Life

The game consists of 5 players against 5 on the court at once. In all on the team there are 12 players. In the NBA there are 29 teams or 348 basketball players plus free agents. There are about 100 free agents. When your team doesn't have the ball then the thing you want to do is prevent them from scoring or taking the ball away called defense.

History. The game of basketball was invented by a guy from Canada called James Naismith in 1891 he was a physical fitness teacher in Springfield University. The first very important game was played in 1934 in New York City. More than 16,000 spectators watched New York defeat Notre Dame, 25 to 18. By the 1950's basketball had evolved into the most popular indoor game. "I'm glad for James Naismith's great idea, if it weren't for I wouldn't be here."

For this game James decided to use a soccer ball cause it was easy enough to catch easily. He asked the super intendant for two boxes. Soon later the super intendant returned saying that he had no boxes but provided peach baskets. The baskets were attached to a gym's balcony about 10 feet above the ground. The first game was played amongst his physical fitness class in December 1891.

After the first experimental game was p"It was a good thing all of this happened." In 1950, Chuck Cooper signed with the Boston Celtics, becoming the first black player in the NBA. In short time, black players were on teams throughout the NBA. Some of the most outstanding NBA stars of the 1950's and 1960's were such former black college stars as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, and Elgin Baylor. Russell lead the Boston Celtics to eleven NBA titles from 1957 to 1969.

A regulation basketball court is 96' long and 50' wide. Courts for high school games may be 84' long. Newer high school gyms however are coming out with 94' courts.

Basketball is a popular form of recreation as well as an organized team sport. Most schools sponsor intramural competition. As few as two players...