Why Basketball is the Best Sport

Basketball is an extremely popular sport that has been around for more than 100 years.

It was invented by Dr. James Naismith, who came up with this unique idea while he was attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He wanted to design something fun and easy for students to play indoors during cold weather months.

So, when it got too cold outside, they could go inside and have some games without having to worry about getting injured or wet due to rain.

This event took place in 1891 on Valentine’s Day.

Later, other schools started playing against each other as well, and today there are over 40 million members from high school teams across America.

And if you look at college players, the numbers may even exceed 50 million!

In addition, millions of people participate in recreational leagues each year.

So, what makes basketball so special?

Why do we love it so much?

Well, there are five very good answers.

Reasons why basketball is considered the best global sport

This article will now go through each one in turn.

Starting with…

1. Players can make new friends

why basketball is the best sport - players can make new friendships

You see, most sports require team participation.

That means that everyone needs to work together as one unit to achieve success.

But in basketball, no matter how many times you get sent off court or miss shots, you’re still part of the team because your teammates know what you’ve done for them before, after, and sometimes just during the game.

They will always stick their necks out for you and help you improve your skills.

As a result, friendships often form between players which can last long into adulthood.

In fact, I had several friends throughout my life whom I met through basketball.

One friend went on to become a professional player.

Another two became medical doctors.

Nowadays, kids begin playing basketball programs from as early as four years of age.

You don’t need any fancy equipment, you don’t need expensive shoes, nor do you need to join a gym.

What you really need is open space and a ball.

Anywhere there are lots of children running around, you’ll find plenty of places where young and old alike can enjoy themselves.

2. The sport can be played all year round

why basketball is the best sport - year round play

Since basketball doesn’t take up too much time or involve strenuous activities like football does, you can easily fit it into anyone’s daily schedule.

You can start practicing right away once you’ve finished your homework and assignments for the day.

If you live near water, then outdoor practice sessions would also be possible.

For example, my family loves spending weekends outdoors at our local beach.

We usually spend hours doing various types of exercises such as walking along the shoreline, swimming, surfing, fishing, etc.

However, since basketball requires only an open area, we can perform those same workouts anytime we want.

Because basketball can be played indoors as well as outdoors, there’s no limit to how often the game can be played.

It’s a sport that’s not reliant on having excellent weather conditions to play, like tennis or golf for example.

With all these options open to us, it’s hard not to stay active playing basketball every single day, especially on weekdays.

3. Basketball is a great exercise activity

why basketball is the best sport - great exercise activity

It might sound funny, but playing basketball actually works muscles better than going jogging.

How come?

Because unlike joggers, basketball players use both legs constantly.

Joggers tend to swing their arms a lot causing less muscle involvement.

Also, basketball players must adjust quickly according to changes made by opponents whereas runners must slow down and wait until the next opportunity arises.

Another benefit of being able to run on both feet simultaneously is that you won’t tire yourself out as much.

Running becomes tiring after 30 minutes of continuous movement.

On the contrary, basketball allows you to continue working out for longer periods of time without feeling exhausted.

Finally, another advantage of playing basketball is that it helps build stamina and endurance.

When you keep moving forward, you’ll feel energized rather than tired.

Your breathing will become deeper and faster thus making your heart pump harder.

At the end of the workout session, you’ll notice that you simply cannot walk anymore.

Therefore, basketball offers excellent physical benefits that are probably unmatched by any other sport.

4. Players develop self-confidence

why basketball is the best sport - players develop self confidence

Many studies show that playing sports improves confidence levels among youth.

Athletes are supposedly more confident and feel happier compared to nonathletes.

Furthermore, researchers have discovered that participating in sports helps to reduce depression rates and increase overall quality of life among kids.

These findings prove beyond doubt that sports contribute significantly towards improving socialization abilities and helping youngsters overcome negative emotions associated with shyness and loneliness.

What’s interesting is that basketball specifically targets developing emotional intelligence.

Playing basketball gives children opportunities to learn skills, such as:

  • Teamwork;
  • Communication;
  • Problem solving;
  • Leadership;
  • Goal setting;
  • Determination;
  • Concentration;
  • Discipline;
  • Decision-making;
  • Persistence;
  • Focus;
  • Concentration;
  • Memory recall;
  • Organization;
  • Planning;
  • Forethought; and
  • Perseverance

All of these attributes translate directly into everyday living situations.

Thus, basketball builds resilience and enables learners to adapt to different environments and circumstances.

5. Basketball is a fast-paced and exciting game

why basketball is the best sport - fast paced and exciting

The speed factor alone accounts for why basketball remains immensely popular in spite of its simple rules.

Unlike soccer, baseball, and hockey, basketball moves at a much quicker pace resulting in constant action and excitement.

Additionally, since basketball involves dribbling and passing the ball back and forth, it keeps everyone involved and focused.

Fans love the basketball so much because it’s fun, and because the game ebbs and flows with such quickness.

You’ll often see one side gaining momentum at a particular point in the game before that pendulum shifts to the opponent.

This competitiveness adds a level of unpredictability to the game which keeps spectators on their feet.

And although basketball seems quite complicated at first glance, it isn’t difficult to understand the basic concepts and techniques.

Once you master the fundamentals, everything gets easier and smoother.

Even beginners can pick it up pretty quick.

Conclusion

Once you’ve got to this point in the article, you will probably agree with the initial assessment that basketball is the best sport.

The game gives players so much joy, and we can learn quite a lot from the sport too.

About Samuel Waihenya

Samuel is an avid fan of basketball and has been following the sport for over 10 years. He now intends to dedicate his time to produce great content for his own little basketball blog that aims to help its readership with whatever basketball-related topic they can think of. Have a read through Samuel Waihenya's author bio page here.