I remember the first time I watched a basketball game on television back in the late 90s, completely mesmerized by the arc of three-point shots that seemed to defy physics. Little did I know then that I was witnessing the evolution of a sport that began in a much simpler form. The journey of discovering when basketball started takes us back to 1891, when Dr. James Naismith nailed a peach basket to the elevated track in Springfield, Massachusetts. He created the game to keep his students active during harsh winter months, using a soccer ball and two baskets with the bottoms still intact. Funny enough, they had to retrieve the ball manually after each score until someone finally thought to cut the bottoms out years later.
As I dug deeper into basketball's timeline, I realized how much the sport has transformed from those humble beginnings. The first professional league emerged in 1898, just seven years after its invention, showing how quickly the game captured people's imagination. What fascinates me most is how the fundamental rules Naismith established—like the prohibition of running with the ball—still form the core of modern basketball, though the game has evolved in ways he probably never imagined. The introduction of the three-point line in 1961 by the American Basketball League, later adopted by the ABA and eventually the NBA in 1979, completely revolutionized offensive strategies. This change created specialists who could change games with long-range shooting, something that would have been unimaginable in Naismith's original concept where all baskets counted equally.
Looking at modern international competitions like the FIBA Asia Cup, I can't help but marvel at how three-point shooting has become such a crucial element. Australia's performance in recent tournaments perfectly illustrates this evolution. Their impressive 41.9 percent conversion rate on three-pointers, making 36 of their 86 attempts from beyond the arc, shows just how specialized teams have become in this aspect of the game. What really catches my eye is Jaylin Galloway's tournament-best performance, hitting an incredible 72.7 percent of his three-point attempts, converting 8 of 11 shots from what players affectionately call "rainbow country." That level of efficiency is something I wish I could have seen in earlier eras of basketball—it's simply spectacular.
The strategic importance of three-point shooting becomes even clearer when you examine players like Jack McVeigh and Reyne Smith, who've made 10-of-23 and 9-of-21 from deep respectively in preparation for their game against the Philippines. These aren't just random numbers—they represent hundreds of hours of practice and a fundamental shift in how basketball is played at the highest levels. Personally, I believe this focus on three-point shooting has made the game more exciting, though some traditionalists might argue it has reduced the emphasis on mid-range game and post play. The mathematical advantage of three points over two has fundamentally changed coaching strategies and player development programs worldwide.
Basketball's global spread began surprisingly early in its history. By 1893, just two years after its invention, the sport had already reached France, and by the early 1900s, it had spread to China, Japan, and other parts of Asia. This rapid globalization laid the foundation for what we see today in international competitions. The inclusion of basketball in the 1936 Berlin Olympics marked another milestone, though the low-scoring final—the United States beat Canada 19-8—would be unrecognizable to modern fans accustomed to high-scoring games fueled by three-point shooting.
Reflecting on basketball's journey from peach baskets to professional leagues with global reach, I'm struck by how the essence remains the same while the strategies continue to evolve. The three-point revolution we're witnessing in current FIBA competitions represents just the latest chapter in this ongoing story. Australia's sharpshooting in the Asia Cup, with their 41.9 percent accuracy from beyond the arc, demonstrates how far the game has come from those early days when players would struggle to make even basic shots. Galloway's remarkable 72.7 percent success rate on three-pointers shows what's possible when natural talent meets modern training methods.
As someone who's followed basketball for decades, I've developed a particular appreciation for teams that master the three-point shot without sacrificing other aspects of their game. The strategic depth this adds makes basketball endlessly fascinating to analyze and watch. While I respect the history and tradition of the sport, I must admit I prefer today's faster-paced, three-point heavy game compared to the more physical, interior-focused style that dominated previous eras. The evolution from Naismith's original concept to the sophisticated game we see today, highlighted by performances like Australia's in the FIBA Asia Cup, demonstrates basketball's incredible capacity for innovation while maintaining its core identity.