Basketball is popular around the world. Kids in almost every country play basketball. And a lot of kids dream about playing in the NBA.
People first played basketball at a school in the USA. Dr. James Naismith wanted his students to play a sport that was not so dangerous. His game had thirteen rules (规则) and nine players on each team. Now, there are five players on a team.
Basketball became popular all around the world quickly. FIBA (国际篮球联合会) was started in 1932. The YMCA (基督教青年会) has sports and activity centres all over the world. It taught its members how to play basketball. Today, the best players in the world are very famous. They often help to sell things like shoes and sports clothes. Players like Kobe Bryant, Yao Ming, are famous everywhere they go. In the 2018 International Men's Basketball Ranking (排名), China is No. 29. If you want China to be at the top of the list, there is one thing you can do. Go outside and play!
