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1891 Basketball is invented by Dr. James Naismith, an instructor at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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1895 The backboard is introduced to prevent fans from interfering with play (baskets were often hung on balconies).
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1914 NCAA, Amateur Athletic Union and YMCA rules are standardized.
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1937 The National Basketball League is formed. (The Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings can all trace their heritage beck to the the NBL, and the league featured many future NBA stars such as George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Dolph Schayes, Bob Davies and Red Holzman)
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1950 The NBA begins racial integration when Earl Loyd, Nat Clifton and Chuck Cooper join the league.
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1954 The NBA introduces the shot clock to curtail stalling tactics.
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1992 Professional basketball players are allowed in the Olympics and the "Dream Team" (featuring Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson) is born.
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1996 - Birth of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
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The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.