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Basketball was Invented
The Canadian, Dr. James B. Naismith, sports figure, inventor, teacher, invented the game of basketball at the YMCA in Springfield, Mass. -
Women's Basketball Initiation
Gymnastics instructor Senda Berenson Abbott adapts James Naismith's basketball rules for women and introduces the game at Smith College in the winter of 1892. -
Original 13 Basketball Rules Created
Dr. James Naismith created 13 different rules so that each team could have an equal opportunity to win. The first time people knew about these rules was in Springfield College school newspaper The Triangle. -
First public basketball game
The first public basketball game was played between the students and faculty of Springfield (Massachusetts) College, just three months after Dr. James Naismith invented the game. The Springfield students dominated the game, winning 5-1. As a result of this game, it wasn’t long before YMCAs across the U.S. adopted the game into their sports programs in 1893, as it didn’t require much equipment and that could be played indoors or outdoors. -
First Basketball Marketed
A soccer ball was used for the first two years of basketball. In 1894 the first basketball was marketed. It was laced, measured close to 32 inches, or about 4 inches larger than the soccer ball, in circumference, and weighed less than 20 ounces. -
First College Game
The University of Chicago defeats Iowa, 15-12 to win the first college basketball game with five players to a side. It was the idea of Iowa Professor Henry F. Callenberg (who refereed the game) to reduce the sides from seven or nine. About 400 spectators crowded into the Iowa Armory to witness the recently-invented game. -
First Professional Game
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. Trenton defeated Brooklyn to win the first ever professional basketball game. -
Basketball becomes an Olympic sport
Basketball becomes an official Olympic sport. The United States defeats Canada 19-8 for the gold medal. The games were played in Berlin, Germany from August 1-16. -
First Televised Game
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. Pittsburgh beat Fordham 50-37.
