Basketball: Born in Springfield thanks to PE teacher Naismith

A global sport and an Olympic event since the XI Olympiad in Berlin in 1936, basketball boasts a specific birthdate unlike many other sports: January 15, 1891. It was Canadian doctor and physical education teacher James Naismith who sparked this sport, which began in Springfield, USA, and gradually spread worldwide.

Naismith wrote the first 13 basic rules of the game and also organized the first experimental match, held on December 21, 1891, at the gymnasium of Springfield College on Armory Street (Massachusetts). Professor Gulick entrusted Naismith with the task of inventing a game that could be easily learned—an indoor sport with minimal contact and low costs. Thus, Naismith penned the 13 fundamental rules of this "new game."

Over the years, many champions have played in the NBA, but not just them. The NBA also saw the participation of the smallest player in its history: Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues. Standing just 160 centimeters tall, the 1965 Baltimore-born player managed to don the prestigious jerseys of the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. Bogues was selected 12th overall in the 1987 NBA Draft. Interestingly, he was a teammate of Manute Bol, who at the time was the tallest player in NBA history (231 cm), towering over Bogues by a staggering 71 centimeters.

In 1995, Bogues appeared in the film "Space Jam," playing one of the five NBA players. His accolades include: USBL Rookie of the Year (1987), All-USBL First Team (1987), USBL All-Defensive Team (1987), USBL All-Rookie Team (1987), USBL leader in steals (1987), and 25th all-time in NBA assists.

The tallest basketball player of all time is considered to be Libyan Suleiman Ali Nashnush, who stood 246 cm tall. In 1960, he underwent surgery in Rome to limit his growth. Two years later, in 1962, Ali Nashnush represented Libya’s national team. An interesting note: he also had a brief role in Federico Fellini's film Satyricon.

More recently, basketball saw the rise of one of its most beloved stars, Chinese Yao Ming. Standing at 229 centimeters, the 1980-born player from Shanghai was a major figure in the NBA between 2002 and 2011. Yao played nine seasons with the Houston Rockets and participated in 8 All-Star Games. He was selected first overall in the 2002 NBA Draft and was named to 5 All-NBA Teams. In 2016, Yao was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. After retiring in 2011, the Rockets retired his No. 11 jersey. According to American journalist Brook Larmer, Yao's birth was allegedly planned by the Chinese government.