The multi-million dollar, money making game of basketball has came a long way since its humble beginning. The sport of basketball was born at a training school in Springfield, Massachusetts. For a century, basketball was played with soccer balls and peach baskets, but because of outstanding players, evolving rules and records set, basketball has became an international sensation. Basketball is enjoyed by people of all ages, has transcended gender barriers and has given women an outlet that they couldn't enjoy through all-male team sports such as football and baseball.
Unknowingly a man invented a game that would soon be played all over the world, his name was James Naismith. Naismith was born on November 6th, 1861 in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. Naismith attended McGill University where he got his bachelor's degree in physical education. McGill University then hired Naismith as the physical education teacher and director of athletics. In 1980, Naismith moved on …show more content…
When the 1949-50 season ended, seven teams dropped out, leaving the National Basketball Association with a ten-team roster. A lot of time was spent trying to beat the Lakers, who passed through to five championships in six seasons riding on Mikan’s shoulders. Mikan had an average of twenty two point six points per game in over nine professional seasons. Mikan shocked the world when he announced his retirement after the 1954 championship at the age of thirty.
George Mikan was a basketball legend to many, many people right along with a lot of other men. Mikan was considered to be the “Babe Ruth” of basketball. He was a three-time All-American and two-time national scoring champion at DePaul University. Mikan retired with eleven thousand seven hundred and sixty four career points on his record. A few years later, another National Basketball League legend was introduced to the Minneapolis