- By Ridam Sharma
- Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Facts About Basketball: Basketball is an international sport and much more complicated than just throwing a ball into a basket. Over the years, the sport has garnered a global fan base. Each year on November 6th, enthusiasts from around the world celebrate the sport wholeheartedly. The day is celebrated to honour Dr James Naismith’s invention and the cultural impact of basketball worldwide. The game has it all, from iconic moments to interesting and playful facts that not many are aware of. To learn more about this athletic sport, here is a list of more than 30 lesser-known facts about Basketball.
National Basketball Day 2025; List Of 40+ Lesser-Known Facts About Basketball:
1. The game of Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr James Naismith. The man behind the widely loved sport was a Canadian physical education teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts. He invented the sport as an indoor game for his students during winter.
2. The first basketball game ever was played on December 21, 1891. At that time, only nine players per team were on the field and played with a soccer ball, which was used as a basketball. The day is also celebrated as World Basketball Day every year.
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3. Originally, there were no holes in the Basket and peach baskets were nailed to a balcony to play the game, and after each score, someone had to retrieve the ball.
4. The first official game ended with just scoring 10 baskets.
5. Initially, Naismith wrote only 13 rules for the game, and previously, dribbling was not allowed, and only players could pass the ball.
6. The name of the sport was simply derived from its purpose-to score, which is shooting a ball into a basket.
Lesser-Known Facts About Basketball (Image Credit: Canva)
7. In 1898, the first professional league was started, known as the National Basketball League, and it lasted for only six years.
8. The NBA was previously known as the Basketball Association of America, which merged with the NBL in 1949 to become the NBA.
9. The first ever NBA game was played in 1946 between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies.
10. The size of a standard NBA court, which has remained almost unchanged since the sport was invented, is 94 by 50 feet.
11. The first NBA All-Star Game was played in Boston in 1951.
Lesser-Known Facts About Basketball Rules
12. The slam dunk was prohibited in college basketball between 1967 and 1976 because of the dominant player Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
13. As mentioned earlier, Dribbling was not part of the original Basketball rules. I was introduced in 1901 and was only allowed once, as per possession. Later, in 1909, unlimited dribbling was allowed in the game.
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14. The three-point line of basketball was first tested in 1933, but it was widely adopted much later.
Lesser-Known Facts About The Historic Records Of Basketball:
15. Wilt Chamberlain, on March 2, 1962, scored 100 points in one NBA game; that record still stands.
16. Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in one game back in 2006, which is considered the second-highest in NBA history.
17. The highest number of championships in the NBA is won by the Boston Celtics (18 NBA championships) and the Los Angeles Lakers (17 NBA championships ).
Lesser-Known Facts About Basketball (Image Credit: Canva)
18. The Celtics in the 1960s won 11 championships in 13 years, which was a phenomenal performance in the history of basketball. The team at that time was led by Bill Russell.
19. The term 'triple-double', meaning double-digit stats in three categories, became popular during the 1980s because of Magic Johnson.
Additional Lesser-Known Facts About Basketball:
19. The first time Basketball was included in the Olympic sports was in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. At that time USA took the first gold medal home.
20. The Dream Team (1992 Olympics) was the first time NBA players were represented in the Olympics, and the USA won all games by an average of 44 points.
21. December 21st was declared World Basketball Day by the United Nations. It is the first team sport to ever receive such an honour.
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22. The oldest basketball court in the world is located in Paris at the YMCA Paris building.
23. The first women's college basketball game was organised by Senda Berenson in 1893 at Smith College.
24. The WNBA was established in 1996, giving the female players a professional stage.
Fun Facts About Basketball:
25. The first FIBA Basketball World Cup took place in 1950 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
26. The Harlem Globetrotters beat the Minneapolis Lakers in the NBA Championship in 1948 and 1949.
27. In 1985, Lynette Woodard became the first woman to play with the Harlem Globetrotters.
28. Shortest and tallest players in NBA history to play together were Muggsy Bogues, who was 5 feet 3 inches, and Manute Bol was 7 feet 7 inches. They played together on the Washington Bullets in the 1987-1988 season.
29. Earl Lloyd, in 1950, was the first African-American to play in an NBA game.
Basketball (Image Credit: Canva)
30. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield, Massachusetts, which is the birthplace of basketball.
31. The Sacramento Kings, which was formerly known as the Rochester Royals in 1923, is the oldest franchise in the NBA.
Each of the above-mentioned lesser-known facts about basketball is a reflection of the sport’s history, evolution, significance and much more. The game of basketball stands for its unique charm and enjoys a big fan base around the world. Each of these facts about basketball has shaped its future in the global sports landscape. The game is followed by millions of enthusiasts across the globe. Therefore, this National Basketball Day, let’s celebrate the magnificent legacy of this age-old game.