ABSTRACT
Born in the United States as a sport to keep football and baseball athletes in shape over the winter, basketball has evolved to become one of the world’s most global games. Since the late 19th century the game has flourished on an international level. American superstars such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan helped lift the National Basketball Association (NBA) to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. The Dream Team of NBA stars at the 1992 Olympic Games and the growth of the sport in Easter Europe helped spur a global movement, built on the backs of individual stars and hip-hop appeal. Today, basketball is one of the most popular sports to play and watch. Within the span of a century, basketball grew from a game played with peach baskets as goals to being center-stage at the Olympics. With the massive international following of the NBA from Boston to Beijing, the sport continues to grow in popularity worldwide.
