6 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Basketball

Basketball is one of the most popular sports that has captured the hearts of millions across the globe. Whether you are an avid fan or a casual observer of this team sport, there are always new and stunning things to learn about this thrilling game.

Some of these facts are related to the history of basketball. In contrast, others are simply impressive and strange accomplishments of basketball players. In any case, reading about these things will provide a new perspective on the game and shed some light on the fascinating world of basketball. So, here’s our list of 6 interesting facts you didn’t know about this sport.

 

The First Basketball Game Was Played with a Soccer Ball

Did you know that James Naismith, a Canadian-American physician, physical educator, coach, and Christian Chaplain, is the man who invented basketball? Of course, some readers may have already provided an affirmative answer to this question. Still, we bet they didn’t know he did this to keep his students active during the long winter months in North America.

On top of that, we doubt that you know that the first match was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets as the hoops. The modern basketball made with an inflatable rubber bladder was introduced in the 1940s.

 

NBA Betting is a Billion-Dollar Industry

We all know that people love to bet on sports. Watching games, especially in the best leagues like the NBA (National Basketball Association), is exciting. Still, many people like to spice up this experience by wagering real money bets on NBA matches. Today, NBA betting is a billion-dollar industry that keeps growing.

From over/under and NBA lines to point spreads, there are many ways to bet on basketball and add more excitement to the games you watch. Of course, the rise of online casinos has made this activity even more convenient and accessible.

 

Michael Jordan Didn’t Make His High School Varsity Team

Truth be told, this is not the first time we heard stories about top athletes being rejected when they were young. Still, we were as surprised as you are now when we heard that Michael Jordan experienced something like this. For many, Jordan is still a synonym for basketball and the greatest player ever. Still, the fact is that he didn’t make his high school varsity team as a sophomore.

Of course, this doesn’t mean he was entirely rejected because he played on the junior varsity team. Who knows, maybe this position motivated him to improve his skill and ultimately become one of the best-known athletes of all time.

 

 

The First Slam Dunk Happened in 1936

Here’s another interesting historical fact related to one of the most exciting moves in basketball. Of course, we’re talking about slam dunks, shots in which players thrust the ball down the basket. Even though it’s worth two points like regular field goals, the visual beauty of these moves makes basketball more attractive.

Joe Fortenberry was the first player to dunk the ball in the basket in 1936. He played for the McPherson Globe Refiners and made this move in Madison Square Garden. After that, many players followed this move, but for some reason, it took almost 25 years for slam dunks to become famous.

 

Suleiman Ali Nashnush is the Tallest Basketball Player

Sun Mingming, Paul Sturgess, Manute Bol, and Gheorghe Muresan were all incredibly tall basketball players that made it to the NBA. However, the tallest basketball player is Suleiman Ali Nashnush. He was 7 feet and 10 inches tall when he played basketball.

Nashnush played for the Libyan national basketball squad in the 1980s and 1990s. Still, despite its solid performance, the team didn’t have notable success. Of course, this makes sense because, after all, basketball is a team sport. Also, it takes more than pro-height body type to become a good player.

 

One Player has scored 100 Points in a Single NBA Game

Even though you will probably find other examples of players scoring more points in basketball matches, we can all agree that such a record is much more valuable when you play in the NBA.

Wilt Chamberlain, the legendary basketball player who played for the Philadelphia Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, holds the record for the most points scored in a single NBA game. More precisely, he scored 100 points against the New York Knick on March 2, 1962.

Interestingly, the final score was 169-147. This means that this was a relatively tight match in which Chamberlain scored more than half of the points for his team.

All in all, Basketball is a sport filled with rich history and amazing facts. Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer to the game, there’s always something new to learn about it.