The History of Basketball

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Basketball: Nothing but the Net

Fans, players, coaches, and parents will find the Web to be an excellent source of basketball information. It has sites covering introductory topics, sites providing exhaustive statistics, resources for keeping on top of the latest scores from the league, and others offering advice on how you can improve your game. The Web will act as not only your personal coach, but as your statistician and commentator as well.

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The History of Basketball

The origins of basketball can be traced to 1891 when Springfield, Massachusetts P.E. teacher James Naismith devised an indoor game to keep his students occupied during the winter. At the time, a peach basket served as the hoop, and a soccer ball was used as the ball. The game has come a long way since those early days, and over the years has accrued a rich history.

Dulcinea's Insight

No two sites present basketball's history in exactly the same way. Some focus on the events surrounding its genesis, others on the NBA, and still others on specific aspects, like women's involvement or international play. Put them all together and you'll have a well-rounded understanding of the game's fascinating history.

Basketball history can be told through essays and narrative accounts, or through lists and statistics. Both prose and data figures are provided below.

Dulcinea's Picks

HoopHall.com is the official site of the Basketball Hall of Fame. At this site you'll find a complete list of basketball Hall of Famers and award winners, as well as the history of the founding of the sport.

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The Kansas Heritage Group has an in-depth biography of Dr. Naismith, the inventor of basketball, including his involvement in the development of Kansas basketball.

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InternationalBasketball.com's "History" area provides the history of the game along with historical advertisements and photos. You'll have to scroll through this rather cumbersome site to find them but it's worth the effort.

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NBAHoopsOnline is a history and statistics site. The navigation bar on the left side of the page allows visitors to scroll through a variety of lists and charts. Access information on former NBA Champions, referees, coaches, #1 draft picks, coaches' titles, and more.

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SportsKnowHow.com has a history of the game including early play, a timeline of major events, notable teams, and the foundation of professional basketball.

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For women's basketball ...

The History of Women's Basketball is a site maintained by an avid collector of women's basketball artifacts. It has a history of the roots of women's basketball accompanied by some interesting vintage photographs. The site isn't graphically exciting, but the quality text and links make it worth a surf.

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The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame has a brief history of women's basketball, profiles of past inductees, and visitor information about the museum in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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