One of the most well-known sports in the world is basketball. Almost everyone knows what basketball is. In some countries, basketball is more than just a game. Basketball is often a religion or a culture that’s an integral part of everyday life. Although regarded as a sport for people with incredible height, basketball is open for anyone. In fact, the countries with the shortest players, which are from Japan and the Philippines, are some of the fiercest competitors on the world stage.
The love for the sport is unparalleled. In developing countries, people just find a basket and put it on a post. Once they build the basket, all they need is a ball to shoot through. Basketball can be played almost anywhere: from highly developed indoor basketball courts to street corners with barely enough space.
Basketball is a beautiful sport. A lot of people enjoy watching it, whether live or on television. One can also keep up with the latest basketball news by visiting https://sport.dk/. In the USA, Basketball is a popular sport. The NBA is the world’s premier league when it comes to popularity and skill. The best basketball players all over the US and the world compete in the NBA. With that said, here are some more basketball facts that you should know about.
The Inventor of Basketball Is Canadian
One of the most amazing facts you’ll hear about the story of basketball is its origins. Although a lot of people think that basketball was made by an American, it was actually a Canadian who developed the game we all know and love today.
James Naismith, a Canadian gym coach, was responsible for creating such a fantastic game. The creation of the game was from a need for an indoor sport to play during winter. James Naismith created basketball in 1891 during a cold winter.
He used a peach basket as a goal for players to shoot a soccer ball through. Fast forward to the future, a lot of additions were made to the game. Several rules, such as fouls, shot clocks, three-point lines, and more, became a part of basketball.
The Tallest Basketball Player in the World
There are many factors in winning a basketball game. Perhaps one vital aspect to have in basketball is height. Taller people are often considered prospects for basketball teams all over the world. The tallest basketball player in the world is from China. Sun Mingming has a towering height of 7’9. He last played for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association in the 2014 season.
The tallest NBA player is Gheorghe Mureșan, a Romanian center. He is also retired, having last played for the New Jersey Nets during the 1999-2000 season. Mureșan’s official NBA height is listed at 7’7.
The Shortest Basketball Player in the World
Although height is an essential factor in winning basketball games, some don’t need it. People with dwarfism often play basketball games against each other. Some even play against average-sized players. In a professional setting, however, the shortest person to play in the NBA is Mugsy Bogues. He is listed as 5’3 and weighs 61 kg. Mugsy was famous as he had an incredible vertical leap for his height. He was also featured in Space Jam, where he was one of the NBA players who got their skills stolen by aliens.
The Man With the Most Rings
In the NBA, teams who win championships are often awarded trophies. Players are also awarded their own personal rings. These rings are highly prized and are considered lifelong achievements.
The man with the most NBA rings also plays for the team with the most NBA championships. Bill Russell, a center who plays for the legendary Boston Celtics, has 11 rings to his belt. Bill plays center and has a height of 6’10. He has a total of 21, 620 rebounds in his career, and is second in total rebounding in the NBA.
11 Teams or Bust
Out of 30 teams in the NBA, only 11 teams remain winless when it comes to championships. The Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, and the Indiana Pacers are the remaining teams not to have won a championship.
The last team to win a championship was the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors won their first NBA championship in franchise history. As the current NBA season is paused, there’s still no clear NBA champion this year.
The Highest Scoring Basketball Game
Believe it or not, the record for the highest-scoring basketball game in the world was set in 1992. It was a game between Troy State and DeVry University in the NCAA, a collegiate basketball league in the US. The official score was 258–141 in favor of Troy State. Both teams tallied a staggering total of 399 points in a 40-minute game.
The Country With the Most Olympic Basketball Wins
Every four years, a global sporting event known as the Olympics happens. It’s a global competition where most countries participate in a specific sport. In basketball, the most dominating country in the United States of America. The Men’s USA basketball team has a total of 18 Olympic victories.
The men’s team, in particular, is exclusively made up of elite NBA superstars. The 2016 USA men’s basketball team won over Serbia with a score of 96-66. The team had stars such as Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony in their lineup.
The Richest Basketball Player in the World
For the 2020 NBA season, Lebron James is being paid $37.4 million in salaries. Stephen Curry is paid $40.2 million, while Kevin Durant is being paid $38.2 million. However, when it comes to net worth, these three NBA superstars pale compared to His Airness.
Lebron James has a net worth of $480 million, while Michael Jordan has a total net worth of $1.9 billion. Although Michael Jordan is retired, he continues to rake in revenue through his famous Jordan brand.
Takeaway
Although Football is the most popular sport in the world, Basketball comes in a close second. A lot of people treat basketball as more than just a game. Some treat it as a way of life. With basketball being a global sport, you can expect to see more people playing it. The facts mentioned above are just some that you should know about the incredible sport.
