-
The Invention of Basketball
Dr. James Naismith invented basketball. He gathered some of his college students and went to a gymnasium to test out the game he has been creating. After watching his students play his new game a few times, he wrote down rules which were later approved and printed. The first public game was played on March 11, 1892. -
First Professional Basketball Game
The first professional basketball game was played in Trenton, New Jersey. Players on both teams were paid $15 for this game. This encouraged other teams to draft great players and pay them to play. In just two years, there were professional teams all over America. -
First Championship Game and Leagues Combining
The Warriors won the first Basketball Association of America (BAA) championship. Six teams from another basketball league join the BAA, which resulted in 17 total teams. These 17 teams formed a new league now known as the National Basketball Association (NBA). -
The ABA Was Formed
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed with George Miken as president. The rules in the ABA made the game of basketball faster pace and safer. The first game in the ABA was on October 13, 1967. -
The NBA and ABA Merge Leagues
The ABA and NBA merged leagues while keeping the “National Basketball Association” Name. The NBA adopted many rules and game features from the ABA. This includes the 3-point line, the dunk contest, and allowing all players to be drafted despite their financial situation. New Players were now required to complete four years of college to be drafted into the NBA. The NBA would then consist of 30 teams with its later expansion to Toronto and Vancouver, Canada. -
The WNBA Was Created
The NBA creates the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). After the USA women’s basketball team got the gold medal in the Olympics, the first WNBA season started on June 21, 1997. The WNBA consists of 12 teams.