Basketball is a popular sport played by two teams of five players each. The objective is to shoot the ball through a hoop that is 10 feet high and 18 inches in diameter, mounted to a backboard at each end of the court. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
- Created in December 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor.
- The first basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1892.
- Professional basketball leagues formed in the 1920s and 1930s.
- The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded in 1946.
- The game has since grown into a global phenomenon with millions of fans and players worldwide.
The National Basketball Association is the premier professional basketball league in the world. It was founded in 1946 and consists of 30 teams in North America.
The International Basketball Federation is the world governing body for basketball. It was founded in 1932 and oversees international competitions such as the Olympics and World Cup.
The EuroLeague is a professional basketball league that features 18 of the top teams from across Europe. It was founded in 2000 and has become one of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the world.
A round ball designed for use in the game of basketball. It is typically made of leather or synthetic materials and has a circumference of 29.5 inches for men's games and 28.5 inches for women's games.
Specialized footwear designed to provide support and traction for basketball players. They are typically lightweight and feature high-top, mid-top, or low-top designs for ankle support.
A metal rim with a net attached, mounted to a backboard. It is 10 feet high and 18 inches in diameter, and serves as the target for scoring points in the game of basketball.
Each basketball team consists of five players on the court at any given time.
The regulation height of a basketball hoop is 10 feet from the ground to the top of the rim.
A jump ball in basketball is used to start the game and to begin each quarter. Two players from opposing teams stand in the center circle and the referee tosses the ball in the air. The players must try to tap the ball to a teammate to gain possession.
A regulation basketball game consists of four 12-minute quarters for professional and international games, and four 8-minute quarters for college and high school games.
The three-point line is a boundary on the basketball court that marks the distance from which a successful field goal is worth three points instead of two. It is 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the hoop for professional and international games, and 22 feet 1.75 inches for college games.