In less than 120 years an activity invented by one man to alleviate
winter boredom for a college gym class has evolved into a worldwide
multi-billion dollar enterprise. It is impossible for Dr. James
Naismith, basketball's inventor, to have envisioned the extent to which
his simple game would reach. Without major changes to his original 13
rules, basketball is now played in more than 200 countries by people of
all ages. Thanks to basketball, players like Michael Jordan, Earvin
"Magic" Johnson, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille
O'Neal have become some of the most famous people in the world. The
Historical Dictionary of Basketball is a comprehensive account of all
forms of basketball-amateur, professional, men's, women's, Olympic,
domestic, and international-from its invention in 1891 through the
present day. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay,
an extensive bibliography, and over 600 cross-referenced dictionary
entries on the people, places, teams, and terminology of the game.