Basketball

Basketball is a fast and fun sport played by two teams. Each team has five players on the court. The goal is to shoot a round ball through a hoop high up on a pole. The team with the most points wins the game. People all over the world love to play and watch basketball.

How the Game is Played

Players bounce the ball on the floor as they move. This is called dribbling. They can also pass the ball to their teammates. When a player shoots the ball through the hoop, their team scores points. A basket is usually worth two points. A long shot from far away is worth three points. Teams try to stop each other from scoring.

Dr. James Naismith, the teacher who invented the game of basketball.
Dr. James Naismith, the teacher who invented the game of basketball. (Springfield College (Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections). / Wikimedia Commons)

History of Basketball

Basketball was invented in 1891 by a man named James Naismith. He was a teacher in Massachusetts. He wanted a fun game his students could play inside during the cold winter. He used a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Today, basketball is played in nearly every country in the world.

Fun Facts

  • The first basketball hoops were real peach baskets with bottoms, so someone had to get the ball out after each score.
  • A basketball court is about 94 feet long in the pros.
  • The tallest NBA player ever was 7 feet 7 inches tall.

Did You Know?

The very first basketball game ever played had a final score of just 1 to 0!