103 Cool Basketball Facts for Kids

Are you ready to bounce into the exciting world of basketball? This fast-paced game is not just about shooting hoops – it’s filled with fun facts and amazing stories. So, grab your basketball, and let’s dribble through some cool facts about basketball for kids (and adults, too!)

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Did you know basketball was invented by a man named Dr. James Naismith in 1891? He was looking for a fun activity to keep his students active during the cold winter months. So, he hung up a peach basket on a high wall and told his students to try throwing a ball into it. And just like that, the game of basketball was born!

Basketball has come a long way since then. Now, it’s played all over the world, and it’s one of the most popular sports. There are professional teams, like the ones in the NBA, all over the world. It’s also a big part of the Winter Olympics. Kids everywhere love playing basketball, whether it’s in a gym, at a park, or in their own backyard.

One of the coolest things about basketball is the teamwork. To win a game, players must work together, passing the ball and helping each other. It’s not just about being the best shooter; it’s about being a good team player. And let’s not forget the amazing slam dunks and quick moves that make the crowd go wild!

Are you excited to learn more facts about basketball for kids? From the rules of the game to famous players who have become legends, there’s so much to explore. Let’s keep bouncing and discover all the thrilling and fun facts about the game of basketball!

Be sure to discover even more interesting facts with our Facts about Soccer and our Facts About Space.

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Basketball Facts for Kids

  1. Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith.
  2. The first basketball game in Europe was arranged by Mel Rideout in Paris.
  3. Until 1929, there wasn’t a hole in the basket to let the ball pass through. Someone had to climb a ladder and retrieve it every time a team scored!
  4. The first “hoops” were just peach baskets, and the first backboards were made of wire.
  5. Adolph Rupp introduced the concept of pressure defense in basketball.
  6. Dribbling was not allowed in basketball until 1901.
  7. Before dribbling was allowed, players weren’t able to advance with the ball; they had to throw it over without moving.
  8. Some basketball rules came from a children’s game called “Duck on a Rock.”
  9. Basketball is the only major sport that originated strictly from the U.S.
  10. Basketball helped boost the membership of YMCAs.
  11. The first Olympic basketball tournament was held in 1904.
  12. The game of basketball was way shorter; it comprised two fifteen-minute halves with a 5-minute break in between.
  13. Basketball first became an official Olympics event during the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.
  14. Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner (now Caitlin) was drafted in the 7th round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Kansas City Kings.
  15. The game of basketball was first played on December 21, 1891.
  16. Clara Baer influenced women’s basketball when she accidentally made her own set of rules.
  17. “Bloomer suits” refer to the first women’s basketball uniforms.
  18. The official size for women’s competitive basketball is size 6, with a circumference of 28.5 in or 72 cm.
  19. The official rim height for NBA, WNBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and NCAA courts is 10 ft or 3.05 meters.
  20. The official NBA court length is 94 ft compared to 91.86 ft for FIBA courts.
  21. The court width is 50 ft for NBA courts and 49.21 ft for FIBA courts.
  22. The official FIBA court dimensions are smaller than that of the NBA.
  23. The steel rim of the basket has a diameter of 18 inches and is 10 feet high.
  24. Basketball rules changed a lot to keep tall players from having unfair advantages.
  25. There have been two women drafted in the NBA.
  26. The first woman to be drafted in the NBA was Denise Long, who was drafted in the 13th round by the San Francisco Warriors.
  27. The second woman drafted in the NBA was Luisa Harris, who was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz as the 137th overall draft pick.
  28. Women’s basketball was officially added as an Olympic medal sport during the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.
  29. In 1997, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) held its inaugural season with 8 teams.
  30. The most Olympic gold medals won goes to the women’s USA basketball team having won 9 gold medals from 1984-2020.
  31. The average NBA player weighs 220 pounds.
  32. The average height of all NBA players is just under 67 inches.
  33. The average distance an NBA player runs per game is around 2.5 miles.
  34. The average NBA player can jump about 28 inches off the ground.
  35. Michael Jordan, a basketball player, is one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet.
  36. Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan hails as the richest basketball player ever.
  37. Michael Jordan retired in January 1999 but returned to the league in 2001, and has scored more points (5,987) in the playoffs than any other player.
  38. Karl Malone holds the record for free throws.
  39. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played 20 seasons in the NBA, holds the record for most points scored in a career with 38,387.
  40. Wilt Chamberlain has the most one player has ever scored in one game.
  41. On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one game against New York.
  42. The highest-scoring NBA game ended with a score of 186-184.
  43. The longest game in NBA history lasted 78 minutes and had 6 overtimes.
  44. Hank Luisetti was the first to use the one-hand shot.
  45. The official basketball size for men’s competitive basketball is size 7, having a circumference of 29.5 in or 75 cm.
  46. The official basketball size for women’s competitive basketball is size 6, with a circumference of 28.5 in or 72 cm.
  47. Learning how to spin the ball well first helps when trying to spin the ball on a finger.
  48. To shoot the ball, a player must snap the wrist in a downward waving motion.
  49. Basketball is played with a ball and a hoop.
  50. The players’ positions in a basketball game are Point guard, Shooting guard, Small forward, Power forward, and Center.
  51. A basketball team consists of five players.
  52. In International Basketball Federation rules, the court surface should be around 28 by 15 meters.
  53. The official rim height for NBA, WNBA, FIBA, and NCAA courts is 10 ft or 3.05 meters.
  54. The official NBA court length is 94 ft compared to 91.86 ft for FIBA courts.
  55. The court width is 50 ft for NBA courts and 49.21 ft for FIBA courts.
  56. The official FIBA court dimensions are smaller than that of the NBA.
  57. NBA rules state that the cord basketball net should not be less than 30 threads and not more than 120 threads.
  58. As per NBA rules, a minimum of nine balls must be provided for each team for pre-game warmups.
  59. Adidas manufactures all the NBA uniforms.
  60. The first brand to market basketball shoes was Converse’s authentic Chuck Taylor All-Stars.
  61. In 2013, the NBA experimented with adding sleeves to their jerseys, making them look similar to t-shirts.
  62. The official size for women’s competitive basketball is size 6, with a circumference of 28.5 in or 72 cm.
  63. The official rim height for NBA, WNBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and NCAA courts is 10 ft or 3.05 meters.
  64. The world record for the highest basketball shot is 415 feet high.
  65. Up until 1906, the game of basketball was played with a soccer ball.
  66. The first Chinese player to compete in the NBA was Wang Zhizhi.
  67. Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan were the tallest basketball players.
  68. Muggsy Bogues was the shortest basketball player.
  69. Manute Bol is the tallest NBA player ever at 7 ft 7 in.
  70. The tallest basketball player recorded in history was 8.05 ft tall.
  71. Gene Conley was the only player to win an NBA championship and a World Series.
  72. Cal Hubbard is the only member of the football and basketball Hall of Fame.
  73. Basketball is the national sport of Lithuania.
  74. The first college to play basketball was Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
  75. Canada was the first country to play basketball outside of the U.S.
  76. The Middle Atlantic and New England states developed professional basketball games first.
  77. The American Basketball League (ABL) was the first organized professional basketball league to use the three-point line in 1961.
  78. The first NBA national television contract was signed during the 1953-1954 season between the NBA and Dumont Television Network.
  79. The first backboards were made of wire.
  80. The official size for women’s competitive basketball is size 6, with a circumference of 28.5 in or 72 cm.
  81. The official rim height for NBA, WNBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and NCAA courts is 10 ft or 3.05 meters.
  82. Basketball rules changed a lot to keep tall players from having unfair advantages.
  83. The shortest NBA player ever was only 5’3’ tall.
  84. Chuck Cooper, Nat Clifton, and Earl Lloyd were the first African-American NBA players.
  85. The infamous NBA logo features the silhouette of Jerry West.
  86. Kobe Bryant was the youngest player to start an NBA game at 17.
  87. Jeremy Lin held the record for the highest points scored in the New York Knicks’ first 3 games.
  88. Current Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens has won more basketball games than any other coach.
  89. Coach Paul Westhead is the first coach to win championships in both the NBA (Los Angeles Lakers) and the WNBA (Phoenix Mercury).
  90. The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships (17), including seven straight from 1960 to 1966.
  91. The Chicago Bulls have won all six NBA Finals in which they’ve appeared.
  92. The biggest margin of a win in basketball games is 148-80.
  93. Adolph Rupp introduced the concept of pressure defense in basketball.
  94. The official NBA court length is 94 ft compared to 91.86 ft for FIBA courts.
  95. The court width is 50 ft for NBA courts and 49.21 ft for FIBA courts.
  96. The official FIBA court dimensions are smaller than that of the NBA.
  97. The American Basketball League (ABL) was the first organized professional basketball league to use the three-point line in 1961.
  98. The official rim height for NBA, WNBA, FIBA, and NCAA courts is 10 ft or 3.05 meters.
  99. NBA rules state that the cord basketball net should not be less than 30 threads and not more than 120 threads.
  100. As per NBA rules, a minimum of nine balls must be provided for each team for pre-game warmups.
  101. Adidas manufactures all the NBA uniforms.
  102. The first brand to market basketball shoes was Converse’s authentic Chuck Taylor All-Stars.
  103. In 2013, the NBA experimented with adding sleeves to their jerseys, making them look similar to t-shirts.

Do you have even more interesting basketball facts for kids? Share them with us in the comments! 

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