Austin Whitton

Professor Loudermilk

English Composition II

28 March 2020

Literature Review

Basketball has been around for a long time and is one of the biggest sports in the world.

Due to the history of basketball and the prevalence today, there is no doubt basketball has had a

huge impact on society and culture. What is the history of basketball and how has it impacted

culture? Basketball has long had a history of prevalence in society. Basketball was first invented

in 1892 and in first debuted in the Olympics in 1936 (“Where Basketball Was Invented”). In

1946, The NBA was founded as an all-white basketball league and just 4 years later the first

African American players were drafted into the league. Soon basketball legends such as Bill

Russel and Wilt Chamberlin would enter into the league making the game very popular (“The

NBA, African Americans Love This Game”). After this, Michael Jordan’s dominance and brand

would draw lots of attention to the game. Today, basketball is a global game played and loved by

my different races, religions, and genders. Basketball has forever changed the sports world and

culture. The sources I chose all have supported this idea that basketball has positively progressed

in society. The sources allow me to explore the current cultural impact of the sport and also the

history.

Throughout each source, many key points can be seen in the articles. A key point from

most of the articles is that basketball has a history of positively impacting society. Throughout

the articles, we are told that basketball is a game that loved everyone. The Springfield College

source gives a reliable history of the beginnings of basketball. The game was invented by a
Canadian man in America and was played by immigrants in the early days (“Where Basketball

Was Invented”). Basketball has always invoked change. Dan Klore's article on how basketball

has changed the world is a reliable source whose audience is anyone with a belief that basketball

is powerful.

The key point of basketball positively impacting society is continued through these

sources. The essay that was written about the history of the influence of basketball was written to

help us understand why basketball is so important. In the early days of the game, many different

ethnic groups gravitated towards the sport which led to diversity. Even women were encouraged

to participate in the sport in a time where women did not have equal rights (Klores). The African

American Registry article was written for African Americans to learn about the great history of

the game. In the early 1950s, the NBA was desegregated and soon after talented African

Americans started entering the league (“The NBA, African Americans Love This Game”).

Throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s coaches would hold basketball camps in Europe and African to

help spread the love of the game. In the 90s the NBA opened up to gay players and coaches

during and after the AIDS epidemic (Klores). Not only has basketball affected social issues but it

has even created its own culture.

Another main idea from the articles is that basketball has its own culture that is geared

toward progressiveness and diversity. When you turn on an NBA game you might see an Iranian,

Muslim, or Israeli player. Dan Klores tells us that basketball “has established itself as a culture of

progressive ideas, leadership, and diversity” which is very important to society. Scoop Jackson’s

article tells us about how dominant the Jordan Brand has been on and off the court, he writes this

for anyone interested in why basketball shoes are so popular. Basketball culture is very

influential. Basketball clothes and shoes have become very popular and a big part of people’s
lives. Scoop Jackson was interviewing LaMarcus Aldridge, an NBA player, when Aldridge said

“Growing up in my neighborhood, (Jordans) were kind of like the holy grail” this shows the

importance of basketball culture to kids and adults alike. If you go to a park you are likely to see

basketball being played. In the African American Registry article, they tell us that “The games

culture has become important as fashion, with logos of American professional teams found on

the clothing the world over.” The sources show the importance that basketball has had and will

have on society and culture.

Basketball has its own culture that everyone loves. I could not find any opposing

viewpoints to my research question because I am asking what the history of the sport is and how

it has impacted culture. I might be able to find an opposing viewpoint if I changed my research

question to what is the positive impact basketball has on society? I might be able to find a

negative viewpoint about the impact of basketball on society. I feel that the 5 sources are very

useful and credible for my research paper. I think part of the answer to my research question is

that basketball has had a very positive and inclusive impact on society and culture. Basketball is

a great game that helps bring people together.

 Works Cited

Jackson, Scoop. “ESPN.” ESPN.Com, 12 Feb. 2016,

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/14760324/cultural-impact-jordan-sneakers-goes-far-

basketball. Accessed 21 Mar. 2020.

Klores, Dan. “Basketball Has Changed the World, and It Can Do Even More.” The Undefeated,

The Undefeated, 25 Feb. 2019, theundefeated.com/features/basketball-has-changed-the-

world-and-it-can-do-even-more/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2020.

“The Effect of the Invention of Basketball on American Society.” Free Essays - PhDessay.Com,

20 Aug. 2016, phdessay.com/the-effect-of-the-invention-of-basketball-on-american-

society/. Accessed 22 Mar. 2020.

“The NBA, African Americans Love This Game.” African American Registry, 16 Feb. 2020,

aaregistry.org/story/the-nba-african-americans-love-this-game/. Accessed 22 Mar. 2020.

“Where Basketball Was Invented: The History of Basketball | Springfield

College.” Springfield.Edu, 2000, springfield.edu/where-basketball-was-invented-the-

birthplace-of-basketball. Accessed 21 Mar. 2020.