500+ Words Essay on Basketball
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
Basketball is a team sport that is played between 2 teams, each consisting of 5 players. The objective of a team is to shoot a basketball through the hoop of the other side, while at the same time, preventing the other team from shooting into theirs. It is played on a rectangular court.
Every successful shot earns a team 2 points. If a player is fouled by the other team’s player, then he or she is given one or two free throws. At the completion of the playtime, the team with the highest points on the board wins. If there is a tie, then some overtime is also given.
This game was invented by an American gym teacher and was first played in December, in the year 1891. It originated in Massachusetts, United States. Dr James Naismith created the sport to keep his physical education class active on a very gloomy, dull and rainy day.
He initially tied a peach basket to a 10-foot pole and made his class play with a football. It is mostly played in an indoor court, but the usage of outdoor courts is also quite popular now. It is a sport that is also played in the Olympics, the summer Olympics and the Paralympics.
Players generally move the ball by either passing it or dribbling it. There are a number of shots that are presumed in the offensive position including the jump shot, the lay-up shot and the dunk shot.
While assuming the defensive position, players can either try to steal the ball from the other team or jump and block their shots. The tallest player generally assumes the centre most playing position.
The highest association that governs basketball is FIBA (International Basketball Federation). The NBA (National Basketball Association) is the most significant professional basketball league with respect to salaries, popularity, the talent of players and the level of competitiveness.
Variations of Basketball
People have created different types of ways in which they play basketball with alterations in rules and environments. The first variation is the recreational basketball. It is played in schools, colleges and other educational institutions.
The focus here is not on winning a game but enjoying oneself and having fun. The students are taught basic skills of basketball, including dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, etc. and are also trained in endurance exercises to stay fit and healthy.
The second type is disabled basketball. This is played by people who do not qualify to play in the able-bodied sport. It is played by persons who are either deaf or crippled. In deaf basketball, sign language is used to communicate whistle blows for fouls, successful shots, etc. and for communicating with other players. Wheelchair basketball is played by people who have lost the ability to walk and run due to paralysis, amputation, birth defects, or any other cause.
Another variation is the Prison Basketball. It is mostly played in prison and penitentiary institutions in the United States. These prisons have their own leagues, and a lot of betting also takes place.
It helps the prisoners to spend their time and remain fit and active. Prison basketball is quite a popular sport among the inmates, and they enjoy being a part of it. Playing the game is equally thrilling as being an audience to it.
The next kind is Show Basketball. It is played by professional teams that add drama, comedy and athleticism in it and is pre-prepared. It is performed for entertainment like theatre in front of an audience.
Celebrities also play in show basketball often for charity events. Midgets or people of smaller stature also become a part of it for entertainment purposes.
Benefits of Playing Basketball
One of my favourite sports to play in school and college was basketball. I enjoyed playing it for several reasons. Basketball helps improve blood circulation in the body and is a fantastic exercise. It helps us to keep fit and also betters oxygen circulation throughout the body.
It behaves as a chance for us to interact with others and work in teams with them. It even increases our hand-eye coordination and uplifts our confidence. The constant running and jumping burn extra calories which help us keep in shape. Playing basketball even boosts our immunity system and promotes muscle development.
Top players in the History of Basketball
Michael Jeffery Jordan also known as His Airness, Air Jordan or MJ, is a former American professional basketball player. He was a part of 15 seasons of NBA and won 6 of those championships with The Chicago Bulls. He started his professional career with the Chicago Bulls in the year 1984 and took the sport by storm.
He immediately made headlines for his incredible playing style and also received the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1984. He has been regarded as one of the best sportsmen of the 20th century and currently owns his own NBA team which goes by the name of Charlotte Hornets. In his second NBA season, he scored more than 3000 points for his team.
This was a new personal record he achieved. Michael Jordan has also won 6 Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards. The MVP award is given to the best performing player of the whole season and is decided by voting from a bunch of broadcasters and sportswriters. He was also the first player to win the MVP Award in 3 consecutive NBA seasons.
Michael Jordan is not just acknowledged for being the greatest basketball player in history but is also well known for his charitable activities. He has donated millions to causes like the September 11 attacks, hurricane Florence, and other relief efforts. He has also served as the brand ambassador of Make A Wish foundation.
LeBron Raymone James is an American basketball player and has been compared to Michael Jordan on several occasions. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA as a forward. He holds the record for shooting the most three pointer shots in the NBA finals. Those shots accounted for a total of 64 points.
LeBron is also the first player to have gone in the finals of 6 consecutive seasons and has points per game average of over 20. He has also won 4 MVP Awards and is also the youngest player ever to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year award. The versatile nature of LeBron’s game is appreciated and lauded by people around the world. He is one of the very few players who can play offensively as well as defensively on all five positions.
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