Basketball

Basketball is a team sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. The object is to score points by getting a ball through the opponent's hoop, an 18-inch-diameter rim mounted 10 feet above the court on a backboard.

Invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, basketball was created as an indoor activity to keep students fit during winter. Naismith published thirteen basic rules and used a fruit basket as a makeshift goal. The game quickly spread, with increasing standardization of balls, backboards, and courts.

Rules and play: Teams advance the ball by passing or dribbling and attempt to score from inside or beyond the three-point line. Field goals count two or three points, with free throws awarding one point after fouls. Games are divided into quarters or halves, and a shot clock regulates possession. Fouls and violations stop play, and players may be substituted.

Equipment and court: The ball is typically orange with black channels. Courts measure about 28 by 15 meters under international rules, and a bit larger in some leagues. The basket is at each end, with the rim height standardized at 10 feet (3.05 meters).

Leagues and governance: The sport is governed internationally by FIBA. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional league in North America, while the WNBA runs for women in the same region. College basketball in the United States, organized by the NCAA, serves as a major development pathway to professional play.

Global reach and culture: Basketball is played worldwide in schools, clubs, and communities. It features a wide ecosystem of national competitions, development programs, media coverage, and multi-sport events such as the Olympic Games and the FIBA Basketball World Cup.