Basketball

Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court, where two teams, typically consisting of five players each, compete to score points by shooting a ball through the opponent’s hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. The primary objective is to accumulate more points than the opposing team by making field goals (worth two or three points, depending on the distance from the hoop) or free throws (worth one point). The game is played in four quarters, and it emphasizes skills such as dribbling, shooting, passing, and teamwork. Basketball originated in 1891 when Dr. James Naismith developed the game as a way to keep his students physically active during winter. It has since grown into a globally popular sport with professional leagues, international competitions, and various levels of play. The sport is governed by specific rules that dictate gameplay, fouls, and scoring, with variations that exist at different levels, including amateur, collegiate, and professional play.