A Collection of Fascinating Basketball Facts You Didn't Know

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is one of the most widely played sports and one of the most watched in the United States. Basketball is a common recreational activity. It can also be played at a high level in leagues or used as a tool for exercise and physical fitness. The basic rules of basketball are simple. Two teams of five players each try to score points by shooting a ball through a hoop. Players advance the ball by dribbling or passing it to teammates. At the same time, they try to prevent the other team from scoring. If a team has the ball and fails to score before the clock runs out, that team loses the game.

Even though you might think that you know everything there is to know about it, you probably don't. There are so many little facts and figures about basketball that even the most dedicated fans don’t know. Even if you think that you're a die-hard fan, there are probably some things that will surprise you. For example, did you know that there is a small town in New York called Ogdensburg that has a population of just 6,000 people but also has two pro basketball teams? Did you know that early prototypes of basketball used peach baskets instead of nets because the inventor was afraid someone would get injured if they collided with a suspended basket?

Most Shots Taken, Game and Season

Kobe Bryant is one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history. He led the league in scoring at least once in each of his 20 seasons in the league and has the most shots of any player in both a game and a season. The most shots that he ever took in a game was an absurd 81. That’s an average of almost two shots per minute throughout a game. While that’s impressive, the most shots anyone has ever taken in a season are even crazier. Wilt Chamberlain, who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, took an unfathomable 3,122 shots in the season he scored a then-record 100 points in a single game.

The First Official Basketball Game Took Place on March 11th, 1892

The first official basketball game took place on March 11th, 1892, in Springfield, Massachusetts. From then on, it was the day of transformation for the sport. November 6th is now celebrated as National Basketball Day across the United States. However, even though this was the first official game of basketball, it wasn't the first basketball game. The first-ever basketball game was played in Massachusetts in 1891, two years before the first official game. The game in Massachusetts was played outdoors, which is why it gets the honor of being the first official game of basketball.

Most Points Scored by a Single Player in a Game

The most points ever scored in a single game was 100. The feat was accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. He scored 100 points in just two quarters, which means that he scored an average of 50 points per quarter. The most points ever scored in a single half was 72. The record was set by Karl Malone, who scored 72 points in the first half during a game against the Rockets in 2003. The most points ever scored in a single quarter was 45. The record was set by David Thompson in 1978.

Fastest Players in the League

The fastest players in the league are usually guards who have a long and successful history of playing at a breakneck pace. Wes Unseld and John Stockton are among the fastest players to ever play the game. They were clocked running the court at a speed of 3.8 seconds and 3.9 seconds, respectively. The fastest player in today's game is Russell Westbrook. He was clocked at running the court at a speed of 3.7 seconds. The fastest player to ever play the game is John Wall. He was clocked at running the court at a speed of 3.4 seconds.

The Shortest Player in the League Right Now Is Shaved-Head Roy Rogers.

The shortest player in the league right now is Darnell Rogers, who stands at 1.57 m and plays for the UMBC Retrievers. Darnell Rogers is just one of many shorter players in the league today. The shortest player to play in the league was Muggsy Bogues, who stood at just 1.6 m. Muggsy Bogues was also one of the shortest players to ever play any professional sports during his time. He is the shortest player to ever be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Basketball is a physical sport, and shorter players have an obvious advantage when it comes to lower moments and getting blocked shots. There are many other shorter players in the league right now who are playing at a high level.

The Longest 3 Pointer Made Without A dribble

The longest 3-pointer made without a dribble was 109 feet 9 inches. The shot was made by a rookie from Harlem Globetrotter named Corey 'Thunder' Law. The most incredible part of this shot is that the ball was supposed to roll out after being swatted away from a net that had been tampered with. He was caught by an official who told him that he had to make another shot without the ball touching the net or the ground. He then made the longest 3-pointer ever recorded without a dribble. The longest 3-pointer ever made in a game by a team was 103 feet 11 inches. It was made by the Detroit Pistons.

Conclusion

Basketballs are a lot more interesting than you might think. While most people only think of them as something to throw into a metal hoop at their local YMCA, they are one of the most extensively studied sports products in the world. As it turns out, there are a lot of scientific reasons why basketballs are the best! For starters, they have the perfect amount of giving. Too much give and you have trouble controlling the ball, too little and you have a hard time catching it. A basketball falls right in the sweet spot, allowing you to dribble and catch it with ease. Basketballs also have the perfect amount of friction.

Too much friction and you lose control, too little and you struggle to dribble. Again, basketballs fall right into the sweet spot, allowing for effortless dribbling. From the earliest games played with no dribbling to the most points scored in a single game, there are so many interesting facts and figures out there. If you love basketball, there are so many fascinating basketball facts and figures out there that you can learn from and enjoy. If you have any other facts you think we missed, make sure to let us know in the comments section below.