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Basketball 2
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Contents
 Introduction

 History

 Common techniques and practices

 Rules and regulations

 Skills

 Height

 Social forms of basketball

 Injuries in basketball

 Terminologies in basketball

 Important tournaments of basketball\

 Venues in basketball

 Awards in basketball
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 Awardees in basketball

 Famous personalities in basketball

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INTRODUCTION
Basketball is a team sport, the objective being to shoot a ball through a
basket horizontally positioned to score points while following a set of rules.
Usually, two teams of five players play on a marked rectangular court with
a basket at each width end. Basketball is one of the world's most popular
and widely viewed sports.
A regulation basketball hoop consists of a rim 18 inches (46 cm) in
diameter and 10 feet (3.0 m) high mounted to a backboard. A team can
score a field goal by shooting the ball through the basket during regular
play. A field goal scores two points for the shooting team if a player is
touching or closer to the basket than the three-point line, and three points
(known commonly as a 3 pointer or three) if the player is behind the three-
point line. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but
additional time (overtime) may be issued when the game ends with a draw.
The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or
running (dribbling) or throwing (passing) it to a teammate. It is a violation
to move without dribbling the ball (traveling), to carry it, or to hold the ball
with both hands then resume dribbling (double dribble).
Numerous violations are called "fouls." Disruptive physical contact
(a personal foul) is penalized, and a free throw is usually awarded to an
offensive player if he is fouled while shooting the ball. A technical
foul may also be issued when certain infractions occur, most commonly
for unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a player or coach. A technical
foul gives the opposing team a free throw, and the opposing team is also
retained possession of the ball.
 Basketball 7

History
Creation
In early December 1891, Canadian American Dr. James Naismith, a
physical education professor and instructor at the International Young
Men's Christian Association Training School (YMCA) (today, Springfield
College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA), was trying to keep his gym
class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his
students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New
England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly
suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed
a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.05 m)
elevated track. In contrast with modern
basketball nets, this peach basket retained
its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved
manually after each "basket" or point
scored; this proved inefficient, however,
so the bottom of the basket was
removed,[4] allowing the balls to be poked
out with a long dowel each time.
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made
specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s
that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players
and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use.
Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to
teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement.
 Basketball 8

College basketball
Basketball's early adherents were
dispatched to YMCAs throughout the
United States, and it quickly spread
through the USA and Canada. By
1895, it was well established at several
women's high schools. While the
YMCA was responsible for initially
developing and spreading the game, within a decade it discouraged the new
sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's
primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and
professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I,
the Amateur Athletic Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of
the United States (forerunner of the NCAA) vied for control over the rules
for the game. The first pro league, the National Basketball League, was
formed in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to promote a less
rough game. This league only lasted five years.
High school basketball
Before widespread school district consolidation, most American high
schools were far smaller than their present-day counterparts. During the
first decades of the 20th century, basketball quickly became the ideal
interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and personnel
requirements. In the days before widespread television coverage of
professional and college sports, the popularity of high school basketball
was unrivaled in many parts of America. Perhaps the most legendary of
high school teams was Indiana's Franklin Wonder Five, which took the
nation by storm during the 1920s, dominating Indiana basketball and
earning national recognition.
 Basketball 9

Professional basketball
Teams abounded throughout the 1920s. There were hundreds of
men's professional basketball teams in towns and cities all over the United
States, and little organization of the professional game. Players jumped
from team to team and teams played in armories and smoky dance halls.
Leagues came and went. Barnstorming squads such as the Original
Celtics and two all-African American teams, the New York Renaissance
Five ("Rens") and the (still existing) Harlem Globetrotters played up to two
hundred games a year on their national
tours.
International basketball
The InternationalBasketball
Federation was formed in 1932 by eight
founding nations:
Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy,
Latvia, Portugal, Romania, and
Switzerland. At this time, the organization
only oversaw amateur players. Its
acronym, derived from the
French Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur, was thus "FIBA".
Men's Basketball was first included at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics,
although a demonstration tournament was held in 1904. The United States
defeated Canada in the first final, played outdoors. This competition has
usually been dominated by the United States, whose team has won all but
three titles, the first loss in a controversial final game
in Munich in 1972 against the Soviet Union. In 1950 the first FIBA World
Championship for men was held in Argentina. Three years later, the
firstFIBA World Championship for Women was held in Chile. Women's
 Basketball 10

basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, which were held

in Montreal, Canada with teams such as the Soviet Union, Brazil,
and Australia rivaling the American squads.
Women's basketball
In 1891, the University of California and Miss Head's School played the
first women's interinstitutional game. Women's basketball began in 1892
at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher,
modified Naismith's rules for women. Shortly after she was hired at Smith,
she went to Naismith to learn more about the game. [18] Fascinated by the
new sport and the values it could teach, she organized the first women’s
collegiate basketball game on March 21, 1893, when her Smith freshmen
and sophomores played against one another.[19] Her rules were first
published in 1899 and two years later Berenson became the editor of A.G.
Spalding’s first Women's Basketball Guide.[19] Berenson's freshmen played
the sophomore class in the first women's intercollegiate basketball game
at Smith College, March 21, 1893.[20] The same year, Mount
Holyoke and Sophie Newcomb College (coached by Clara Gregory Baer)
women began playing basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges
across the country, including Wellesley, Vassar, and Bryn Mawr. The first
intercollegiate women's game was on April 4, 1896.
Rules and regulations
Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among
tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in
this section.
The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball
through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents
from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot.
A successful shot is worth two points, or three points if it is taken from
 Basketball 11

beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 meters (20 ft 6 in) from the basket
in international games and 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) in NBA games. A one-
point shot can be earned when shooting from the foul line after a foul is
made.
Playing regulations
Games are played in four quarters of 10 or 12 minutes (NBA). College
games use two 20-minute halves,[28] while United States high school
varsity games use 8 minute quarters. 15 minutes are allowed for a half-time
break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules and 10 minutes in the United
States high schools. Overtime periods are five minutes in length except for
high school which is four minutes in length. Teams exchange baskets for
the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is
stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much
longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.
Five players from each team may be on the court at one time.
Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done
when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who
oversees the development and strategies of the team,
and other team personnel such as assistant coaches,
managers, statisticians, doctors, and trainers.
For both men's and women's teams, a standard
uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey with
a visible number, unique within the team, printed on
both the front and back. Players wear high-
top sneakers that provide extra ankle support.
Typically, team names, players' names, and, outside
of North America, sponsors are printed on the
uniforms.
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Equipment
The only essential equipment in a
basketball game is the ball and the court: a
flat, rectangular surface with baskets at
opposite ends. Competitive levels require
the use of more equipment such as clocks,
score sheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and whistle-
operated stop-clock systems.

An outdoor basketball net.

A regulation basketball court in international games is 91.9 feet long and
49.2 feet wide. In the NBA and NCAA, the court is 94 feet by 50 feet.
Most courts have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks
running in the same direction as the longer court dimension.[38] The name
and logo of the home team are usually painted on or around the center
circle.
The basket is a steel rim 18 inches diameter with an attached net affixed to
a backboard that measures 6 feet by 3.5 feet and one basket is at each end
of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches high and
2 feet wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly
10 feet above the court and 4 feet inside the baseline. While variation is
possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered
important for the basket to be of the correct height – a rim that is off by just
a few inches can harm shooting.
The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is
29.5 inches in circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 oz. If
women are playing, the official basketball size is 28.5 inches in
circumference (size 6, or a "285 ball") with a weight of 20 oz.
 Basketball 13

Violations
The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between
players, thrown, tapped, rolled, or dribbled (bouncing the ball while
running).
The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it
travels out of bounds forfeits possession.
The ball-handler may not step with both feet without dribbling, an
infraction known as traveling, nor dribble with both hands or hold the ball
and resume dribbling, a violation called double dribbling. Any part of the
player's hand cannot be directly under the ball while dribbling; doing so is
known as carrying the ball. A team, once having established ball control in
the front half of their court, may not return the ball to the backcourt and be
the first to touch it. The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with the fist.
Fouls
An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact
is illegal and is called a foul. These are
most commonly committed by defensive
players; however, they can be committed
by offensive players as well. Players who
are fouled either receive the ball to pass
inbounds again or receive one or more free
throws if they are fouled in the act of
shooting, depending on whether the shot
was successful. One point is awarded for
making a free throw, which is attempted
from a line 15 feet (4.6 m) from the
basket.
 Basketball 14

Common techniques and practices

Positions
Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have
evolved as part of basketball. During
the first five decades of basketball's
evolution, one guard, two forwards, and
two centers or two guards, two
forwards, and one center were used.
Since the 1980s, more specific
positions have evolved, namely:

1. Point guard: usually the fastest player

on the team, organizes the team's
offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right
player at the right time.
2. Shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offense, mainly long-
ranged; and guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.
3. Small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the
basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but
sometimes plays more actively.
4. Power forward: plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on
defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing
power forward (in man-to-man defense).
5. The Center uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket
closely (on defense), or to rebound.
Strategy
The strategies also evolve with the game. In the 1990s and early 2000s,
teams played with more "isolation". Teams that had one superstar would let
 Basketball 15

one player, usually the point guard or shooting guard, run most of the
offense while the other four offensive players get out of his/her way.
Nowadays, teams tend to play with more teamwork. The "Center" position
has evolved to become more of a taller "Small Forward" position. Since
teams play more teamwork, ball movement has evolved with the game, and
more jump shots have been taken as a result.
There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man
defense. In a zone defense, each player is assigned to guard a specific area
of the court. In a man-to-man defense, each defensive player guards a
specific opponent. Man-to-man defense is generally preferred at higher
levels of competition, as it is intuitively easier to understand and avoid
mismatches between players who play different positions. However, zone
defenses are sometimes used in particular situations or simply to confuse
the offense with an unexpected look.
Shooting
The player releases a short jump shot, while her defender is either knocked
down or trying to "take a charge."
Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball
through the basket, methods varying with players and situations.
Typically, a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A
player will rest the ball on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting
arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand supporting the side of the
ball. The ball is usually shot by jumping (though not always) and extending
the shooting arm. The shooting arm, extended with the wrist fully bent is
held stationary for a moment following the release of the ball, known as a
follow-through. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to
absorb its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat
controversial, but generally, a proper arc is recommended. Players may
 Basketball 16

shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball
into the basket.
Rebounding
The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the
basketball after a missed field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the
hoop or backboard. This plays a major role in the game, as most
possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of
rebounds: offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the
offensive side and does not change possession, and defensive rebounds, in
which the defending team gains possession of the loose ball. The majority
of rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in a better
position to recover missed shots.
Passing
A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are
accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through
with the hands to ensure accuracy.
A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's
chest to the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap
of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the defense little time to react.
Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball
crisply about two-thirds of the way from his chest to the receiver. The ball
strikes the court and bounces up toward the receiver.
The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is
released while over the passer's head.
The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass
after the rebound is the outlet pass.
 Basketball 17

Dribbling
Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand and is
a requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player
pushes the ball down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than
patting it; this ensures greater control.
When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand
farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive
player to get to the ball. It is therefore important for a player to be able to
dribble competently with both hands.
Blocking
A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds
in altering the shot by touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is
illegal to touch the ball after it is in the downward path of its arc; this is
known as goaltending. It is also illegal under NBA and Men's NCAA
basketball to block a shot after it has touched
the backboard, or when any part of the ball is
directly above the rim. Under international
rules, it is illegal to block a shot that is in the
downward path of its arc or one that has
touched the backboard until the ball has hit the
rim. After the ball hits the rim, it is again legal
to touch it even though it is no longer
considered as a block performed.
Height
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At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91
m), and most women are above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom
physical coordination and ball-handling
skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest
players. Almost all forwards in the men's
pro leagues are 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) or
taller. Most centers are over 6 feet 10
inches (2.08 m) tall. According to a survey
given to all NBA teams, the average height of all NBA players is just under
6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds
(101 kg). The tallest players ever in the NBA were Manute Bol and
Gheorghe Mureşan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall. The tallest
current NBA player is Hasheem Thabeet, who stands at 7 feet 3 inches
(2.21 m). At 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m), Margo Dydek was the tallest player
in the history of the WNBA.
 Basketball 19

Social forms of basketball

 Recreational basketball, where fun, entertainment, and camaraderie rule

rather than winning a game;
 Basketball Schools and Academies, where
students are trained in developing
basketball fundamentals, undergo fitness
and endurance exercises, and learn various
basketball skills. Basketball students learn
proper ways of passing, ball handling, dribbling,
shooting from various distances, rebounding,
offensive moves, defense, layups, screens,
basketball rules, and basketball ethics. Also
popular are the basketball camps organized for
various occasions, often to get prepared for
basketball events, and basketball clinics for
improving skills.
 College and University basketball played in
educational institutions of higher learning.
 This includes National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
intercollegiate basketball.
 Disabled basketball played by various disabled groups, such as
 Bankshot basketball,
 Deaf basketball,
 Wheelchair basketball, a sport based on basketball but designed
for disabled people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the
major disabled sports practiced.
 Ethnic and Religion-based basketball: Examples of ethnic basketball
include Indo-Pak or Russian or Armenian leagues in the United States or
 Basketball 20

Common Basketball Injuries!

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and
throughout the world. Millions of people participate in the sport at all levels
of competition. Whether you are playing for the neighborhood
championship or the NBA title, you can get injured. Basketball injuries can
be separated into two general categories: overuse injuries and traumatic
injuries.

Overuse injuries
Injuries caused by stressing an area over and over until it is
damaged and begins to hurt are described as overuse
injuries. One such injury is patellar tendinitis, or "jumper's
knee," which is characterized by pain in the tendon just
below the kneecap.

Achilles tendinitis is another common overuse injury in

basketball players. This injury of the tendon connecting the muscles in the
back of the calf to the heel bone causes pain in the back of the leg just
above the heel. Occasionally, the Achilles tendon can tear. To treat a torn
Achilles tendon, the doctor might tell you to keep the area immobilized for
some time so the tendon can heal, or you might need surgery to repair the
damage.

Some basketball players overuse the tendons in their shoulders. The rotator
cuff of the shoulder is composed of four muscles. The tendons that attach
these muscles to the shoulder bones can become inflamed and painful,
 Basketball 21

particularly when you do repetitive overhead activities, such as shooting

the basketball.
Traumatic injuries

Traumatic injuries are those caused by a sudden forceful injury. One of the
more common traumatic injuries in basketball is jammed fingers. The
severity of a jammed finger can range from a minor injury of the ligaments,
which connect bones, to a broken finger. Splinting may be needed to allow
the injured finger to heal. Another type of traumatic injury is a muscle pull
or tear. In basketball players, these injuries occur primarily in the large
muscles of the legs. To prevent them, stretch your thighs and calves well
and do warm-up exercises before playing.
Ankle sprains

The most common basketball injury is the ankle

sprain. This injury often occurs when a player
lands on another player's foot or the ankle rolls too
far outward. When this happens, the ligaments
connecting bones and supporting the ankle are
stretched and torn. The ligaments can tear partially
or completely. To treat your sprain, your doctor
prescribes a short period of immobilization,
keeping the joint still, so the ligaments can heal. After immobilization, you
begin special exercises to strengthen the muscles that help hold your ankle
in place. If your muscles and ligaments are not strong enough to prevent
reinjury, you might need surgery to repair the damage and to help stabilize
your ankle.
Knee injuries
 Basketball 22

Knee injuries are some of the most serious basketball injuries. One type of
knee injury is a sprain. A knee sprain is a small tear in the ligaments or
joint capsule that is not severe enough to cause your knee to give way. To
help the tear heal, you must protect your knee for a short time by
immobilizing it. After the tear heals, your doctor will prescribe stretching
and strengthening exercises for the muscles that help hold the knee in
place.

If you twist your knee, you can tear a meniscus,

which is the tissue that acts as a cushion between
the bones of the upper and lower leg at the knee.
To repair or remove a torn meniscus, you might
need arthroscopic surgery. The surgeon inserts a
camera and instruments into the knee joint
through small skin incisions. With the
instruments, the surgeon can see and treat the damaged meniscus.
 Basketball 23

Terminologies in basketball
To contribute to basketball conversations, you'll need to learn the language.
Below is a list of the most common basketball terms and phrases alongside
their definitions.

Assist: A pass directly leading to a made basket.

Block: Touching a ball before it reaches the hoop, preventing a made
basket.
Blocking: A foul committed by obstructing an offensive player with your
body.
Boxing out: Using your body to prevent another player from gathering a
rebound.
Center: Typically the tallest player on the court who plays closest to the
basket.
Charging: A personal foul for when an offensive player runs over a
stationary defensive player.
Crossover: Switching the ball from one hand to the other while dribbling.
Defense: The team without possession of the ball.
Dribbling: Bouncing the ball off the floor repeatedly without picking it up.
Dunk: When a player jumps and throws the ball through the hoop from
close range.
Field goal: When the ball goes through the hoop on any shot other than a
free throw, worth either two or three points.
Forward: The 2nd tallest player on the floor after the Center.
Free throw: A shot awarded after a player is fouled, worth one point.
Guard: The smaller players on the court who handle the ball most and play
away from the basket.
Key: The painted area close to the basket.
Offense: The team in possession of the ball.
Pass: To throw the ball to one’s teammates.
Rebound: To gather the ball after a missed shot.
Shot: An attempt to throw the ball into the hoop.
 Basketball 24

Important tournaments in basketball

International basketball has never been better than it is today. Forty or fifty
years ago, the United States was the only true power in the basketball
world. However, that has changed as the game has grown, spreading to
more and more countries than ever before. This is particularly true in the
men’s game, but the women’s game is slowly catching up. Here we are
going to take a look at five of the biggest basketball tournaments in the
world today:

FIBA World Cup– FIBA is the world’s governing body for

basketball. Most people would have heard of FIFA, soccer’s governing
body: FIBA would be its equivalent. Every four years, teams from around
the world are brought together to compete for the crown of World
Champions. Each team that makes it to the competition, except the host, is
required to qualify. Both men and women compete in this competition, but
they are held at two different venues.

National Basketball Association– The NBA is seen in America as the

premier basketball competition in the world due to this its level of
competition. There are playoffs at the end of an 82 game season that taxes
players and coaches alike. They are contested in a best of seven formats,
held between 16 teams. After all of that is said and done, the winner
usually is referred to in America and Canada as the "world champions."
However, people from outside North America don't always think this. The
NBA is undoubtedly the league that pays its players the most money and
the league that all players want to go to.
Olympic Basketball Tournament– the Olympics are very well-known
throughout the world due to the various sports which are played. Both
men's and women's basketball is present at the Olympics (although the
American women have very little competition). In America, the Olympics
are the most recognized international event, not the FIBA World Cup.
 Basketball 25

Slowly, this is becoming the trend around the world. The Olympics are a
big deal in terms of basketball because of the marker that was laid down by
the American Dream Team when professionals first became eligible to
play.
EuroLeague– the EuroLeague is essentially the basketball version of the
UEFA Champions League, a very prestigious soccer competition contested
between teams from various European nations. Much like its soccer
counterparts, the EuroLeague is also made up of teams from various
countries. To qualify for the EuroLeague, teams usually have to win their
national basketball championship. For example, Barcelona would have to
win the Spanish League title to play. This means that only the best teams,
or the teams that were the best in the previous season, will make the
tournament. This provides fans a great opportunity to see contrasting styles
meeting one another, and it is also great practice for the players as they
prepare for potentially going to the Olympics or FIBA World Cup. Each
season, 16 teams take part in the tournament to determine who is Europe’s
best basketball team. The format sees every team play the other in a home
and away format. The top eight in the standings will then qualify for the
next round.

With the NBA expanding more and more, the whole basketball world could
be changed over the next few years. In the past, there has been talking of a
super league where the NBA would play other European teams, but it's
 Basketball 26

hard to see that happening, as it looks like the NBA is just determined to
sign all of the top talent. Each of these tournaments is huge and very
important to win, and they've all got their little niche group to look out for.

The last decade has seen a drastic increase in the participation of other
sports than cricket in India. Since the success of the Indian Premier League
in Cricket, Federations are coming up with similar tournaments across the
Nation to attract talent, recognition, and support- both in-country and
Internationally. Achievements in Basketball, Hockey, Football, Badminton,
Tennis, and other sports are not going unnoticed and unappreciated.

Basketball has been in India since the 1930s. The National Basketball
Championship for Men was the first major tournament to be conducted in
1934, New Delhi. The BFI- Basketball Federation of India was formed in
1950 and constantly sends the Indian Men and Women National teams for
various Basketball tournaments across Asia and the World. India's best
performance came as 4th place that they achieved in the 1975 FIBA
Asia Championships. Furthermore, they participated in the 1980 Summer
Olympics where they came 12th.

Satnam Singh and Sim Bhullar

The National Basketball team has failed to qualify for the FIBA World
Championships, 2019. However, recent years have seen steady progress. In
 Basketball 27

April 2015, Sim Bhullar a Canadian of Indian descent made his

professional debut in the NBA. Soon, Satnam Singh Bhamara became the
first Indian to ever be selected in the NBA. He was the 52nd pick in
the 2015 NBA draft for the Dallas Mavericks. He’d also be the first player
to be drafted as a high school postgraduate.

UBA Pro League

The United Basketball Alliance (UBA) is the first men’s professional

basketball league in India; comprising eight teams. It is the premier men’s
professional basketball league in India. Teams compete across two
divisions and follow a league cum knock-out format. Mumbai
Challengers, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Steelers, and Haryana Gold comprise
the North Division and Chennai Slam, Pune Peshwas, Bengaluru
Beast and Hyderabad Sky make up the South Division.

National Championship
 Basketball 28

The National Championships is the oldest Basketball tournament in India.

It is an annual professional basketball tournament in India. This tournament
is held by the Basketball Federation of India. Every Basketball Player in
India desires to win this prestigious trophy. The National Championships in
India happens for different categories based on age- Junior Men and
Women; Sub-Junior Men and Women; Senior Men and Women. It is a
league cum knock-out format tournament.

The 68th Senior National Basketball Championship saw 31 teams

participate and Tamil Nadu ran out as winners for the 10th time.
Furthermore, Kerala Men And Tamil Nadu Women have won the 69th
Junior National Basketball Championship in May 2018, Ludhiana.

Federation Cup

The Federation Cup is one of the prestigious Basketball tournaments in

India. The Annual tournament follows a League cum Knockout format
between 9 teams every year. The top eight teams in the men’s and women’s
section from the senior Nationals alongside the Host State compete against
each other to win the tournament. Furthermore, winners of the men’s
championship represent India in the Asian Champions Cup.

ISBL and ISCL

 Basketball 29

The ISBL and the ISCL are two new leagues to promote basketball at the
grassroots levels in various schools and colleges in India. It is a self-
sustaining structured system that serves the platform to increase organized
basketball participation at the grassroots level. Subsequently, this serves as
the talent development system for the Indian National Teams. These
leagues last for up to a period of around 6-8 weeks. Each team plays only
one match every week since it is a league and not a tournament. Also, the
School Leagues have certain regulations which help every player to get a
good amount of playing time to showcase their talent. Firstly, it begins with
the State Championship. Whose winners then participate in the Indian
School & College Basketball Leagues – National Championship.

The number of teams participating in each League will be 16, except in the
case of Union territories where 8 teams in each group/section must
participate. Teams are then divided into groups of 8 and follow the league
cum knock-out format at both- state and national levels. Each team plays
all the other teams in the group. Each team plays at least once per weak
over a minimum of 6 week period. The age limit for participation in ICBL
is under 25 years, whereas for ISBL it is under 19 years.

Invitational Tournaments

Different Federations, Governmental institutions, or Educational

Institutions are hosting various Invitational Tournaments. These
Invitational tournaments are usually pan-India competitions ranging across
all age groups in both Boys and Girls. All India Open Basketball
tournament, YMCA Knights National Invitational Tournament, Master
Prithvinath Memorial, Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty All India Basketball
Tournament, Don Bosco Invitational Tournament, Ramu Memorial, and
JCI All India Basketball Tournament are a few major ones. Additionally,
many tournaments in all parts of India have been organized every year.
 Basketball 30

Venues in basketball

Philippine Arena
The Philippine Arena, the world's biggest basketball venue, is located in
Bulacan, Philippines. A South Korean company, Hanwha Engineering, and
Construction began the construction in August 2011 and completed it on
May 30, 2014, before it was fully inaugurated on July 21, 2014.
Carrier Dome
Carrier Dome is located in Syracuse, New York, and is home to the
Syracuse Orange men and women basketball teams. The arena's highest
capacity during a basketball game is 35,446 but has a maximum seating
capacity of 49,250.
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum popularly known as the Big Dome is part of
the Araneta Center in Quezon City, Philippines. The 25,000 capacity
basketball arena was constructed between 1957 and 1959 and remains one
of the largest clear-span domes in the world. It sits on a total area of
430,000 sq ft and has a floor area of 250,000 sq ft..
Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S, is part of the Lexington Center
and serves as the home of University of Kentucky men's basketball. It is the
largest arena in the US specifically made for basketball with an official
capacity of 23,500. bleacher bench seats.
Other Notable Basketball Arenas
Other large basketball arenas include the 23,377 capacity Greensboro
Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, United States, the KFC Yum! Center
with a capa city of 22,090.
 Basketball 31

Awards
Team Awards:
All-NBA Team
All-Rookie Team
All-Defensive Team
NBA & ABA Season Awards:
Most Valuable Player Award
Rookie of the Year Award
Defensive Player of the Year Award
Sixth Man of the Year Award
Most Improved Player Award
Teammate of the Year Award
Finals Most Valuable Player Award
All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
Comeback Player of the Year Award
Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award
Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
Coach of the Year Award
Executive of the Year Award

Awardees
Sarabjit Singh -1961-Arjuna Award
Khushi Rm-1967-Arjuna Award
Gurdial Singh-1968-Arjuna Award
Hav. Hari Dutt -1969-Arjuna Award
 Basketball 32

Gulam Abbas Moontasir-1970-Arjuna Award

Man Mohan Singh-1971-Arjuna Award
SK Kataria-1973-Arjuna Award
AK Punj-1974-Arjuna Award
Hanuman Singh-1975-Arjuna Award
T. Vijayaragavan-1977-78 -Arjuna Award
Om Prakash-1979-80-Arjuna Award
Ajmer Singh-1982-Arjuna Award
Radhey Shyam -1991-Arjuna Award
Suman Sharma -1991-Arjuna Award
Sajjan Singh Cheema-1999-Arjuna Award
Parminder Singh-2001-Arjuna Award
Satya (Sports)-2003-Arjuna Award
Geethu Anna Jose-2014-Arjuna Award
Prashanti Singh-2017-Arjuna Award
Aparna Ghosh-2002-Dhyan Chand Award
Ram Kumar-2003-Dhyan Chand Award
Prashanti Singh-2018-19-Padmashree Award
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi-2019-20-Arjuna Award
 Basketball 33

Famous personalities in basket ball

 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
What? The leading scorer in National Basketball Association (NBA)
history is just the 10th-best player ever? Indeed. While Kareem put up a
whopping 38,387 points during his playing days.

 Tim Duncan

 Shaquille O’Neal

 Chris Urso/AP
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 Larry Bird
 Bill Russell

 Oscar Robertson
 Wilt Chamberlain

 Magic Johnson
 Michael Jordan
 LeBron James
Basketball 35