Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players each oppose one another on a rectangular court. The primary objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop mounted on a backboard at each end. Field goals are worth two points, or three from behind the three-point line, and free throws are worth one point each. The team with the most points at the game's end wins, and if the score is tied after regulation, most leagues add overtime periods until one side pulls ahead.
Origins and invention
Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, a Canadian-American physical education instructor in Springfield, Massachusetts, who wanted an indoor game to keep his gym class active during harsh winters. His first baskets were peach baskets nailed to a wall, and the bottoms were later removed so balls could be poked out after each score. Women's basketball followed soon after, and by 1899 rules for both sexes had been standardized across schools and colleges.
Modern competition
Today basketball is one of the most popular and widely watched sports in the world. The National Basketball Association is considered the most significant professional league in terms of popularity, salaries and competition level, drawing much of its talent from United States college basketball. International events include the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the men's Olympic tournament, while the WNBA and EuroLeague Women serve as leading professional competitions for women.
