MCQ Detailed View

The modern game of basketball was invented in the United States in 1891 by a Canadian-American physical education instructor named Dr. James Naismith. He created the sport while working at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

At the time, Naismith was looking for a new indoor activity to keep his students active during the cold winter months. The sport needed to be safe, easy to understand, and playable inside a gym. He hung two peach baskets on opposite walls and used a soccer ball to begin testing the rules. This simple idea eventually became one of the most-played sports globally.

Key facts about basketball’s origin:

• Invented in: 1891


• Inventor: Dr. James Naismith


• Country of origin: United States (Springfield, Massachusetts)


• Original equipment: Peach baskets and a soccer ball


• First official game: Played on December 21, 1891

The early rules of basketball included 13 basic guidelines, many of which have evolved over time. For example, dribbling was not part of the original game; players had to pass the ball to move it. The game quickly grew in popularity and spread to other parts of the USA and the world, becoming an Olympic sport in 1936.

Today, basketball is a global phenomenon with professional leagues, youth programs, and national teams in almost every country. The NBA (National Basketball Association) in the United States is considered the most prestigious basketball league in the world. Major figures like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry have helped raise the sport’s profile internationally.

Although the inventor was Canadian, the game itself was born in the USA, making it the official country of origin for basketball.