How basketball went from peach baskets to a global phenomenon

Sep 23, 2025 - 18:00
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How basketball went from peach baskets to a global phenomenon

Basketball’s journey from a simple gymnasium game to one of the world’s most popular sports is a story of 3 elements: innovation, adaptation, and global appeal. At 1xBet you can place all your wagers on this extraordinary discipline too,

The game began in December 1891. Here, Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, was tasked with creating an indoor activity to keep his students active during winter. Remember to try the 1xBet platform if you want to bet on modern basketball at any moment.

Naismith nailed 2 peach baskets to the balcony of the gym and devised 13 basic rules. The first game was played with a soccer ball, and each basket still required someone to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball after every score.

Expansion of the sport

The game spread rapidly through the YMCA network and college campuses across the United States. Besides basketball wagers, there is a great football bet from 1xbet.com/en/line/football you can make too.

By 1893, the first women’s basketball game had been played, and by 1898 the first professional basketball league had formed, though it lasted only 6 years. The invention of the open-bottomed hoop in 1906 made gameplay faster and more exciting, and the sport continued to evolve with innovations like the dribble and the fast break. Speaking about innovations, football also has many of them, and a bet from 1xBet on it is always available.

Establishing great competitions

The establishment of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1946 marked a turning point. Initially overshadowed by college basketball, the NBA grew steadily, especially after the league merged with the rival American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1976. This brought innovations like the 3-point line and slam dunk contests. And now remember to try easy basketball betting at the 1xBet platform on the NBA.

This competition has also had legendary players, with 4 examples being:

  • Bill Russell;
  • Wilt Chamberlain;
  • Magic Johnson;
  • Larry Bird;
  • and Michael Jordan.

All of them elevated the sport to new levels of athleticism and cultural significance. Jordan, in particular, became a global icon, helping the NBA expand its international reach in the 1990s. And right now, if you enjoy the NBA or any other huge basketball competition, you have a great opportunity to try easy betting on it through the 1xBet platform.

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