The Fascinating World of Basketball

Basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 as a way to keep athletes in shape during winter. The first game used a soccer ball and two peach baskets as goals, with nine players per team.

Basketball debuted as an Olympic sport in the 1936 Berlin Games, where the final match was played outdoors on a dirt court in heavy rain. The U.S. team won gold, defeating Canada 19-8 in those challenging conditions.

The tallest player in NBA history is Gheorghe Mureșan, standing at 7 feet 7 inches, while the shortest is Muggsy Bogues, who is 5 feet 3 inches. Despite their height differences, both had successful professional careers.

Basketball is played in over 200 countries, thanks in part to the influence of the NBA. The league has expanded its reach globally, with players from more than 40 countries participating, making it one of the world's most international sports.

The longest basketball game ever recorded lasted 58 hours, played by the Missouri Athletic Club in 2012. Another quirky fact: the largest basketball ever made measures 31 feet in circumference and weighs over 1,000 pounds.

In 2019, Japan tested using AI robots to referee basketball games, aiming to reduce errors and increase fairness.