The history of basketball’s development in the world can be traced back to 1891, when Dr. James Naismith invented the sport in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Naismith wanted to find a sport suitable for indoors in winter, so he designed a game of throwing the ball into a basket suspended in the air.
Early Development
1891: Basketball was first introduced by Naismith at the YMCA.
1896: The first professional basketball game was held in New York.
Growth and Internationalization
1936: Basketball became an official event at the Berlin Olympics.
1946: The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was established, which later evolved into the National Basketball Association (NBA).
1950: The first World Basketball Championship was held in Argentina.
Modern Basketball
1980s: The NBA entered the era of “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird, and basketball quickly became popular around the world.
1992: The Dream Team demonstrated the strength of American professional basketball at the Barcelona Olympics, further promoting the globalization of basketball.
Since the 2000s: International players have played an important role in the NBA, and basketball has flourished in Europe, Asia, Africa and other places.
Milestones
1991: Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to win their first NBA championship, opening the Bulls dynasty.
2016: LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to reverse the Warriors and win the first championship in team history.
The development of basketball is not limited to the competitive level, but has also had a profound impact on culture, entertainment and society, becoming one of the most popular sports in the world.