'Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates' Magic Johnson - American professional basketball player
The first basket
Most sports have evolved naturally over many years into what they are today. Their origins lie in people having fun or doing exercise, and gradually adding rules until the sport as we know it took shape. But basketball is unique because it's a sport that was invented, not one that evolved.
In December 1891, James Naismith, a sports teacher at a school in the United States, came up with the idea for a game that would keep his pupils fit, active and interested during the cold winter weather.
Naismith drew up 13 simple rules for his new game. These original rules have expanded and changed over the years, but the aim of the game has always remained the same: get the ball into the basket!
Five men, one ball, two teams