Basketball is one of the most famous sports in the world. Almost everyone plays this sport due to its immense popularity, and it is an entertaining recreation for bored people.
A person might say that basketball today is still the same sport as it was in the early 20th century, but if one were to review the history of basketball, they might recognize the differences between basketball today and the past. .
Basketball began in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The brains of this sport is Jaimes Naismith, a Canadian. The sport has gained its immense popularity after remaining for 25 years.
In those days, basketballs were made from brown leather backboards sewn together with rubber bladders. They are also too slippery to grip, making it difficult for players to hold on to. Furthermore, they also have the tendency to easily lose their shape.
The game was played in a small gym, which can only accommodate 100 people or less. And to prevent spectators from interfering, the court was protected by ropes or chicken wire, some are protected by cages.
Back then, shooting styles were considered inefficient because only 30 percent of these shots were able to cross the net. These shots are the underhand shot, the two-handed set shot, the hook shot, and the layup. However, despite the ineffectiveness of these shots, they were still regarded as the best things to happen in early 20th century basketball.
Other impacts that occurred during basketball’s early period were the legacies of Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit. These two people have been marked as the best players in the professional basketball league. Bob Cousy was named the Houdini of the Hardwood as his skills go beyond those of an ordinary player. He was responsible for the six Boston Celtics titles in 1957 and from 1959 to 1963. On the other hand, Bob Pettit is the first player to average 26.4 points per game. He also led the St. Louis Hawks to championships in 1957, 1960 and 1961, and helped the team win its first championship title in 1958.
But the most important event that happened in the history of basketball during the 20th century was the introduction of Michael Jordan to the sport. He was the first player to lead his team to multiple championship titles and made basketball a source of recreation and entertainment for all. With his exceptional skills, he has amazed thousands of people all over the world and inspired them to play basketball.
Knowing the great events that happened in the 20th century of Basketball will help a person determine the importance of this sport and why it is an entertaining recreation.