History Of Basketball

The Basketball history timeline is a rather long one as it over hundred years old. Basketball was initially played with a soccer ball and the goals were made out of peach baskets in high schools. It has evolved over the years. Basketball history can now be classified as NCAA history, NBA history, women’s basketball history etc.

NCAA is acronym for National Collegiate Athletic Association. In the history of basketball, YMCA was the initial mentor for improving and advancing the sport to other countries. But there came a time in the history of basketball, when the game was discouraged because of violent play and unruly spectators, which caused numerous injuries and deaths. This was when the NCAA was formed to govern and administer rules to civilize this game.

This is how NCAA basketball history started. As a part of NCAA basketball championship history, first championship was held in 1921, known as the National Collegiate Track and Field Championships. Now NCAA governs 88 championship events in 23 sports for its member institutions, and organizations. Now there are 40,000 student-athletes as a part of NCAA.

The history of NBA basketball dates back to 1949 when it started as a league containing 8 teams. The Lakers, the Celtics, and the Bulls are some of the best teams in NBA in the history of basketball. The first superstar the NBA basketball history was center George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers.

History of women's basketball dates back to the year 1892 at Smith College. Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher, changed Naismith's rules to suit women players. By 1895, it was well established at several women's high schools. 1953 was year of celebration in the history of women’s basketball when the USA women's basketball team, won gold medal in the World Championships.

History on basketball is incomplete without the mention of college basketball teams. The first recorded game in the history of college basketball was played in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania on April 8, 1893. College basketball history started with a game between teams from Geneva College and New Brighton YMCA. The first championship to be recorded in the women’s college basketball history is the CIAW and NWIT championships held in 1969. The UK wildcats have been coached by thespians like Billie Gillispie, Eddie Sutton, and Orlando Tubby Smith who have made Kentucky basketball history a memorable one, with maximum wins. 2001 and 1999 men’s teams are best teams in the duke basketball history. They have ranked among the Top 10 in the last 10 years.