Sports · 1891–
Basketball History Timeline
From two peach baskets in Springfield to a worldwide indoor and Olympic game.
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18911911193119511971199120112026
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About this timeline
About Basketball
The history of basketball through invention, international rules, professional leagues, women’s competition, the Olympic Games and the rise of 3x3.
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This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team.
Basketball history
Basketball timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
James Naismith invents basketball
Seeking an indoor winter activity, teacher James Naismith devised a game using a ball, two peach baskets and thirteen original rules.
Source: about.fiba.basketballThe rules are published
Naismith’s rules appeared in The Triangle, allowing the new game to spread through YMCA networks.
Source: springfield.eduAn early women’s game
Senda Berenson adapted the game at Smith College and organised an influential early women’s basketball contest.
Source: about.fiba.basketballFIBA is founded
Eight national federations founded the international governing body now known as FIBA.
Source: about.fiba.basketballOlympic debut
Men’s basketball entered the Olympic programme, with games played outdoors on clay courts.
Source: www.fiba.basketballThe league that became the NBA begins
The Basketball Association of America staged its first game; it later merged with the NBL and became the NBA.
Source: www.nba.comFirst Women’s World Championship
The first global women’s championship brought leading national teams together under FIBA.
Source: www.fiba.basketballThe 24-second shot clock begins
The NBA introduced a possession clock that accelerated pace and discouraged stalling.
Source: www.nba.comThe ABA introduces the three-point line
The new league made long-range shots worth three points, helping popularise a rule later adopted by the NBA.
Source: www.nba.comWomen’s Olympic basketball begins
Women’s basketball made its Olympic debut, with the Soviet Union winning the first gold medal.
Source: about.fiba.basketballMichael Jordan joins Chicago
The Bulls introduced their new draft pick, whose career transformed basketball’s worldwide profile.
Connected: Michael Jordan
Source: www.nba.comThe Dream Team
NBA professionals participated in the Olympic tournament, and the United States team became a global cultural phenomenon.
Connected: Michael Jordan
Source: www.fiba.basketballWNBA is approved
The NBA Board of Governors approved a women’s professional league that began play the following year.
Connected: Diana Taurasi
Source: www.wnba.comWNBA plays its first game
The WNBA began league play, creating a lasting top-level professional competition for women in the United States.
Source: www.wnba.com3x3 makes its Olympic debut
The half-court 3x3 discipline entered the Olympic programme after rapid international growth.
Source: about.fiba.basketballNBA scoring record falls
LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s career scoring leader.
Connected: LeBron James
Source: www.nba.comFirst NBA In-Season Tournament final
The Los Angeles Lakers won the first edition of the new mid-season cup competition.
Connected: LeBron James
Source: www.nba.comA sixth Olympic gold
Diana Taurasi became the first basketball player to win six Olympic gold medals as the United States women retained the title.
Connected: Diana Taurasi
Source: www.fiba.basketballExplore related timelines
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This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Basketball or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
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About the Basketball timeline
What is Basketball?
The history of basketball through invention, international rules, professional leagues, women’s competition, the Olympic Games and the rise of 3x3.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1891–.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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