Basketball
Timeline
JAN 15, 1892
Original 13 Basketball Rules Released
Dr. James Naismith created 13 different rules so that each team could have en equal
opportunity to win. The first time people knew about these rules was in Springfield College
school newspaper The Triangle
DEC 14, 1891
Basketball Initiation
Basketball was created by 1891. The location where all of this started was in a YMCA
Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts where Dr.James Naismith accepted the job of
an instructor.The main idea of the sport was it to be indoors and a small space
JAN 1, 1892
Womens basketball initiation
Gymnastics instructor Senda Berenson Abbott adapts James Naismith's basketball rules for
women and introduces the game at Smith College. First inter-institutional contest between
the University of California and Miss Head's School
JAN 18, 1896
First College Basketball Game
The first ever college basketball game was played on January 18, 1896, when the University
of Iowa invited student athletes from the new University of Chicago for an experimental
game. Final score: Chicago 15, Iowa 12, a bit different from the hundred-point scores of
today.
NOV 7, 1896
First Professional Basketball Game(Trenton vs.Brooklyn)
This was the first known professional basketball game was played in Trenton New Jersey
between the Trenton YMCA and the Brooklyn YMCA. The game was played at the Trenton
Masonic temple, and an admission fee was charged for admittance into the game. Each
player got $15 dollars except Fred Cooper who got $16 dollars, and became the first highest
paid player. Trenton defeated Brooklyn 15-1 to win the first ever professional basketball
game.
JAN 1, 1907
All-black Olympian Athletic League
In 1907, the amateur, all-black Olympian Athletic League was formed in New York City
consisting of the Smart Set Athletic Club, St. Christopher Club, Marathon Athletic Club,
Alpha Physical Culture Club, and the Jersey City Colored YMCA. The first inter-city
basketball game between two black teams was played in 1907 when the Smart Set Athletic
Club of Brooklyn traveled to Washington, DC to play the Crescent Athletic Club. This team
were known as the grave digger
JAN 1, 1916
Not Dribbling and Shooting to Dribbling and Shooting
In Naismith's original 13 rules, the ball could be batted in any direction with one or both
hands, but it could not be dribbled because players could not move with the ball. Beginning
in 1910 a player could dribble the ball, but could not shoot after dribbling. It was not until
1916, following heated debate, that players were allowed to shoot after dribbling.
JUN 18, 1932
Formation of FIBA
World basketball was growing, but it was on June 18, 1932 that a real international
organization was formed, to coordinate tournaments and teams: that day, Argentina,
Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland founded the
International Basketball Federation. Its work was fundamental for the first inclusion of
basketball in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936.
AUG 7, 1936
Introduced to Olympics
"1936 basketball became an official sport and the United States team easily dominated the
competition. The games were played outdoors on a converted tennis court, and the 1936
championship game was played during a rainstorm with 1,000 standing fans. Following this,
the United States won every Olympic basketball championship until 1972.The USA men
have dominated in Olympic basketball, owning a won-loss slate of 122-5,"
FEB 27, 1940
First Basketball Game Televised
The first basketball game is televised, from Madison Square Garden; Fordham vs the
University of Pittsburgh. It was over NBC's experimental station in New York, W2XBS. The
game, in which Pittsburgh beat Fordham 50-37.
FEB 7, 1945
Inventor of 3 point line(Howard Hobson)
Herman Sayger, a high-school basketball phenom cum coach in the midwest, came up with
the idea of a three-point shot in a scoring system that rewarded distance of the shot being
made;The three point line, as well as other rule changes, were tested in a game between
Columbia and Fordham on February 07, 1945.
JUN 6, 1946
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA LEAGUE
In 1946 a group of executives in New York City formed yet another new professional
basketball league, known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). This new circuit
was a direct competitor with the new NBL, with teams in New York City; Boston,
Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit, Michigan.
JAN 1, 1948
Basketball size changed
By 1948–49, when the laceless molded ball was made official, the size had been set at 30
inches (76 cm).
APR 12, 1954
Minneapolis Lakers First Team to Win 3 Consecutive Chamionships
Minneapolis Lakers become the first team to win three concecutive Championships.
The Lakers took two out of three games in Syracuse, and the teams returned to Minneapolis
with the Lakers leading, three games to two. Syracuse survived Game 6 with another two-
point victory, but the Lakers made it three titles in a row with an 87-80 triumph in the deciding
game.
DEC 8, 1961
Great Player of His Time(Wilt Chamberlain)
It was the season that the 7-foot, ½-inch Wilt Chamberlain </a>grabbed hold of the game
and the record book and twisted them like a pretzel beyond all recognition.
Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain scored 78 points and pulled down 43
rebounds on Dec. 8 against the Los Angeles Lakers -- and that was just a warm-up routine.
On March 2, Wilt scored his staggering 100 points against the New York Knicks.
JAN 1, 1964
Team with most NBA Championship Titles(Boston Celtics)
"The Boston Celtics has the most NBA champion titles under their name to date, 17 in all,
showing most of their dominance in the game during the 60s with 8 straight titles from 1959-
1966. During the 1964-1965 NBA season, the Boston Celtics showed their dominance of the
game by winning 62 games and losing only 18."
OCT 12, 1979
NBA's First Three Pointer
The NBA's first three-point shot was made with 3:48 left in the first quarter by Chris Ford of
the Boston Celtics on October 12, 1979 in a game against the Houston Rockets at Boston
Garden. This was not the only historic moment in the game, it also marked the debut of
Boston Celtics' rookie Larry Bird.
The Boston Celtics went on to defeat the Houston Rockets by a score of 114-106.
DEC 13, 1983
Highest Scoring Game in NBA History
The Detroits Pistons defeat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in the highest scoring game in NBA
History. On that night in Denver, the two clubs combined for 370 total points, as the Pistons
won the triple-overtime game.
AUG 1, 1984
The "Greatest Player of all time" Michael Jordan
Coming off a gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympics prospered in the pro game with
a fabulous first season, earning the Rookie of the Year; Five-time NBA MVP; Six-time NBA
champion; Six-time NBA Finals MVP; Ten-time All-NBA First Team; Nine time NBA All-
Defensive First Team; Defensive Player of the Year; 14-time NBA All-Star; Three-time NBA
All-Star MVP; 50th Anniversary All-Time Team; Ten scoring titles -- an NBA record and
seven consecutive matching Chamberlain
JUL 25, 1988
Atlanta Hawks First to Play in Soviet Union
The Atltanta Hawks become the First NBA team to play in the Soivet Union as they defeat
the Soviet team 85-84.
The Buzz: A year before the Berlin Wall fell, the NBA sent the Atlanta Hawks on a tour
around the Soviet Union. The Hawks played the Soviet National Team in the Soviet Republic
of Georgia, Lithuania and in Moscow.
OCT 12, 1989
Professional Basketball Players go International
USA Basketball was organized in 1974 and known as the Amateur Basketball Association of
the United States of America (ABAUSA). The name change to USA Basketball occurred Oct.
12, 1989, shortly after FIBA modified its rules to allow professional basketball players to
participate in international competitions. USA Basketball then admitted the NBA as an active
member and made the change.
MAR 24, 1993
NBA Record of Free Throws
Micheal Williams of Minnesota makes an NBA record 97 free throws in a row. A guard who
played for several teams between 1988-1999, holds the consecutive free throws made
record while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
APR 28, 1996
Guinness World Record of Free Throws
The Guinness world record holder is Ted St. Martin, who made 5,221 consecutive free
throws on April 28, 1996. He did so while giving a shooting clinic to students, taking over 7
hours to complete the task.
APR 24, 1996
NBA Start a Womens Nation Basketball Association
The NBA Agrees to start a womens Nation Basketball Association (WNBA)
OCT 31, 1997
First Woman Referee
Violet becomes the first woman to referee a major sporting event. she is soon joined by Dee
Kanter.
JUN 26, 2002
Yao Ming First Drafted Person Not from the U.S.
The Houston Rockets Draft Yao Ming to be the first #1 overall pick to never play College ball
in the US. Yao, the biggest import ever seen in the NBA, figuratively and literally, brought the
expectations of an entire nation with him.
