Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-dunking-the-ball-163452/Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and it has a huge following across the world too. Whether you’re an occasional fan or the avid follower of a specific team, here are seven amazing basketball facts you may not have known.The humble beginnings of basketball stem from a Canadian professor of physical education, who needed to keep his gym class occupied on a rainy day in 1891. James Naismith taught at Springfield College in Massachusetts, and wanted to find an indoor game that nurtured good fitness levels when the New England weather made exercising outdoors difficult.Naismith tried out a number of ideas before settling on a game whereby players would pass a ball to teammates, who would try to throw the ball into a wall-mounted basket. In fact, the very first basketball hoop was a peach basket! After realizing it slowed down the pace of the game when players had to retrieve the ball from the basket each time, Naismith decided to remove the bottom of the basket so the ball would fall all the way through. But the name ‘basketball’ stuck, and the rest was history.The basketball itself was originally a soccer ball, sewn up with a set of laces. In the game of basketball, this kind of ball made dribbling the ball too unpredictable. In later years, a lace-less ball was invented, helping reduce some of the problems associated with earlier basketball. Bottomless peach baskets were used all the way up until 1902, when they were replaced with metal hoops.After being invented by Naismith in 1891, the game of basketball quickly spread across the United States and Canada, and it was being played in many YMCA gyms and high schools within just a few years. Naismith was also key in introducing college basketball, and even coached the game at the University of Kansas. Many of his early players became coaches in colleges across the United States too.Over the years, basketball has become a go-to sport in the United States for many people, and has gained a huge international following too. More than 24 million people in the United States play basketball, and 44% of the population of the United States describe themselves as fans.The history and present-day status of basketball is powerful. But what else is there that you might not have known about the sport? Here are seven fantastic basketball facts.
1. Home of Hoops
Ever wondered which city in the United States has the most basketball hoops? Irvine, California, has 17.2 public basketball hoops per 10,000 residents, making it the city with the most hoops across the nation. The second is Norfolk, Virginia, with 16.9, and the third is Arlington, Virginia, with 16.1 hoops per 10,000 people.
2. Offshore Betting Sites
Basketball is one of the most popular sports for online betting, particularly among offshore betting websites. During the pandemic, activity has increased exponentially and basketball is rapidly becoming a favorite among savvy punters around the world. People choose from a choice of basketball fantasy leagues, video games and online games (read more here).
3. Primary Winners
The very first NBA game was played between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies in November 1946. The New York Knicks came out the winners. More recently, in the 2021-22 season alone, the Knicks enjoyed 12 wins.
4. Gen Z fans
Although there are now many other sports out there that Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) can enjoy, basketball is still high up on the list. In fact, basketball comes second only to football, with 47% of Generation Z describing themselves as NBA fans, versus 49% who are NFL fans.
5. First 10,000 points
The youngest player to score 10,000 points in the NBA was LeBron James, who was 23 years and 59 days old when he hit this record. James has also hit many other milestones in his career, including being the all-time leading scorer for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
6. Team Uniform Sales
Basketball apparel is big business in the United States, with more than $170 million spent on basketball uniforms each and every year. This reached an all-time high in 2019, when $215 million was spent on basketball uniforms in the country.
7. Longest Winning Streak
The basketball team with the longest winning streak in the whole of NBA history is the Los Angeles Lakers. Incredibly, this winning streak happened between 1971 and 1972, when the Lakers won 33 games in a row. That means no team has ever beaten this record in 50 years!
8. Highest Earners
The NBA player who earns the highest salary is Stephen ‘Steph’ Curry from the Golden State Warriors, who earns $34.4 million per season. Many people believe LeBron James is the highest NBA earner, yet his salary is lower at $31.4 million per season. That said, LeBron James earns the most overall, as he earns a massive $64 million in endorsement deals every season too!
