The origination of basketball is a fantastic story that spans over 100 years of American history

The sport of basketball has become one of the worlds most widely played and recognized sports but its origin and history are not widely known by most fans



Working for a company like Electro-Mech, which produces basketball scoreboards, employees become huge fans of the game, with basketball as just one example. We keep up with the latest in basketball news and current gaming trends, gossip, controversy and, of course, the games themselves. It’s our pleasure here to share with you the our knowledge about our favorite sports, teams and players. This article pays particular attention to the very beginnings of the great game of basketball and its history.



The sport of basketball has grown to become one of the most popular sports not only in the United States but the rest of the world as well. For many fans, especially younger ones, the history and origin of basketball are somewhat of a mystery. A brief history of the sport can help fans and players alike appreciate the details of the game.

Basketball was invented by Mr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher born in Canada who later moved to the United States to teach at the Young Men’s Christian Association. The association, located in Springfield Massachusetts, was subject to some pretty harsh winters. In December of 1891, Luther Halsey Gulick asked Mr. Naismith to come up with an indoor game for his physical education class to play during the winter. Mr. Naismith developed the game using 5 base principles and 13 rules and thus the history and origin of basketball was begun.

On December 21, 1891, in the Armory Street Court located in Springfield Massachusetts, the first basketball game was played. The first game was very different than the type of basketball that most fans are accustomed to watching. Instead of the normal five on five the teams consisted of nine versus nine. Also, there was no dribbling of the basketball like there is in today’s modern game. The ball could be advanced by passing only and goals were scored by depositing the ball into the basket. Needless to say, the first game was a low scoring affair with a final score of 1-0.

The equipment for basketball is yet another difference between history and origin of basketball as opposed to the basketball played today. Early games used two peach baskets and a soccer ball to play the game, hence the name basketball. Eventually, holes were cut into the bottom of the baskets to speed up play. Before the holes were cut, a volunteer would have to climb a ladder to manually remove the ball from the basket. By the early 1900’s the equipment had evolved to the types that are commonly associated with basketball today. Spalding produced a ball specifically for basketball and backboards and metal rims became the standard.

A brief history of basketball should be required knowledge for even the most casual of fans. The sport has come a long way from its early days in Springfield. To honor the origination of basketball in this city, the NBA Hall of Fame was constructed in Springfield. Hundreds of thousands of fans a year pass through their doors for a quick tutorial on the history of the game and all it has to offer. One can wonder if Mr. Naismith could envision that the history and origin of basketball would evolve into the international phenomenon it has become today.