Springfield, The Birthplace of Basketball

James Naismith

Basketball was invented in December 1891 by physician James Naismith who introduced the game when he was an instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Training School (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts. At the request of his superior, Dr. Luther H. Gulick, he organized a vigorous recreation suitable for indoor winter play. 

The game involved elements of American football, soccer, and hockey. The first ball used was a soccer ball. Teams had nine players, and the goals were wooden peach baskets affixed to the walls. By 1897-1898, teams of five became standard. The game rapidly spread nationwide and internationally and was popular with both women and men. U.S. servicemen in World War II helped spread the sport in many other countries.

 A number of U.S. colleges adopted the game between 1893 and 1895. In 1934 the first college games were staged in New York City's Madison Square Garden. By the 1950s basketball had become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a growth of interest in professional basketball.

The first pro league, the National Basketball League, was formed in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to promote a less rough game. This league only lasted five years before disbanding; its demise spawned a number of loosely organized leagues throughout the northeastern United States. 

New York Celtics 1914

  One of the first pro teams was the Original Celtics, organized in 1914 in 
New York City. They played as many as 150 games a season and dominated basketball until 1936. 
 
 The Harlem Globetrotters were founded in 1927 and specialized in amusing court antics and expert ball handling. 

Original Harlem Globetrotters

In 1949 two subsequent professional leagues, the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America merged to create the National Basketball Association. The Boston Celtics, led by their center Bill Russell, dominated the NBA from the late 1950s through the 1960s. Wilt Chamberlain, a center for the Los Angeles Lakers, was another leading player during the era, and his battles with Russell helped popularize the game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, also a center, came to prominence during the 1970s. Jabbar perfected his famed "sky hook" shot while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and dominated the opposition.

Larry Bird

  The NBA suffered a drop in popularity during the late 1970s, but was resuscitated, principally through the growing popularity of its most prominent players. Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers are credited with injecting excitement into the league in the 1980s through their superior skills and decade-long rivalry. During the late 1980s Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls rose to stardom and helped the Bulls dominate the NBA during the early 1990s. A new generation of basketball stars, including Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic and Larry Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets, have sustained the NBA's growth in popularity.

Basketball Hall of Fame

Founded in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1959 the rosters of the Basketball Hall of Fame include the names of great players, coaches, referees, and people who have contributed significantly to the development of the game.