 1942, the molded basketball was introduced. It was a significant advancement for the sport because it was factory-made and had a constant size and shape. It also offered better reaction and durability, making play more consistent and the development of individual skills easier.

Beginning from 1910, players were not allowed to shoot after dribbling. It was not until 1916, following heated debate, that players were allowed to shoot after dribbling. Fouls were also added to basketball to discourage overly physical play.

II. Popularity Soars and College Play

Basketball was spread throughout the United States via YMCAs, the armed forces, and colleges. Basketball spread so quickly because it had simple requirements: a basketball, a little room, and a ball. In 1893, only two years after James Naismith invented basketball, it was spread to China and other countries. By 1914 more than 360 colleges offered basketball, and the sport had spread heavily into the Midwestern states.

In 1915 the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU), the NCAA, and the YMCA formed a committee to standardize rules, and during the next ten years a number of regional conferences were formed. Games between top regional teams were sometimes awarded national champion status by the press, but an official championship tournament was still many years away. The first national collegiate tournament was held in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1937. The teams in this tournament, however, were all from the Midwest. The first NIT was held at the end of the 1937-38 season.

III. Professional Play

In 1898, a group of New Jersey newspaper sports editors founded the National Basketball League (NBL). But the first successful national professional league was the American Basketball League (ABL), which lasted from 1925 to 1931. Another success was the all-black Harlem Globetrotters. They were mostly known for their basketball wizardry and humorous antics. Another league, the Basketball Association of America (BAA), eventually combined with the NBL to become the NBA.

Before the lakers and Celtics' dynasties, George Mikan, a big man pioneer, won five NBA championship titles (1949, 1950, 1952-1954). In the 1950s, guard Bob Cousy and forward Bob Pettit had the greatest individual impact on professional basketball. Cousy led the NBA in assists eight straight years (1953-1960) and guided the Boston Celtics to six NBA titles (1957, 1959-1963). Pettit finished his career with a remarkable 26.4 points per game (ppg) average while leading the St. Louis Hawks to NBA Finals appearances in 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1961, with the Hawks winning the title in 1958.

The Celtics dominated the NBA from 1957 to 1969. During this 13-season period, the team, coached mostly by Red Auerbach, won 11 NBA titles (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969), including 8 consecutively. The Celtics had many stars, but center Bill Russell was arguably the greatest. In his 13-season career Russell averaged 15.1 ppg and 22.5 rebounds per game (rpg). Another dominant center of the time was Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia Warriors, San Francisco Warriors (the team moved west in 1962), Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 100 points in a single game in 1962 and averaged 50.4 ppg for the 1961-62 season. Neither record has ever been approached by another player. Top guards of the 1960s included Oscar Robertson of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Walt Frazier of the New York Knicks.

In 1967, the American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed. The league became known for the flashy playing style it encouraged and the distinctive red, white, and blue basketballs it used. The ABA convinced several NBA players to switch leagues, often for lucrative contracts. Probably the best player in the ABA was guard and forward Julius Erving, who later starred in the NBA. The ABA disbanded in 1976, with several of its teams joining the NBA.

The 1980s were ruled by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabber, Larry Bird, and Isiah Thomas. In the 1980s Bird helped revitalize the Boston Celtics franchise, leading the team to three NBA titles (1981, 1984, 1986). Johnson did the same in Los Angeles, as he and Abdul-Jabbar guided the Lakers to five NBA championships. In the late 1980s, the Detroit Pistons emerged as a powerhouse team, featuring stars such as guard Isiah Thomas and forward Dennis Rodman. Detroit reached the NBA Finals in 1988, 1989, and 1990, capturing the title during the latter two years.

IV. His Airness, great big men, and high schoolers

Michael Jordan, perhaps the greatest player ever, won six championships during the 1990s. He did so with a stellar supporting cast, ranging from the stealthy Scottie Pippen to Dennis Rodman. His run of championships really brought fans back into the game. His popularity not only exploded in the United States, but internationally as well, where players would watch tapes to imitate him and other nations would use Jordan as a benchmark for their own athletes.

The era of great big men included Georgetown standout Patrick Ewing, Navy product David Robinson, Nigerian handball star Hakeem Olajuwon, and the uncouth backboard breaker Shaquille O'Neal. The 1990s were a series of battles between teams that had big men (except for the Bulls). The big men battles were always classics. Robinson would battle Ewing in some memorable battles. In the Finals, Hakeem the Dream met up with Patrick Ewing and the Dream outlasted Ewing. The young Shaq, known for breaking and shattering backboards, was consistenly manhandled by Hakeem Olajuwon.

Moses Malone first took that leap. But that was a while back. Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant ignited the question of whether players could be too young to enter the NBA Draft and deal with the immediate fame and fortune. They struggled early, leading many people to believe that high school phenoms could never become star players in the NBA. Well, the critics were horribly wrong.

V. Women and the WNBA

Title IX was a truly monumental piece of government legislation. It prohibited the discrimination on the basis of gender. Women's college basketball really took off, but not until the advent of the WNBA did women basketball players have something to look forward to after playing the NCAA tournament. In 1985, the Basketball Hall of Fame began inducting female coaches, players, and contributors. These inductees include important pioneers such as Ann Meyers, who was the first woman to receive a collegiate athletic scholarship; Carol Blazejowski; Cheryl Miller; Anne Donovan; and Nancy Lieberman-Cline. The WNBA took off with players like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Teresa Edwards, Lisa Leslie, and Jennifer Azzi.

VI. Globalization and The Laker Dynasty

Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash lead the fabulous Mavs. Peja and Vlade lead the spectacular Sacto Kings. Yao Ming leads the young Rockets. You get the picture. International players have made the NBA more diverse than ever. In the 2002 NBA Draft, Chinese center Yao Ming was selected with the number one overall pick. In the 2003 NBA Draft, a Yugoslavian center Darko Milicic is projected to be the second overall pick after that great high schooler LeBron James.

Ten years ago, nativistic NBA players laughed at Europeans for playing like robots, little did they know that the Europeans were so skilled in fundamentals. Now they know of skilled players like Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojakovic, and Yao Ming. Stars such as Vlade Divac and Arvydas Sabonis were considered stars in their prime, but they were still in Europe when they played their best basketball.

There was fighting between the Lakers' big two, Kobe and Shaq. Then everything changed when former Bulls coach and Zen Master Phil Jackson entered the City of Angels. Not only did he quell the conflict between the two stars, he made them play well and play like champions together. Since then, they've won three consecutive championships.

VII. Yao and LeBron

The NBA is counting on two players to bring them global fame. One is a 7'5" Chinese sagacious center who exudes self-deprecating charm and one is a high schooler that can reverse the fortune of any lottery team. Yao has the ability to open up the Asian market, most importantly China's market to the NBA. Yao is the key to China's 1.3 billion people and their interests. Yao faces immense challenges ahead though. He must succeed in the NBA in order to keep his image positive. Also, big men have never sold well, so marketing Yao will be a challenge. But he has the charm that few big men every had.

LeBron on the other hand, can be a marketing force, potentially greater than Michael Jordan ever was. But LBJ still has a long ways to go because MJ currently rakes in $40 million of endorsements a year.

Conclusion

The game of basketball was invented by a Canadian, so it is only fitting that the popularity of basketball has spread to the rest of the war. Basketball started in America, but has become one of the world's favorite pastimes. After all, the founder of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was Canadian.