11 Facts About Basketball: Explore The Less Known

Basketball Playing (Credit: Pixabay)

Millions of fans worldwide are drawn to the sport of basketball which is loved for its fast-paced action, athleticism, and the enchantment it produces when the ball swishes through the net, whether it is played in the NBA, college, or just on the street. Even the most passionate basketball fans may be unaware of many unexpected and little-known facts, despite the fact that the sport has become a worldwide sensation. Below here are 11 rare and exceptional basketball facts will astound you, from the game's modest origins to the tallest player to ever set foot on the court as follows:

1. Basketball Was Invented by a Canadian: Basketball was originally invented by a Canadian, despite the fact that it is easy to think of the game as American. The game was created in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts whereby in order to keep his kids moving during the chilly winter months, Naismith was entrusted with creating an indoor game, hence inventing basketball with a soccer ball and a couple of peach baskets for goals where the game immediately became well-known, initially in the United States and later internationally.

2. The First Basketball Game Had 13 Rules: The game of basketball was very different from what it is today when Naismith created the first 13 rules. Although the initial regulations were straightforward, fans today might not recognize some of them like for instance, in the early stages of the game, players had to pass the ball or bounce it on the ground in order to advance; dribbling was not allowed not forgetting that every time a team scored, someone had to get up and get the ball because the game was played with a soccer ball and the goals were just peach baskets (with the bottoms still in place). Although dribbling, backcourt infractions, and many other contemporary rules have since been added to the original rules, they still served as the basis for the game we love today.

3. The First "Triple-Double" in NBA History Occurred in 1950: A player who records double digits in three statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks) during a single game is referred to as a "triple-double" in basketball slang. Triple-doubles were not always a part of the game, even if they are somewhat popular now. Andy Phillip of the Philadelphia Warriors achieved the first triple-double in NBA history in 1950. Although not as well-known as contemporary triple-doubles, Phillip's effort served as a model for the now-iconic performances of players like Russell Westbrook, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson.

4. The Tallest Player in NBA History Was 7'9": There are some of the tallest players in the world in the NBA, but one player was noticeably taller than the others. Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan are both 7'7" and the tallest NBA player ever, respectively, but Suleiman Ali Nashnush, who was 7'9", was the most tall person in basketball history and although Nashnush never made it to the NBA, he did play for the Libyan national team not forgetting that despite being a global celebrity due to his height, he was unable to succeed in the NBA to the same extent as Mureșan or Bol.

5. Michael Jordan Was Cut from His High School Team: The name Michael Jordan is a byword for basketball brilliance since his performance on the court is unmatched, and he is often considered the greatest player of all time but his path to becoming a basketball superstar was not without obstacles, though whereby in his sophomore year at his Wilmington, North Carolina, high school, Jordan was infamously dismissed from the varsity basketball team and instead, Jordan turned this setback into motivation for his unwavering work ethic, which helped him secure a seat on the team and go on to become an NBA superstar with his tale serving as a tribute to the strength of tenacity and diligence.

6. A Soccer Ball Was Used to Play The First-Ever Basketball Game: In 1891, Naismith's class played the first basketball game, but they did not utilize the modern rubber basketball. Since a soccer ball was the most readily available at the time, Naismith chose to use one instead and every time a team scored, someone had to climb up and fetch the ball because the two peach baskets the students were using as goals still had bottoms. Although the game's modest origins have given rise to the complex and well-liked sport it is today, it is astounding to consider how far the game has advanced since then.

7. 0.4 Seconds Was The Fastest Shot Ever Recorded: Although basketball is a fast-paced sport, Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks made the fastest shot ever recorded in NBA history (just 0.4 seconds) which was one of the most incredible moments in the game's history scoring an incredible shot in a 2013 game against the Denver Nuggets after receiving an inbound pass and releasing the ball in less than 0.5 seconds. This play's lightning-fast execution has raised the standard for basketball speed.

8. The Youngest Player to Reach 30,000 Career Points Was LeBron James: In 2018, LeBron James became the youngest player to reach 30,000 career points, marking yet another milestone in one of the NBA's most legendary careers exceeding Kobe Bryant, who was 34 when he accomplished this milestone, by reaching it at just 33 years and 24 days of age, hence LeBron might continue to set records for years to come if he keeps playing at a high level.

9. In Order to Keep The Game Going, The "Air Ball" Rule Was Created: Airballs, or shots that miss everything, were common in basketball's early years and frequently caused delays as players tried to recover the ball or react to the miss and because of that, the "air ball" rule was implemented in order to keep the game moving and maintain a more rapid pace making sure that the team that missed the basket, not the team that rebounded it, would immediately get the ball back if a shot missed the basket entirely which was a minor adjustment, but kept the game's energy and fluidity intact.

10. NBA Players Are Not Allowed to Wear No. 69: There is one noteworthy exception to the NBA's rule that players can wear nearly any number on their jerseys except No. 69 because this number is thought to have sexual associations, hence the league forbids players from wearing it and despite being utilized in other leagues and sports, the number 69 has consequently become one of the few that are prohibited in professional sports.

11. In NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Holds The Record For Most Points Scored: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA record for most points scored for over thirty years and although LeBron James is getting closer to Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 career points, his scoring ability remains unparalleled with the fact that Abdul-Jabbar played for 20 seasons and that a large portion of his success came from his trademark skyhook shot (which was practically impossible to block) making his accomplishment remarkable. Even with the emergence of more recent superstars, Kareem's legacy is unwavering.

Summary

Basketball has a long history and many interesting facts that casual fans may not be aware of which is full of unexpected tales, from the game's Canadian beginnings to the incredible accomplishments of players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. In addition to showcasing the game's development, the above little-known facts serve as a reminder of the amazing individuals who have influenced it helping one appreciate basketball and the players who are always pushing the limits of what is possible on the court, regardless of whether you have been a lifelong fan or are just starting out.