Dr. James Naismith is known to be the person responsible behind the origin of the game of basketball. This gentleman was born in the year 1861, in the Almonte region, Ontario, Canada. In his early school days, he used play a game called duck on a rock. In this game the players were supposed to knock the duck off the top of the rock with a toss of another rock.

He went on to get his graduation degree from the McGill University in Montreal and later became the University's Athletic Director. During this period he used to frequently visit the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Therefore, in 1891, the game of basketball began.

Given the cold Massachusetts winters, he desperately looked for a recreational activity that could be played indoors. In addition, develop skill without relying too much on strength. In the initial days, it was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets used as goals.

Naismith was also credited with a doctorate degree for his efforts in sports physiology and a Presbyterian minister. Since 1983, when the game was first played to the present the game has gained acceptance in numerous countries. Today, the game is also played as an Olympic game. To conclude, game of basketball has definitely become a very popular professional sport.