essays on basketball

Basketball Essay for Students and Children

500+ essay on basketball.

The game of basketball has truly become global in the last few years. The game is currently popular in the United States. Also, it is described by many as an American game because of the fun and competitive element in it. Also, this is one of the games which is played indoors and still caters to billions of fans around the world. This game was Dr. James Naismith from Canada. Initially, he invented the game by using a rectangular pitch which was 6 feet wide and 4 feet high. Additionally, the court includes a free throw line which is 12 feet long. In basketball essay, students will get to know about the different components that make the game of basketball special.

It is a team game that has gained immense popularity. Also, the game is played with the help of a ball and the ball is shot into the basket that is positioned horizontally. So, the objective in the game is to shoot the ball and score the maximum points. This game is played by 2 teams that constitute a total of 5 players each. Also, the game is played on a marked rectangular floor that has a basket on both the ends. 

Originally, basketball was played using a soccer ball. Also, it was James Naismith that used a peach basket which ha ad a nonhollow bottom. So, this basket was nailed at a height of 10 ft. above the ground and on an elevated track. If you consider the manual removal of the ball from the basket a drawback then the bottom was removed to and it took the shape of modern-day baskets. Also, dribbling was not part of the game initially. Eventually, it evolved till 1950 by which the balls got better shape due to manufacturing. 

Additionally, the orange ball was evolved from the brown ball. The brown ball was used in the beginning as it was thought that the ball is more visible. By 1996, the peach baskets used were replaced by metal hoops on the backboard. 

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Basketball Game 

At the start of the game, a referee tosses the ball at the center of the court between two players. One player from either team try to get their hands on the ball and the ball is passed on to the teammates. For scoring a point, a team needs to shoot the ball through the basket. If a shot is scored from a distance that is closer to the basket than the 3 point line than it fetches 2 points. Also, if the ball is shot from the distance behind 3 point line, it fetches 3 points. So, the team that has a maximum number of points is declared the winner. 

In case of a draw, there may be additional time allotted to both the teams. In the game, a player is cannot move if he is holding the ball. The player needs to dribble, otherwise, it is considered as a foul. Likewise, when there is a physical contact that affects the other team then it counted as a physical foul. 

Basketball is game played with a maintained and carefully marked court. It is a team sport that is commonly found in many different areas. 

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Essays About Basketball: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Among the many essays about basketball out there, how can you make yours stand out? See this article for examples and prompts that will aid you in writing.

Basketball is a famous sport that has been around for 131 years. It was invented by a Canadian physical education instructor named James Naismith with two objectives: to keep athletes playing indoors during winters and to have a safer sport compared to football.

Over the years, basketball has grown to be a loved sport worldwide. It’s why it’s not surprising that it’s a great subject to talk about in your essay.

Below are examples to learn more about the game and how you can effectively write essays about basketball:

1. What Basketball Taught Me by Josh of San Diego, California

2. essay on basketball –  a sport of agility and endurance by randhir singh, 3. national basketball association and the woman national basketball association by lewis rios, 4. basketball: then vs. now by jaime moss, 5. essay on the last shot by darcy frey by mamie olson, 1. the most important skills for basketball, 2. what i learned through basketball, 3. why do i like basketball, 4. my unforgettable basketball experience, 5. my life as a basketball player, 6. basketball book or movie review, 7. the negative side of basketball.

“I believe basketball has taught me many valuable life lessons, and perhaps more importantly, played a significant role in developing me into the successful student and employee I am today.”

The author talks about how he fell in love with the basketball game – from watching it on television to participating in competitive basketball. He took the game with him as he grew. 

Through this sport, he learned many lessons, including commitment, responsibility, and teamwork. He expounds on how these values helped him through life through his essay. Finally, he ends his piece by encouraging others to try basketball or any sport to have motivation in life. For more, see these articles about basketball .

“Basketball is a sport of agility and endurance that develops by hand and eye co-ordination… Basketball even overtakes baseball as the unofficial American pastime.”

Singh reviews basketball rules and how they changed over time but with the same principles. He discusses the main rules and scenarios straightforwardly, making his essay short but informative. You may also be interested in these articles about baseball .

“Some of the differences between NBA basketball and WNBA basketball appear to be related to the differences in size or physical capacity of men and women… I think we can all come to the conclusion that no matter what the gender is or what the rules are, that both of them are out on the basketball court to just WIN.”

Rios’ essay focuses on the differences between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s NBA. Some of the things he mentions are ESPN and their basketball video game, where fewer people spend time on WNBA. Additionally, owners of WNBA significantly make less from their teams, thus having less to invest in or pay their players.

He also talks about some similarities between NBA and WNBA, including their popularity among fans. At the end of his essay, Rios hopes he has shared enough information with his readers about basketball.

“Other changes such as uniform colors, dunking rules, regulation on backboards… some over and over again until they became what they are today… Basketball is a great American sport, and perhaps one that requires the most skill along with a great mental game.”

Moss’ essay consists of James Naismith’s original 13 basketball rules and how these rules evolved. These modifications were done to make the game more efficient and fun. Some significant changes include dribbling, boundary lines, and pointing systems. 

He also mentions the controversy surrounding the three-pointer and how it affected the other game rules. In the future, basketball’s rules will continue to develop.

“I do think basketball is a valid option for most students to escape poverty… Basketball may open a few doors but there’s still no guarantee.”

The author recounts what The Last Shot by Darcy Frey is all about, retelling the story of Russel, Tchaka, Stephon, and Cory, who lived in a dangerous neighborhood and found escape in basketball. She then relays her input of basketball, helping these characters stay out of trouble, but it still isn’t enough to prepare them for the lives they’ll have to endure. 

She further expounds on the events in the book, centering on the direct relation between academics and basketball in the story. You might also be interested in these essays about volleyball .

7 Prompts on Essays About Basketball

After understanding more about the different subtopics of basketball, here are prompts that you can get inspiration from for your essay:

You don’t have to be a basketball player to know what skills are in demand for the game. You can simply be a fan or a casual spectator who knows how the game works. Tell your readers what you are so they can appreciate your essay from your point of view. 

Dedication, commitment, and consistency are only some of the things you develop when you love a sport. If you’re not a player yourself, but a close relative is, you can relay what they told you about basketball.

For example, you can relate to what your father tells you when you watch basketball gameplays with him. He may say he loves a particular team because of their teamwork. He may also say it shows in their gameplay. Then, you can delve into what “teamwork” means.

Like the other prompts in this list, this particular prompt doesn’t need you to be a player. Instead, to give you an idea, you can share your experience with the game, such as watching gameplay and liking how the people cheer for the players.

 You can also narrate how great the game was, not because the players are professionals but because they never give up.

If you’re a basketball player yourself, feel free to recount a scene that played out in one of your games that you will never forget. Describe how you got to that point and why. Include what it made you feel like then and what it makes you feel now. 

If you expect non-players to read your piece, write in a way that non-players will understand by avoiding basketball jargon. Or you can briefly explain what those related terms mean, so every reader will understand why it’s a memory you hold dear.

If no one thing stands out for you during your time as a basketball player, you can still write about it in the general term. For instance, you can share how a day in your life went when you were a player.

There are many books, movies, and literary pieces that you can check out and write an essay about. If you have a favorite piece about basketball, briefly summarize it and list why you’re so fond of it. You can also persuade your readers to check out the book themselves through these prompts.

Are you new to persuasive writing? For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

You can write about the problems connected to the game to give your essay a different atmosphere, such as the potential injuries for players, bullying within a team, or how few only make it to professional basketball. You can talk about something you want to give attention to and let your readers know your thoughts on it.

On the other hand, you can also share a bad experience related to basketball, like your father preferring to watch basketball on television than play with you and your siblings.

Here’s a great tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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142 Basketball Topics & Essay Examples

If you need to write a research paper about basketball, it’s useful to read through some essay examples while looking for content ideas. Our team has compiled this selection of the best basketball research topics.

👟Top 10 Basketball Topics to Write about

🏆 best topics about basketball, 🤾 good basketball research topics, 🏀 interesting basketball titles for essays, 🎓 simple & easy basketball essay topics, ❓ research questions for basketball essays.

• Physiology of basketball players.
• Difference in football and basketball mechanics.
• Michael Jordan: basketball legend.
• Professional basketball and health risks.
• Mathematics of the basketball court.
• Comparing NBA basketball teams.
• Is basketball a dangerous sport?
• Bullying in college basketball teams.
• Efficacy of basketball slogans.
• Most famous basketball games of all time.
• The Cost of Running a NBA Basketball Team The estimated value is derived from a breakdown of various aspects such as; Sport which contribute 52% of the total worth Stadium which contribute 16% of the total worth Market which contribute 24% of the […]
• LeBron James’s: Biography of a Famous Basketball Player However, while people hear his name for a number of reasons, LeBron James became famous for his expertise in the game of basketball.
• Michael Jordan: The Story of a Basketball Player Michael was born into a large family he is the fourth of the five children in the family, and his parents are James and Deloris Jordan.
• Jim Carroll’s Drug Addiction in the Movie “The Basketball Diaries” by Leonardo Dicaprio After the bursting of Jim and apprehending of his friends, using drugs red handed by the couch, disintegration starts taking place in the group and most of the boys lose their essence for being thrown […]
• Perfect Diet for a Women’s College Basketball Player Due to their complexity, proteins take a while in the body and that means that a lot of energy will be kept in the body only to be released at intervals when the body needs […]
• An Overview of the Game of Basketball The game is played by throwing a puffed-up ball over the heads of the players; the ball goes down through one of the two baskets dangling at each end of the court.
• National Basketball Association SWOT Analysis NBA headquarters are located in the USA, where the largest fan base and players reside. In the USA, the association has a huge fan base.
• Rhetorical Analysis of Basketball In this aspect, it is worth considering basketball not only from an emotional and ethical point of view but also from a logical one, thus, the logos.
• NBA: Competing on Global Delivery With Akamai OS Streaming Thus, the use of Akamai helps the NBA compete within this market because the company’s services are used to guarantee the provision of the high-quality content around the globe of regardless the location of the […]
• World Basketball Legend: Stephen Curry In 2008, he was included in the second symbolic team of the best players in the US Student Championship, and in 2009 Curry played in the first team.
• Mark Cuban’s Leadership Style in a Basketball Team Leadership is the process of influencing people through acts of motivation and providing the employees with the course and the organizational goals.
• The NBA 2K Game as the Element of Popular Culture Despite the original aim of producing the series of popular video games NBA 2K is a popularization of basketball among the representatives of the modern situation, the release of the series also focuses on advertising […]
• The Basketball Game A basketball is a vital component in the game of basketball at the playing field, commonly referred to as a court and the basket. The lighter the basketball, the easier it is to roll the […]
• 12-Week Basketball Training Plan for Male Players However, on the other hand, the rhythm of the exercises should be less demanding for the athlete to have time to recover and regain energy after the season.
• National Basketball Association: Porter’s Forces Analysis One way the use of Akamai has given NBA an edge is through the use of its 25,000 servers located across the globe.
• Changes in NBA History Kirchberg makes a comparison of the growth of the league to the growth of athletes by noting that the league has grown “From the first superstar, center George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers, to its […]
• The Aspects of Basketball in the American Society In the 1980s, the National Basketball Association was organized in order to represent the interests of the professional players and regulate the main principles of the sport.
• San Antonio Spurs Analysis: The National Basketball Association San Antonio Spurs is one of the major teams in the National Basketball Association in the United States of America representing the city of San Antonio in the league.
• The US Basketball Teams’ Performance Analysis Data set was obtained from the NBA was categorical to the; NBA Team, year of specific games, points scored, and average level of the competence of the team.
• How White Privilege Works in Basketball White players are not obliged to understand or research the history of racism in sports and basketball. Non-white players are unable to be ignorant of race as they often encounter issues that have racism at […]
• Geometry Web Quest for Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Golf, Volleyball and Pool Field for golf is the biggest and made of grass, sand and water and is the biggest and it has no fixed shape. Soccer field is made of grass or synthetic material and is the […]
• Plyometric Training Effects on Jumping Performance in Junior Basketball Players Before the training procedure, the maximum vertical jump height of the groups was recorded, as well as the results of isometric tests on the maximal voluntary force of hip and knee extensors and the rate […]
• The Business Side of NBA and Other Sports The use of sports and the development of mass media have facilitated the growth of professionalism in sports.”This has created some friction where by the money is seen as more important than the recreational aspect”.
• Sports Passion: Basketball in the Stadium Once the game is on and the ball is being dribbled on the court, spectators are glued to the ball and where it is.
• NBA Live 08 by EA Sports: History and Gameplay The last “generation” game to be released prior to the NBA Live series was NBA Showdown which was released in 1994 NBA Live 95 was the first of the series to be released and appeared […]
• Kobe Bryant: “Beefsteak” in American Basketball History All through high school, he became star player on the courts and merited sufficient honors and triumphs to compensate for his lack of college basketball experience.
• Racial Diversity in the University Basketball Team In this tournament, I noted that the predominant races in most of the teams were African American and Caucasian. Although the lack of racial diversity in the University’s basketball team is apparent, few people seem […]
• National Basketball Association: Team Work From 1884 to 1889, the Spurs team had a rough time as they lost during all the four seasons, but with the help of Red McCombs, the originator, the team got encouraged and started improving.
• National Basketball Association’s Corporate Culture Therefore, it could be argued that emphasis on social issues, innovative approach to marketing, and size advantages are the main strengths of the league in the process of adaptation to the forces of globalization.
• Donald Sterling and National Basketball Association The scenario has attracted the attention of sports administrators and sociologists who have given their respective interpretations of the events that led to Sterling losing the ownership of the professional basketball franchise of the National […]
• NBA’s Corporate Culture Modernization Project The objective of this project is to explore the consequences for the NBA in terms of its social activity and to analyze the ways it will modernize its corporate culture to address the issues correctly.
• UC Riverside Men’s Basketball Team’s Social Media Marketing In order to increase credibility and maintain professionalism, the proposed website, twitter fan page, and Facebook channels will encompass processes and features that flawlessly facilitate a healthy lifetime relationship between social media and the UCR […]
• Sports and Entertainment Event in the USA: NBA Playoffs The NBA Playoffs is one of the favorite sporting events in the US. The viewer rating for the NBA Playoffs shows that this event is one of the biggest sports and entertainment events in the […]
• UCR Women’s Basketball Marketing Strategies Designing jerseys that contain a logo and the name of the basketball and selling them to fans, supporters, and sponsors effectively promote UCR Women’s Basketball.
• 2011 NBA Lockout: Public Relations Failure The NBA strike began on the 1st of July, 2011 and is still in effect until the time when the NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association will make a deal.
• Comparison and Contrast of Jordan and Bird in the Game of Basketball
• Comparison Between Basketball and Soccer
• Comparison Between High School and College Basketball and Professional Basketball
• Analysis of the Basketball Community in New York City
• Analysis of the Basketball Game and Rules
• Analysis of the Fail to Succeed for Michael Jordan
• Analysis of the Impact of Money on Athletes in Relation to Basketball Players
• Basketball and Amateur Athletic Union
• Basketball Vs. Baseball
• Differences Between Amateur and Professional Basketball
• New York City Basketball Lost a Legendary Figure Last Week
• Middle Schools Should Return Middle School Basketball
• Effects of the Sport Education Model on University Students Game Performance and Content Knowledge in Basketball
• Employee Discipline and Basketball Referees: A Prediction Market Approach
• Greatest College Basketball Coach of All Time
• Basketball for Short People Basket to Be Lowered
• LeBron James Vs. Kevin Durant in NBA basketball
• Joseph Jefferson Jackson Missed Chance in the Basketball Hall of Fame
• Duration-Specific Peak Acceleration Demands During Professional Female Basketball Matches
• Identifying and Describing the Bad Boy in the Game of Basketball
• Market Evidence Against Widespread Point Shaving in College Basketball
• NBA During the 70s the Rise in Popularity of Basketball
• Suppose That the Price of Basketball Tickets at Your
• Clemon Tigers Men’s Basketball Team
• Broken Dreams and Predictable Future in Ex-Basketball Player by John Updike
• Relationship Between Outcome Uncertainties and Match Attendance: New Evidence in the National Basketball Association
• Joe Jackson Should Have a Place in the Basketball Hall of Fame
• Foreign Players and Competitive Balance in Greek Basketball and Handball Championships
• Practice and Feedback Methods to Improve Performance of Basketball Layups
• Factors determining production (FDP) in basketball
• Beckett Brenn High School All American Basketball Player
• Past, Present and Future of Lithuanian Basketball
• Basketball Comparison Clash Vince Carter
• Biography and Life Work of Basketball Player Michael Jordan
• Biography and Life Work of Larry Bird
• Life Work of Michael Jordan, an American Professional Basketball Player
• History of Basketball, a Popular Sport in America
• A Multicriteria Selection System Based on Player Performance
• Analysis of the Pyramid of Success from the Sports Successes of Basketball Coach John Wooden
• Proposal for a New Draft Process in the National Basketball Associations
• Basketball History: From Origins and Geographical Diffusion
• Basketball in Colleges University
• Basketball Shoes Product Positioning
• Basketball Is the Most Important Factor on Offense
• Benefits of Basketball Is the Most Productive Sport for Children
• Coaching High School Boys’ Basketball
• Corruption in College Basketball
• Consumption Benefits and Gambling: Evidence from the NCAA Basketball Betting Market
• Cultural Manifestation Via a Game of Street Basketball
• Developing a Basketball Training Program
• High School and Phenomenon Basketball Player
• Kobe Bryant: The Best Basketball Player of the Last Decade
• Leadership Qualities and Characteristics of Successful Basketball Coaches
• Marketing Plan for Basketball
• Methods and Techniques Used for Endurance Developing for the Basketball Beginner Teams
• Michael Jordan the Greatest of All Time National Basketball
• National Basketball Association and Cedar Park Center
• National Basketball Association and the Woman National Basketball Association
• Playing For Money / NBA Basketball Players and Personal Greed
• Professional Basketball Physical Performance and Genetic Predisposition
• Development and Evolution of Basketball
• Difference Between College and Professional Basketball
• Effect of Additional Police Force on Crime Rate: Evidence from Women’s Japan Basketball League
• History of Modern Basketball
• Media and Its Effects on the Sport of Basketball
• Women’s College Basketball History and Background
• Who Is Your Favorite Basketball Player?
• How Can Basketball Affect the Growth of a Child
• How a Basketball Player Vertical Jump Hang Time?
• Does Mental Imagery Improve the Performance of Free Throws in Basketball?
• Why Lebron Is the Best Basketball Player of His Time?
• What Muscles Does a Basketball Player Primarily Focus on?
• How Earl Lloyd Changed Basketball History?
• How Can Basketball Affect the Growth of a Child?
• What Does the Material Record Tell Us About Human Use of Space at the Basketball Courts?
• How Has Basketball Changed My Life?
• Does Basketball Star Endorsement Work in China?
• How to Increase Stamina in Basketball with Physical Exercises?
• Are Sunk Costs Irrelevant in the Basketball?
• How Did Basketball Influence the Philippines?
• How Does Gravity Limit my Potential as a Basketball Player?
• Do You Agree that Football Play is equal to Professional Athletes?
• What Does It Take to Be a Basketball Player?
• Does the Basketball Market Believe in the ‘Hot Hand’?
• How the Dream Team Changed Basketball Forever?
• How Basketball Statistics Affect Winning Percentage for NCAA Division?
• Are Former Professional Basketball Athletes and Native Better Coaches?
• What Does Basketball Look Like Without Michael Jordan?
• Does Early Career Achievement Lead in the Basketball to Earlier Death?
• Are Professional Basketball Players Reference-Dependent?
• Does Gender Affect Compensation Among NCAA Basketball Coaches?
• How Being a Basketball Player Teaches You to Handle Defeat?
• Are You Someone Waiting to Enter the World of Basketball?
• What a Basketball Player Should Eat?
• How Is Basketball Affected by Biomechanics?
• Should College Basketball Be Banned?
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114 Basketball Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Title: 114 Basketball Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Introduction:

Basketball is a popular and dynamic sport that has captivated the hearts of millions worldwide. Whether you are an avid player, a die-hard fan, or simply interested in sports, writing an essay about basketball can offer a unique and engaging experience. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 114 basketball essay topic ideas and examples. From historical milestones to the impact of basketball on society, these topics cover a wide range of aspects related to the sport. Let's explore some of the exciting possibilities!

• The Evolution of Basketball: From its inception to modern-day techniques and strategies.
• The Impact of Basketball on American Culture: How basketball has influenced music, fashion, and entertainment.
• The Role of Women in Basketball: Examining the growth and contributions of female athletes in the sport.
• The Psychological Benefits of Basketball: Exploring the positive effects of playing basketball on mental health.
• The Business of Basketball: Analyzing the economic aspects of the sport, including sponsorships and endorsements.
• The Importance of Teamwork in Basketball: Discussing how collaboration and cooperation contribute to success on the court.
• The Role of Coaches in Basketball: Investigating the influence of coaches on player development and team performance.
• The Impact of Basketball on Youth Development: Examining how basketball can shape character, discipline, and leadership skills.
• The Rivalry Between NBA Teams: Analyzing legendary rivalries and their impact on the sport.
• The Psychology of Winning and Losing in Basketball: Exploring the mindset of athletes during victories and defeats.
• The Influence of Basketball in Education: Assessing the benefits of integrating basketball into school curricula.
• The Globalization of Basketball: Investigating how the sport has spread and gained popularity worldwide.
• The Role of Basketball in Social Justice Movements: Examining the efforts of basketball players to advocate for equality and social change.
• The Impact of Basketball Analytics: Analyzing the use of data and statistics in basketball strategy and player evaluation.
• The Role of Basketball in Community Development: Discussing how basketball programs can foster a sense of belonging and unity in local communities.

To provide a glimpse into the potential depth and breadth of basketball essay topics, here are a few examples:

• The Legendary Rivalry: Comparing and contrasting the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
• The Rise of Women's Basketball: Investigating the evolution of the WNBA and its impact on gender equality in sports.
• The Influence of Michael Jordan: Analyzing the cultural impact and legacy of one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
• From Slum to Stardom: Exploring the inspiring journey of basketball players who overcame adversity to achieve success.
• The Global Phenomenon: Examining the impact of Yao Ming on the popularity of basketball in China.
• The Power of Basketball Films: Analyzing how movies like "Hoosiers" and "Space Jam" have contributed to the sport's cultural significance.
• The NBA and Social Activism: Discussing the efforts of players like LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick in advocating for social justice.

Conclusion:

Basketball offers a vast array of essay topics that can captivate and inspire both sports enthusiasts and academic minds alike. Whether you choose to delve into historical moments, cultural impacts, or the psychology behind the sport, exploring the various aspects of basketball can lead to thought-provoking and engaging essays. The 114 topic ideas and examples provided here are just the tip of the iceberg, so feel free to dive deeper and discover your own unique basketball essay topics.

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• Basketball Essay

Essay on Basketball

Basketball is a widely popular and loved sport that is played all around the world. An essay on basketball would be incomplete without the mention of its smart moves and team-building benefits. Basketball is believed to have originated in Canada and the United States of America in the 19th century. There are several health benefits of playing basketball and it is an extremely fun physical activity. In this informative essay about basketball, the various benefits of playing basketball are discussed.

An Essay on Basketball and its Benefits 

While penning down the short paragraph about basketball this needs to be mentioned that when basketball is played, it is meant to be a source of joy and pleasure among its players. The aim of the play is to pass the ball through the basket which is hung on some height. Basketball can be a game between two individuals or, in the case of professional games, it is played between two opposing teams consisting of five players in each team. The score is determined by hitting the basket of each other’s teams. 

Due to the demand for heavy physicality from its players, basketball is highly favored. In this essay on basketball, the several health benefits of playing this sport are discussed:

Basketball is essential in promoting cardiovascular health among its players. It is immensely helpful for one’s heart health. Due to the game’s constant locomotion, the heart rate shows an increase. Thus, basketball lowers the risk of stroke and other heart diseases. 

Basketball is supremely effective in burning calories. Due to its constant, quick movements of running and jumping, basketball acts as a great way of working out and can drastically burn calories. 

Basketball strengthens the bones of its players. Due to the game’s primary dependence on physical energy, basketball results in bone strength among its players. The players’ muscles and bones get strengthened because of the game’s constant action of working muscles against the bones. 

One of the key health benefits which come from playing basketball is boosted immunity and reduced stress. Due to the busy nature of the game, the levels of stress among the players get reduced quite significantly. And with this decreased level of stress, the immune system gets boosted.

The dedicated practice of basketball develops better coordination among its players and improves their motor skills. The nature of basketball demands its players for excellent hand-eye and full-body coordination. Due to continuous training, the players develop their full-body coordination as well as their hand-eye coordination through the practises of dribbling and rebound shots.

Therefore, the health benefits of playing basketball are evident in the physical and mental fitness of the player. Apart from improving one’s overall health and height, the sport also develops fast-thinking abilities, reflex, and team spirit in youngsters.   

Basketball Experience Essay: Tournaments and Players

Now coming to the top basketball tournaments, an essay on basketball is simply incomplete without the mention of these names:

Basketball World Cup

Basketball at the Olympics

American tournaments like NBA, Argentine League LNB

Italian League

Spanish ACB league

To get a full-on understanding of the game and write down a basketball experience essay, one must watch these tournaments. The pace of the tournaments is such that one will automatically grow an addiction towards them. Then, if he is asked to write a basketball descriptive essay he will be able to write it easily.

Basketball essay writing becomes a cakewalk for someone who has grown up watching legends like Kobe Bryant playing the game with elan. The American sportsman spent his entire career playing for Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association. He breathed his last on 26th January 2020. He took the popularity of the sport to a different level and will be remembered for generations to come. 

Finally, if any of the important basketball essay topics are often left out then it has to be- ‘The Famous Indian Basketball Players.’ This basketball essay in English doesn’t do that. It humbly acknowledges the contribution of the famous Indian basketball players like Sat Prasad Yadav, Akilan Pari, and Prashanti Singh. They have made it really big over the years and continue to inspire millions of basketball players from all across the country. 

An Essay on My Favourite Game - Basketball

Basketball is a widely popular game that is played by several people all across the globe. In this section of basketball essay topics, the topics which will be discussed are the benefits of basketball in a person’s physical and mental health. There are several ways a person can benefit from playing basketball and those benefits are discussed in this basketball introduction essay.

The Basketball Essay in Short

Numerous physical and mental benefits result from playing basketball. Basketball is highly effective in promoting the cardiovascular health of its players. A healthy heart diminishes risks of heart diseases later in one’s life. Basketball’s high physical demand is crucial in burning calories and reducing body fat in its players.

Basketball also strengthens the bones due to the constant friction of muscles against them. It improves the immune system of the body and is effective in increasing players’ self-esteem.

Therefore, this is a complete essay on basketball in English which throws light on the game’s health benefits as well as how it helps to shape the entire personality of a player. 

FAQs on Basketball Essay

1. What is the Highest Governing Body in Basketball?

FIBA ( International Basketball Federation) is the highest governing body in basketball.  

2. Name Some of the Famous Basketball Players in the World. 

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, and Late Kobe Bryant are some of the famous basketball players of all time. 

3. Which Court is Considered as the Main Court in Basketball- The Outdoor Court or the Indoor Court?

In basketball, the indoor court is considered as the main court while the game played on the outdoor court is often called street ball. 

4. What are the health benefits of playing basketball? 

Playing basketball results in countless health benefits from burning calories to improving heart health by lowering the risk of getting a stroke. But a great cardiovascular health isn’t the only amazing health benefit playing this sport provides. It also strengthens one’s bones as well as muscles. It also leads to boosting of one’s immune system. And like engaging in almost any other sport or exercise, playing basketball has also shown to reduce the stress levels of its players quite conspicuously. This way, playing basketball also has a positive effect on not only one’s physical health, but their mental health as well.  

5. Who are some of the most famous basketball players? How does this sport shape the personality of its players?

Some of the most famous and highly respected basketball players include LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Satnam Singh, Amritpal Singh, and Prashanti Singh to name a few. 

Basketball tends to mould and shape the personality of the players just as much as it improves their physical and mental health. There are a lot of values, ethical beliefs, and other such aspects from the game that one can even apply to their everyday life like sportsmanship, teamwork, confidence, etc. 

6. What are some interesting facts about basketball? 

Initially, as the sport started, dribbling was not allowed at all and if a player got the - ball at a point and they compulsorily had to throw it to another player and continue the game like that. 

A physical education teacher, James Naismith, is the one who invented this sport and also wrote down the very first, the official rulebook of basketball.  

Michael Jordan wore his signature Air Jordans, his favorite shoes, by paying a fine as these shoes went against the guidelines of the NBA dress code. 

At the very beginning of it all, basketball was actually played with a soccer ball and a peach basket. 

7. What are some important rules of basketball? 

Some basic yet key rules of the game are: 

Each team is supposed to have 5 players present on the court at all times during the game. 

In order to win, a team has to score more field goals than the opponent team.

A player is not allowed to run with the ball; a player is only supposed to advance the ball by dribbling or passing and if a player stops dribbling, they have to either pass it or shoot it, not resume dribbling. 

There are quite a lot of fouls in the game and elbowing, blocking, tripping or knocking someone off, are some of the most common ones. 

To inbound the ball, the offense only has 5 seconds. 

Defenders are not allowed to interfere with a shot that is on a downward trajectory. In fact, this is considered to be illegal and is known as goaltending as it grants an automatic field goal to the offence then.

Both the ball handler as well as the ball have to remain within the boundaries of the court at all times. 

The defending team is legally allowed to block or steal the ball from the offending team and they can even use defensive tactics to prevent the latter from shooting and/or scoring. 

Each team has only a limited period of time during a given possession to shoot the ball. While in the NBA, this time limit is 24 seconds, in the NCCA, it is about 30 seconds. 

8. How does Vedantu encourage students to study?

One of the most popular and modern features of Vedantu is its one-on-one live interaction amongst the teacher and their students. As it is known, learning and studying by yourself with the help of the internet, and doing that in the presence of a teaching expert are two majorly different things with the latter being way more effective. This live interaction lets students communicate their thoughts and ideas more smoothly and also helps with the doubt-solving more easily. This social structure within Vedantu is one of the main ways through which it pushes students to study and speak their minds out loud. This is why Vedantu is a highly recommended portal for students to brighten their future. 

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Essay Samples on Basketball

Why basketball is the best sport among others.

When it comes to sports, there's a wide array of options to choose from, each with its own unique appeal. However, in my opinion, basketball stands out as the ultimate sport that offers a perfect blend of athleticism, teamwork, excitement, and versatility. In this essay,...

• Favorite Sport

Why Basketball Is My Favorite Sport: Memorable Moments and Life Lessons

Of all the sports that capture my heart and ignite my passion, basketball stands as the undisputed favorite. Its fast-paced action, camaraderie among teammates, and the thrill of competition combine to create an unparalleled experience that has enchanted me since childhood. This essay delves into...

Was the Reconstruction Era a Success or Failure: A Look Through Sport

The competitive sport of basketball traces its origins to a game known as peach basketball. In 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented basketball at Springfield College, Massachusetts. Initially, peach baskets without openings at the bottom served as goals, requiring the use of ladders to retrieve the...

• Reconstruction Era of The United States

Glory Road: Analysing the Long-Term Effects of Racial Diversity in Basketball

In the 1966 NCAA championship, El Paso’s Texas Western College Miners, a small southern college, accomplished to win the NCAA championship against the four times NCAA champions, University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats were known to be the strongest basketball team in the nation. This...

The Overview of the Ground-Breaking Glory Road

Nothing the cast does, be that as it may, is very as moving as the appearance amid the last credits of a portion of the genuine Texas Western players, who reflect, alongside Mr. Haskins. It is a part of Disney’s successful movies which has made...

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The Fundamentals of NBA Betting Practice

Even if you are a novice at basketball betting, more likely than not, you are aware of the fact that the sport ranks among the highest-speed sports which give gambling enthusiasts plenty of twists and turns when it comes to its momentum. Other than that,...

Best topics on Basketball

1. Why Basketball is the Best Sport Among Others

2. Why Basketball Is My Favorite Sport: Memorable Moments and Life Lessons

3. Was the Reconstruction Era a Success or Failure: A Look Through Sport

4. Glory Road: Analysing the Long-Term Effects of Racial Diversity in Basketball

5. The Overview of the Ground-Breaking Glory Road

6. The Fundamentals of NBA Betting Practice

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Essay on Basketball

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Basketball, a game that resonates with energy, strategy, and passion, is more than just a sport; it’s a symbol of teamwork, determination, and athletic excellence. This essay delves into the essence of basketball, its significance, and how it can be effectively discussed in essay writing competitions.

The Genesis of Basketball

Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts. Seeking a game to keep his students active during the winter, Naismith developed a sport that required skill, strategy, and physical prowess. The original game involved shooting a soccer ball into peach baskets nailed to an elevated track.

Understanding the Game

Basketball is played between two teams, each aiming to score by shooting a ball through the opponent’s hoop. Key elements include:

• Rules and Regulations : The game follows specific rules regarding dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending.
• Positions and Roles : Players assume positions like guards, forwards, and centers, each with unique responsibilities.
• Scoring System : Points are scored through field goals, three-pointers, and free throws.

The Global Impact of Basketball

Basketball has grown into a global phenomenon, thanks to:

• Professional Leagues : The NBA (National Basketball Association) in the United States is the most prominent, featuring star athletes and a massive fan base.
• International Presence : Basketball is a significant part of the Olympics and has leagues and fans worldwide.
• Cultural Influence : It influences fashion, language, and lifestyle, transcending the boundaries of sport.

Writing About Basketball

For students, writing about basketball offers various angles:

• Historical Perspective : Discuss basketball’s evolution and its impact on sports history.
• Personal Narratives : Share experiences or inspirations derived from playing or watching basketball.
• Analytical Approach : Analyze strategies, game mechanics, or the role of technology in basketball.
• Cultural Impact : Explore how basketball reflects and shapes cultural and social dynamics.

The Significance of Basketball

Basketball teaches valuable life lessons:

• Teamwork and Collaboration : Success in basketball requires seamless teamwork and cooperation.
• Discipline and Dedication : It demands rigorous training, discipline, and dedication.
• Overcoming Challenges : The sport embodies the spirit of overcoming obstacles and striving for excellence.

The Psychology of Basketball

• Mental Agility : Basketball not only tests physical skills but also demands mental sharpness and quick decision-making, mirroring the need for these skills in daily life.
• Stress Relief and Emotional Well-being : Engaging in basketball can be a form of stress relief, promoting mental health and emotional well-being.

Basketball and Community Building

• Local and Global Communities : Basketball courts often serve as community hubs, bringing together diverse groups and fostering a sense of unity.
• Youth Development : For many youths, basketball is a gateway to learning teamwork, discipline, and self-esteem, often providing alternatives to negative influences.

The Evolution of the Sport

• Technological Advancements : From improved training methods to analytics in game strategy, technology continues to revolutionize how basketball is played and coached.
• Changes in Playing Style : The evolution of basketball strategies, like the increased emphasis on three-point shooting, reflects how the game adapts and grows over time.

Ethical and Social Aspects

• Role Models : Basketball players often become role models, influencing young people’s attitudes and behaviors.
• Social Issues : The sport has been a platform for addressing social issues, with players and associations taking stands on matters such as racial equality and justice.

Environmental Influence

• Indoor vs. Outdoor Courts: Indoor courts provide controlled conditions, such as temperature and lighting, ensuring consistent gameplay. Outdoor courts are subject to weather conditions like wind and rain, which can affect shooting accuracy and ball control.
• Temperature and Humidity: Extreme temperatures can affect players’ endurance and performance. High humidity may lead to sweaty palms and slippery ball handling.
• Altitude: Playing at higher altitudes can result in reduced oxygen levels, affecting players’ stamina and causing fatigue more quickly.
• Court Surface: The type of court surface, whether hardwood, concrete, or asphalt, can impact ball bounce, player agility, and the risk of injuries.
• Wind: Outdoor games can be influenced by wind, affecting the trajectory of shots and passes. Wind speed and direction can be critical in long-range shooting.
• Lighting Conditions: Inadequate lighting in indoor or outdoor courts can hinder player visibility and impact shooting accuracy.
• Noise Level: Crowded and noisy indoor arenas can create distractions for players and impact communication on the court.
• Weather-Related Challenges: Outdoor games can be disrupted by adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or strong winds. This can lead to slippery court surfaces and unpredictable ball behavior.
• Elevation Changes: Playing in locations with significant elevation changes, such as on hilly terrain, can pose additional physical challenges for players.
• Climate and Geography: The local climate and geography can influence playing style. For example, players from regions with hot and dry climates may have different conditioning needs compared to those from colder or more humid regions.
• Air Quality: Poor air quality, often exacerbated by pollution or natural events like wildfires, can affect players’ respiratory health and overall performance.
• Court Size and Dimensions: The size and dimensions of the court can vary, affecting playing styles and strategies. Smaller courts may lead to more fast-paced games, while larger courts can favor teams with strong passing and shooting abilities.
• Time Zones: Teams traveling across different time zones may experience jet lag, which can impact their performance, especially in critical games.

The Future of Basketball

• Global Growth : The sport continues to expand globally, with increasing participation and interest in countries worldwide.
• Women in Basketball : The growing prominence of women’s basketball is reshaping the sport, highlighting issues of gender equality and opportunity.

In conclusion, basketball is more than just a sport; it’s a dynamic, fast-paced game that demands skill, teamwork, and strategy. This essay has provided valuable insights into how to write about basketball effectively, offering tips and guidance to help aspiring writers capture the essence of this beloved sport. By following these suggestions, one can convey the excitement and intricacies of basketball while engaging readers with compelling narratives.

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How to Write a Non-Cliche College Essay About Sports + Examples

What’s covered:, what makes a sports essay cliche.

• How To Make Your Sports Essay Unique

Great Examples of College Essays About Sports

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You’ve been brainstorming essay topics for your college applications, and you think you’ve finally found the right one: an extended metaphor likening your experience on the field with overcoming personal struggles. The problem: many other students have this same thought. 

The purpose of a college essay is to make yourself stand out as a unique individual, but when students write about sports, they often blend in. Because of that, students are usually advised to pick a different topic.

That being said, it is possible to write a non-cliche college essay about sports if you put in a little extra effort. Read along to learn how to make your sports essay different from all the other sports essays.

Sports essays are cliche when they follow a standard trajectory. Some of these trajectories include writing a story about:

• An agonizing defeat
• Forging bonds with teammates
• Overcoming adversity
• Overcoming an injury
• Refusing to quit
• Victory during a big game

Because sports essays have very similar themes and “lessons learned,” it can be difficult to make your story stand out. These trajectories also often focus too much on the sport or storyline, and not enough on the writer’s reflections and personality.

As you write your essay, try to think about what your experience says about you rather than what you learned from your experience. You are more than just one lesson you learned!

(Keep in mind that the sports essay is not the only college essay cliche. Learn about other essay cliches and how to fix them in our complete guide).

How to Make Your Sports Essay Unique

1. focus on a specific moment or reflection..

The college essay is a way for students to humanize themselves to admissions officers. You do not feel human if you are describing yourself as just another player on the field!

One important way to make your essay about you (not just about sports) is by focusing on a specific moment in time and inviting the reader to join you in that moment. Explain to the reader what it would be like to be sitting in that locker room as you questioned the values of the other players on your team. Ask your reader to sit with you on the cot in the trainer’s room as your identity was stripped away from you when they said “your body can’t take this anymore.” Bring your reader to the dinner table and involve them in your family’s conversation about how sports were affecting your mental health and your treatment of those around you.

Intense descriptions of a specific experience will evoke emotions in your reader and allow them to connect with you and feel for you.

When in doubt, avoid anything that can be covered by ESPN. On ESPN, we see the games, we see the benches, we even see the locker rooms and training rooms. Take your reader somewhere different and show them something unique.

2. Use sports to point out broader themes in your life.

The main risk when writing about sports is neglecting to write about yourself. Before you get started, think about the main values that you want to express in your sports essay. Sports are simply your avenue for telling the reader what makes you unique. 

As a test, imagine if you were a pianist. Would you be able to talk about these same values? What if you were a writer? Or a chemist? Articulating your values is the end, and sports should simply be your means.

Some values that you might want to focus on:

• Autonomy (you want to be able to set your mind to anything and achieve it on your own)
• Growth (you seek improvement constantly)
• Curiosity (you are willing to try anything once)
• Vulnerability (you aren’t afraid to fail, as long as you give it your all)
• Community (you value the feedback of others and need camaraderie to succeed)
• Craft (you think that with deliberate care, anything can be perfected)
• Responsibility (you believe that you owe something to those around you and perhaps they also owe something to you)

You can use the ESPN check again to make sure that you are using sports as an avenue to show your depth.

Things ESPN covers: how a player reacts to defeat, how injuries affect a player’s gameplay/attitude, how players who don’t normally work well together are working together on their new team.

Things ESPN doesn’t cover: the conversation that a player had with their mother about fear of death before going into a big surgery (value: family and connection), the ways that the intense pressure to succeed consumed a player to the point they couldn’t be there for the people in their life (value: supporting others and community), the body image issues that weigh on a player’s mind when playing their sport and how they overcame those (value: health and growth).

3. Turn a cliche storyline on its head.

There’s no getting around the fact that sports essays are often cliche. But there is a way to confront the cliche head-on. For example, lots of people write essays about the lessons they learned from an injury, victory, and so on, but fewer students explain how they are embracing those lessons. 

Perhaps you learned that competition is overwhelming for you and you prefer teamwork, so you switched from playing basketball to playing Dungeons & Dragons. Maybe, when your softball career ended abruptly, you had to find a new identity and that’s when you became obsessed with your flower garden and decided to pursue botany. Or maybe, you have stuck with football through it all, but your junior-year mental health struggle showed you that football should be fun and you have since started a nonprofit for local children to healthily engage with sports.

If your story itself is more cliche, try bringing readers to the present moment with you and show why the cliche matters and what it did for you. This requires a fair amount of creativity. Ensure you’re not parroting a frequently used topic by really thinking deeply to find your own unique spin.

Night had robbed the academy of its daytime colors, yet there was comfort in the dim lights that cast shadows of our advances against the bare studio walls. Silhouettes of roundhouse kicks, spin crescent kicks, uppercuts and the occasional butterfly kick danced while we sparred. She approached me, eyes narrowed with the trace of a smirk challenging me. “Ready spar!” Her arm began an upward trajectory targeting my shoulder, a common first move. I sidestepped — only to almost collide with another flying fist. Pivoting my right foot, I snapped my left leg, aiming my heel at her midsection. The center judge raised one finger. 

There was no time to celebrate, not in the traditional sense at least. Master Pollard gave a brief command greeted with a unanimous “Yes, sir” and the thud of 20 hands dropping-down-and-giving-him-30, while the “winners” celebrated their victory with laps as usual. 

Three years ago, seven-thirty in the evening meant I was a warrior. It meant standing up straighter, pushing a little harder, “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am”, celebrating birthdays by breaking boards, never pointing your toes, and familiarity. Three years later, seven-thirty in the morning meant I was nervous. 

The room is uncomfortably large. The sprung floor soaks up the checkerboard of sunlight piercing through the colonial windows. The mirrored walls further illuminate the studio and I feel the light scrutinizing my sorry attempts at a pas de bourrée, while capturing the organic fluidity of the dancers around me. “Chassé en croix, grand battement, pique, pirouette.” I follow the graceful limbs of the woman in front of me, her legs floating ribbons, as she executes what seems to be a perfect ronds de jambes. Each movement remains a negotiation. With admirable patience, Ms. Tan casts me a sympathetic glance.   

There is no time to wallow in the misery that is my right foot. Taekwondo calls for dorsiflexion; pointed toes are synonymous with broken toes. My thoughts drag me into a flashback of the usual response to this painful mistake: “You might as well grab a tutu and head to the ballet studio next door.” Well, here I am Master Pollard, unfortunately still following your orders to never point my toes, but no longer feeling the satisfaction that comes with being a third degree black belt with 5 years of experience quite literally under her belt. It’s like being a white belt again — just in a leotard and ballet slippers. 

But the appetite for new beginnings that brought me here doesn’t falter. It is only reinforced by the classical rendition of “Dancing Queen” that floods the room and the ghost of familiarity that reassures me that this new beginning does not and will not erase the past. After years spent at the top, it’s hard to start over. But surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become. In Taekwondo, we started each class reciting the tenets: honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet. 

The thing about change is that it eventually stops making things so different. After nine different schools, four different countries, three different continents, fluency in Tamil, Norwegian, and English, there are more blurred lines than there are clear fragments. My life has not been a tactfully executed, gold medal-worthy Taekwondo form with each movement defined, nor has it been a series of frappés performed by a prima ballerina with each extension identical and precise, but thankfully it has been like the dynamics of a spinning back kick, fluid, and like my chances of landing a pirouette, unpredictable. 

Why it works:

What’s especially powerful about this essay is that the author uses detailed imagery to convey a picture of what they’re experiencing, so much so that the reader is along for the ride. This works as a sports essay not only because of the language and sensory details, but also because the writer focuses on a specific moment in time, while at the same time exploring why Taekwondo is such an important part of their life.

After the emotional image is created, the student finishes their essay with valuable reflection. With the reflection, they show admissions officers that they are mature and self-aware. Self-awareness comes through with statements like “surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become” and maturity can be seen through the student’s discussion of values “honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet.” These are the kinds of comments that should find their way into a sports essay!

“Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one. 

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we compete with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

In the beginning, you might think this is another cliche sports essay about overcoming adversity. But instead, it becomes a unique statement and coming-of-age tale that reads as a suspenseful narrative. 

The author connects their experience with martial arts to larger themes in their life but manages to do so without riffing off of tried-and-true themes. Through statements like “I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was” we learn about the students values and their desire to be there for those who depend on them. 

The student also brings it full circle, demonstrating their true transformation. By using the “Same, but Different” ending technique , the student places themself in the same environment that we saw in the intro, but experiences it differently due to their actions throughout the narrative. This is very compelling!

“1…2…3…4 pirouettes! New record!” My friends cheered as I landed my turns. Pleased with my progress, I gazed down at my worn-out pointe shoes. The sweltering blisters, numbing ice-baths, and draining late-night practices did not seem so bad after all. Next goal: five turns.

For as long as I can remember, ballet, in all its finesse and glamor, had kept me driven day to day. As a child, the lithe ballerinas, donning ethereal costumes as they floated across the stage, were my motivation. While others admired Messi and Adele, I idolized Carlos Acosta, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet. 

As I devoted more time and energy towards my craft, I became obsessed with improving my technique. I would stretch for hours after class, forcing my leg one inch higher in an effort to mirror the Dance Magazine cover girls. I injured my feet and ruined pair after pair of pointe shoes, turning on wood, cement, and even grass to improve my balance as I spun. At competitions, the dancers with the 180-degree leg extensions, endless turns, and soaring leaps—the ones who received “Bravos!” from the roaring audience—further pushed me to refine my skills and perfect my form. I believed that, with enough determination, I would one day attain their level of perfection. Reaching the quadruple-pirouette milestone only intensified my desire to accomplish even more. 

My efforts seemed to have come to fruition two summers ago when I was accepted to dance with Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet at their renowned New York City summer intensive. I walked into my first session eager to learn from distinguished ballet masters and worldly dancers, already anticipating my improvement. Yet, as I danced alongside the accomplished ballerinas, I felt out of place. Despite their clean technique and professional training, they did not aim for glorious leg extensions or prodigious leaps. When they performed their turn combinations, most of them only executed two turns as I attempted four. 

“Dancers, double-pirouettes only.” 

Taken aback and confused, I wondered why our teacher expected so little from us. The other ballerinas seemed content, gracing the studio with their simple movements. 

As I grew closer with my Moscow roommates, I gradually learned that their training emphasized the history of the art form instead of stylistic tricks. Rather than show off their physical ability, their performances aimed to convey a story, one that embodied the rich culture of ballet and captured both the legacy of the dancers before them and their own artistry. As I observed my friends more intently in repertoire class, I felt the pain of the grief-stricken white swan from Swan Lake, the sass of the flirtatious Kitri from Don Quijote, and I gradually saw what I had overlooked before. My definition of talent had been molded by crowd-pleasing elements—whirring pirouettes, gravity-defying leaps, and mind-blowing leg extensions. This mindset slowly stripped me from the roots of my passion and my personal connection with ballet. 

With the Bolshoi, I learned to step back and explore the meaning behind each step and the people behind the scenes. Ballet carries history in its movements, from the societal values of the era to each choreographer’s unique flair. As I uncovered the messages behind each pirouette, kick, and jump, my appreciation for ballet grew beyond my obsession with raw athleticism and developed into a love for the art form’s emotive abilities in bridging the dancers with the audience. My journey as an artist has allowed me to see how technical execution is only the means to a greater understanding between dancer and spectator, between storyteller and listener. The elegance and complexity of ballet does not revolve around astonishing stunts but rather the evocative strength and artistry manifested in the dancer, in me. It is the combination of sentiments, history, tradition, and passion that has allowed ballet and its lessons of human connection to become my lifestyle both on and off stage.

This essay is about lessons. While the author is a dancer, this narrative isn’t really about ballet, per se — it’s about the author’s personal growth. It is purposefully reflective as the student shows a nice character arc that begins with an eager young ballerina and ends with a reflection on their past. The primary strength of this essay is the honesty and authenticity that the student approaches it with.

In the end, the student turns a cliche on its head as they embrace the idea of overcoming adversity and demonstrate how the adversity, in this case, was their own stereotypes about their art. It’s beautiful!

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay uses the idea of sports to explore a more profound topic—growing through relationships. They really embrace using sports as an avenue to tell the reader about a specific experience that changed the way they approach the world. 

The emphasis on relationships is why this essay works well and doesn’t fall into a cliche. The narrator grows not because of their experience with track but because of their relationship with their coach, who inspired them to evolve and become a leader.

Have a draft of your college essay? We’re here to help you polish it. Students can participate in a free Peer Review, or they can sign up for a paid review by CollegeVine’s experts. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to start improving your essay and your chances of acceptance!

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Essay on Basketball History

Students are often asked to write an essay on Basketball History in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Basketball History

The birth of basketball.

Basketball started in 1891. A physical education teacher named Dr. James Naismith invented it. He wanted a game that could be played indoors during winter. He hung a peach basket at each end of the gym and used a soccer ball. That’s how basketball began.

The Rules of the Game

At first, basketball had 13 rules. For example, players could not run with the ball. They had to throw it from the spot they caught it. Over time, these rules changed. Now, players can dribble and move around the court.

Basketball Spreads Globally

Basketball quickly became popular. Schools, colleges, and clubs started playing it. In 1936, it became an Olympic sport. Now, it’s played all over the world. The NBA, America’s professional league, is famous globally.

Women in Basketball

Women started playing basketball in 1892, just a year after it was invented. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded in 1996. It’s the most successful women’s professional sports league in the U.S.

Modern Basketball

Today, basketball is a fast-paced, high-scoring game. It’s loved by millions of fans worldwide. Players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have become global icons. Basketball’s history is full of exciting moments and legendary players.

250 Words Essay on Basketball History

Basketball started in 1891. A man named Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher from Canada, invented it. He was trying to create a new game to keep his students active during the cold winter months. He decided to hang a peach basket on the wall. The goal was to throw a soccer ball into the basket. That’s how basketball was born!

Early Basketball Rules

The first basketball game was very different from what we know today. There were nine players on each team. The ball could only be moved by passing, not dribbling. If a team made a basket, they scored a point and the game was paused to get the ball out of the basket. In 1893, the first women’s basketball game was played.

Formation of Professional Leagues

Basketball became popular quickly. In 1936, it was included in the Olympic Games. In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. This was the first professional basketball league. In 1949, the BAA merged with the rival National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Today, basketball is played worldwide. The rules have changed a lot since Naismith’s time. Now, there are five players on each team. Players can dribble the ball and there’s a net instead of a basket. The NBA is the most famous basketball league, with teams and players known all over the world.

Basketball has a rich history. From a simple game with a peach basket and a soccer ball, it has become a global sport loved by millions.

500 Words Essay on Basketball History

Introduction to basketball.

Basketball is a popular sport, loved by many people around the world. It was invented by a man named Dr. James Naismith in 1891. He was a Canadian physical education teacher who was trying to create a new game to keep his students active during the winter while indoors.

The Inception of Basketball

Naismith wrote down 13 basic rules for this new game. He hung a peach basket onto the elevated track, and used a soccer ball as the first basketball. The aim was to throw the ball into the opposing team’s peach basket. The game was a hit from the start. Students loved it, and it quickly spread to other schools and colleges.

In 1936, basketball was included in the Berlin Olympic Games, giving it a global platform. In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. This was the first major professional basketball league. In 1949, the BAA merged with a rival league, the National Basketball League (NBL), to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA is now the world’s top professional basketball league.

Changes in the Game

Over time, basketball has seen many changes. The peach baskets were replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A brown ball was introduced in the late 1950s to replace the soccer ball. In the 1980s, the three-point line was added to the court. These changes have made the game faster, more exciting, and more challenging.

Famous Players

Basketball has given us many famous players. Michael Jordan, a player from the 1980s and 1990s, is often called the best player of all time. He won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. In recent years, players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry have also become famous. They have taken the game to new heights with their skills and talent.

Women also have a strong presence in basketball. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was formed in 1996. It is the premier women’s professional basketball league in the world. Players like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore have made huge contributions to women’s basketball.

Basketball is a game that has grown and evolved over time. It started as a simple indoor game and has become a global sport with millions of fans. It has brought us many exciting moments and unforgettable players. The history of basketball is a testament to the enduring popularity of this sport.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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WNBA | Swanson: America can’t shut up about…

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WNBA | Swanson: America can’t shut up about women’s basketball – and it’s about time

The discourse surrounding caitlin clark and the wnba is wild, but all this attention might be helping the sport.

See, even though I’d had big plans to become a sportswriter as a kid, by the time I got to college, I’d started to think I’d rather be out there committing more important acts of journalism – until that game pulled me back in.

We found ourselves part of a big, rowdy crowd that afternoon in that aluminum shoebox of a gym at the University of Oregon. An impeccable, cacophonous stage for us to watch as the teams “touched, pushed, battled, fought” (the Eugene Register-Guard’s Ron Bellamy) in a game Stanford won, 69-66.

I remember the drama, Oregon’s coach neglecting to shake hands, a Duck being quoted afterward: “It’s always Stanford this and Stanford that …”

I remember thinking maybe covering this stuff could, in a sense, be important? And imagining a world where thousands of people came together regularly to lose their collective minds over women’s basketball.

Twenty-seven years later, we are so there .

We are covering women’s basketball. And America has lost its mind over women’s basketball.

It’s the talk of the American sports world: Caitlin Clark’s reception in the WNBA! Chennedy Carter hip checking her! Angel Reese’s part in this story! Are Clark’s new colleagues jealous? Petty? Resentful? Appreciative? Understandably any and/or all of the above?

Everyone chime in at once!

Monica McNutt deserves a damn raise !! She was being tagged team by Shannon/Stephen A. the whole show and she HELD HER GROUND. They spent 40 minutes (!!!!!) discussing this, which is definitely the most First Take has EVER covered the W in the show’s history. Wheww… I’m… pic.twitter.com/gpHRwTyliO — Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) June 3, 2024

Combustible, hot-button topics that needed just a whiff of oxygen to explode – and with air to fill on ESPN’s morning debate shows during a slow late-spring sports week? Ka-boom!

And holy smokes, I hate it. And I love it. And I love it, and I hate it. So much that I’m reticent to even touch it, because what is there to add when already way too much has been said and spouted and tweeted and shouted? Sean Hannity has weighed in , as have the ladies on “The View.” The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board took a stand – defending Clark and admonishing the Chicago Sky.

But I, too, can’t stop thinking about it.

And, yes, I grew up to be a sportswriter and now I get to write columns for a living, so I ought to deposit my two cents, which are: Caitlin stepped onto the scene swishing logo 3-pointers at a time when Steph and Dame and Trae made logo 3s cool. Women aren’t going to throw down like your favorite NBA dunker, but she can shoot like your favorite NBA sniper. That’s part of it.

Also, we are in a place, at long last, where the public is starting to not be so obstinate about women’s sports. Credit the previous quarter-century of the WNBA for that. And all of the great players who came before its advent. Credit the U.S. women’s national soccer team. And Serena Williams. And Jackie Joyner-Kersee. And so on … credit all the competitive daughters who made being a #GirlDad a thing. And #MeToo and #TimesUp. Credit editors and executives who dedicated resources to covering it, and those reporters whose coverage was mostly – or entirely – a labor of love. That’s some of it.

And, yes, beyond her marvelous skill set, Clark – a white player from Iowa – has an appeal to part of the public that didn’t fall fast in love with her idol, Maya Moore, a former UConn star who is Black. That’s a piece of it too.

So, yeah, women’s basketball is totally having a moment – one that anthropologists will study for years to come, this collision at the intersection of race and gender, sport and politics, media and social media. All of those forces plowing head-first and full speed into one another and causing a gnarly collision from which none of us seems able to look away.

It’s a pileup that I sense – when I try to pan back, way, way, wayyy back – will be seared into our collective consciousness forever more.

And as uncomfortable or infuriating and fascinating as it is now, I think – I think – it will be good for the sport.

Remember a couple of years ago, when Clark was living up to her growing hype with 41 points in Iowa’s upset of South Carolina in the NCAA semifinals ? A whopping 5.5 million folks tuned in, at the time the third-largest ESPN audience for women’s college basketball.

But then 9.9 million people watched LSU beat Iowa for the NCAA crown and saw Reese wave her hand like it was a wand because suddenly – poof! – this country was under their spell, seemingly everyone was feeling some type of way about what had transpired in this women’s basketball game.

Folks flooded the airwaves and social media with opinions about something that happened on the court, those takes at least replacing the dismissive “kitchen” replies that previously appeared below women’s basketball-related posts.

Some of the discourse, like this week’s, was inane and headache-inducing or downright offensive – and if that ain’t the ticket.

Because, in America, if it bleeds it leads. This is the home of TMZ and reality TV, the land of negative campaign ads and online toxicity, and if you really want our attention, our emotional investment? You’ve got to give us something beyond an explanation for the ways the New Orleans Pelicans are using Zion Williamson as a primary ball handler.

And without even meaning to, women’s basketball is giving. That’s why more than 12 million tuned in for the LSU-Iowa rematch in the Elite Eight , why 24.1 million sat down to see South Carolina beat Iowa in the title game.

Why 1.53 million were watching a regular-season game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky on Saturday, when Carter bumped Clark on an inbounds play – and why millions more are going to tune in for their next showdown June 16 (9 a.m., CBS).

And I’m sorry to the hoopers at the center of this who want just to hoop. Players like USC graduate transfer Talia von Oelhoffen, who posed the question on social media Monday: “What if we stopped talking so much about growing women’s basketball and just actually watched and consumed it the same way we do other sports?”

what if we stopped talking so much about growing women’s basketball and just actually watched and consumed it the same way we do other sports? in this essay i will- — talia von oelhoffen (@TaliaVono) June 4, 2024

How about we do it now? Because later Monday, basketball fan and podcaster Darian Vaziri (@DimeDropperPod) mixed it up and posted his favorite player from every WNBA team with a question of his own: “What’s yours?”

He got hundreds of interactions, and only one that I saw from someone who needed it to be known he isn’t a fan. Otherwise, though, we are so here : It’s normal now for basketball fans to know enough about the WNBA to have a favorite player on every team.

Because it’s 2024, and for better or worse – and eventually, for better – everyone has an opinion about women’s basketball.

Since there’s been so much toxic discourse that has nothing to do with the 🏀 being played, I’m gonna give my favorite player from each team besides my own! Chicago: Marina Mabrey (I actually love her) Seattle: Nneka (duh) NY: Stewie Vegas: Chelsea Gray (duh) Indiana:… — Dime Dropper (@DimeDropperPod) June 4, 2024

"We are so caught up on dissecting the growth of the women's game, that we are missing out on the goodies. … Why can't all growth, all ways that women compete, be good for the game?" — @chiney on competition in the WNBA pic.twitter.com/6TaSrR1jpf — First Take (@FirstTake) June 4, 2024

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WNBA upgrades Chennedy Carter’s foul on Caitlin Clark to flagrant-1 violation. What happened?

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has taken some lumps in her introduction to the WNBA — none more so than a flagrant foul in a one-point win on June 1 over the Chicago Sky.

The former University of Iowa star was body - blocked to the floor by Chicago's Chennedy Clark in a foul that resembled a hockey check more than a basketball play, but at the time was ruled a common foul by the officials.

"That's just not a basketball play," Clark said on the ESPN broadcast afterward .

On June 2, the WNBA upgraded the foul on Carter to a flagrant 1 after the league reviewed the video, ESPN reported . The WNBA reserves the right to upgrade a foul to flagrant after the game.

Carter was not fined or suspended for the play.

Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon said in a statement released June 3 and obtained by NBC Chicago that Carter "got caught up in the heat of the moment in an effort to win the game."

“She and I have discussed what happened and that it was not appropriate, nor is it what we do or who we are. Chennedy understands that there are better ways to handle situations on the court, and she will learn from this, as we all will,” Weatherspoon added.

The foul was only part of the drama in Indiana's 71-70 win over Chicago, which also featured a moment with Clark's college nemesis, former LSU star Angel Reese .

Here's what to know.

What was the foul Chennedy Carter committed on Caitlin Clark?

Clark was awaiting an inbounds pass after Carter made a basket in the third quarter when Carter lowered her right shoulder and smacked Clark to the floor .

What was Caitlin Clark's reaction to the foul?

Clark has faced physical play from opposing defenders all season in her rookie campaign after being the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft , but she was still surprised by the hard foul.

"Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it," she said in the postgame press conference . "But it’s just like, respond, calm down and let your play do the talking. It is what it is. It’s a physical game, go make the free throw and then execute on offense. Feel like that’s kind of what we did.”

Following the foul, Clark made a foul shot that proved to be crucial in the 71-70 victory. She finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the win.

“I grew up playing basketball with the boys, so, like, it’s always been physical and feisty and that’s what it is,” Clark said in a June 2 pregame talk with the media . “You've got to find a way to hold your own.”

A day after the hard foul, Clark had her worst game in the WNBA with 3 points on 1-for-10 shooting in a lopsided loss to the New York Liberty on June 2.

Carter, known in her four-year WNBA career as a tenacious defender, refused to discuss the foul after the game.

She said in the p ostgame p ress conference that she would not be answering any questions about Clark.

Carter was not fined or suspended for the play. Points are given to players who commit flagrant fouls, and if they accumulate a certain amount, it results in suspensions, according to The Associated Press .

What happened after Carter’s foul on Clark?

Immediately after the foul, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese leaped off the bench and started clapping .

Reese and Clark had a fierce rivalry during their college careers. Reese and LSU defeated Clark and Iowa in 2023 to win the national championship , with Reese flashing a “you can’t see me” gesture in front of her face that Clark had used earlier in the tournament.

Iowa got their revenge this past season when the Hawkeyes beat LSU in the Elite Eight behind a 41-point eruption by Clark. Iowa made it to a second straight national championship game before falling to undefeated South Carolina .

Reese, who had 8 points and 13 rebounds in the Sky's recent loss to the Fever, refused to speak with reporters after the game. She was fined $1,000 by the WNBA on June 2 after declining to make herself available to the media, NBC Sports reported .

What was the reaction by the basketball world to the play?

Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides called it "unacceptable" that the play wasn't initially ruled a flagrant foul in a post on X following the game. Fever general manager Lin Dunn also weighed in.

"There's a difference between tough defense and unnecessary targeting actions!" she wrote on X . "It needs to stop! The league needs to 'cleanup' the crap! That’s NOT who this league is!!"

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, who is no stranger to physical defensive play himself , believes the Fever need to sign a hard-fouling player to protect Clark. Green has played a similar role for the Warriors in relation to superstar guard Steph Curry.

"Indiana better go invest in an enforcer...FAST!" he wrote in an Instagram comment .

Boxer and YouTube star Jake Paul even gave his take about the physical play Clark has faced as a rookie.

"Hating on Caitlin Clark is hating on opportunity for an entire sport," he wrote on X .

Former Indianapolis football star-turned-broadcaster Pat McAfee caused a stir on the internet on June 3 when he commented on the situation on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show," describing Clark as a "cash cow" for the WNBA.

"I would like the media people that continue to say 'this rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class' — nah, just call it for what it is. There's one white b---- for the Indiana team who is a superstar," he says in a clip posted by t he Awful Announcing X account.

He adds moments later, "We have to hear people say we all like her because she's white. And she's only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what they're doing. Well, that's a bunch of bulls--- and we think the WNBA, more specifically their refs, need to stop trying to screw her over at every single turn."

McAfee later wrote a message on X expressing regret over the way he described Clark.

"I shouldn’t have used 'white b----' as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark. No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening.. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe," he wrote.

"My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize… I have sent an apology to Caitlin as well. 

"Everything else I said… still alllllll facts," he added.

Clark’s arrival has already helped produce record television ratings for the WNBA, more national television exposure, historic endorsement deals , sold-out games and increased scrutiny of WNBA salaries .

When will Chicago and Indiana play each other again?

The two teams will square off again June 16 in Indianapolis.

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here! ) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else. 

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Schools in basketball-centric leagues face different economic challenges with NCAA settlement

FILE - Wisconsin’s Traevon Jackson dribbles past the NCAA logo during practice at the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament March 26, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif. University presidents around the country are scheduled to meet this week in May 2024, to vote on whether to accept a proposed settlement of an antitrust lawsuit that would cost the NCAA nearly $3 billion in damages. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

FILE - Miami practices before the start of the Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament March 11, 2024, in Washington. The NCAA and the nation’s five biggest conferences have agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims,a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Arkansas players run past the Southeastern Conference logo during practice for the 2006 SEC men’s basketball tournament March 8, 2006, in Nashville, Tenn. The NCAA and the nation’s five biggest conferences have agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims,a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

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Bernadette McGlade leads an Atlantic 10 Conference built around basketball and focused on getting multiple bids to the NCAA men’s tournament much more than anything tied to big-time football.

Yet her league is among dozens conferences and scores of schools that will feel the impact from the NCAA and major college conferences approving a $2.8 billion settlement of federal antitrust claims that calls for paying athletes with a plan framed in a football-driven college sports landscape.

“We’ve got to move forward, we want to continue to preserve our rich history in basketball,” McGlade told The Associated Press. “So we have to get to the strategy table and start doing analysis.”

Schools that lean on basketball in leagues like the A-10, Big East — home to UConn, the two-time reigning men’s national champion — and the West Coast Conference face the prospect of directing millions to their athletes every year. But they have to figure out the best way to do that without streams of football money flowing in.

“With the opportunity that football brings, there’s a lot of (financial) obligation that football brings, too,” said Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford, whose WCC basketball program has gone from mid-major to national power over the past quarter-century. “So it cuts both ways. We don’t have the obligation of the operations and new expenses associated with the compensation of football players. But we don’t have the benefit of the revenues that come with it, particularly the TV revenues.”

The settlement includes the NCAA and conferences paying $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money or endorsement deals dating to 2016. Under the plan, each school would be allowed to set aside up to around $21 million to pay athletes, a cap that could change. It could start as soon as the 2025 fall semester.

The lawsuit targeted the so-called Power Five conferences – Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern – as well as Notre Dame But coming up with money to pay for the settlement will hit hundreds of other Division I member schools in the form of smaller annual payouts from the organization. That revenue flows largely from the NCAA’s lucrative TV contract for the men’s basketball tournament and its other championship events.

The NCAA has no role in the College Football Playoff or bowl games and TV deals for football are struck at the conference level.. Yet schools with smaller or even no football program will be shouldering a piece of the settlement before even getting into paying future athletes.

“I think the real interesting angle here is: Why does men’s basketball pay for the entire overhead of college athletics and college football doesn’t contribute?” Standiford asked.

McGlade went a step further, noting that the projected CFP per-school payouts alone to the Big Ten and SEC (around $22 million) largely covers the estimated annual amount a school can pay to athletes. McGlade estimated the focus for the basketball-focused schools in her league could be generating around $3 million to $5 million in annual payments by comparison.

“We knew the settlement was being discussed and I think everyone across D-I was supportive of that for this whole year,” McGlade said. “We didn’t know the gory details of what the payment model would be. The disproportionality is a real concern, and it wouldn’t have taken that much for that proportionality to get balanced a little bit more and everyone be a little bit more respectful of each other.”

Jay Bilas, a former Duke player and attorney who is also an ESPN basketball broadcaster, said NCAA member schools put themselves in this position by voting “in lockstep to restrict athletes from making money all these years.”

“So there’s no difference in culpability from the University of Georgia to Marquette,” Bilas said. “They’re all equally culpable in violating federal antitrust law. So that to me should not be lost in all this, that all of them were of like mind in saying the athletes get nothing but scholarship or stipend or whatever it is.”

It will take a lot of work to find the best answer for each school within what amounts to a vastly different economic model.

At Gonzaga, for example, the men’s basketball program generated about $19.2 million in revenue for the 2022-23 season according to Education Department figures . That represented nearly 45% of that year’s overall athletics revenues ($42.9 million).

That was similar to the Atlantic 10’s Dayton, which was ranked No. 24 in the final AP Top 25 of the season . The Flyers men’s basketball program accounted for 44% of athletics revenue ($40.1 million). In the Big East, men’s basketball accounted for north of 48% of total revenues at football-free schools like Marquette ($42.6 million) and Creighton ($35 million).

By comparison, blueblood names like Duke and North Carolina (ACC), Kentucky (SEC) and Kansas (Big 12) from football-driven power conferences had men’s basketball programs accounting for no more than 29% of total revenue that exceeded roughly $138 million in each case.

At football-crazy Alabama, a men’s basketball program that was the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and reached this year’s Final Four accounted for just 10.8% of total revenue ($191.2 million) for the 2022-23 season.

“I think everybody would identify that Villanova’s investment in basketball is important at Villanova, or UConn, or whoever, and they’re going to continue to do everything they can to compete at that level,” Standiford said. “And we’ll do the same. But where does that money come from?

“I don’t think it benefits us,” Standiford added. “But I also think we’re a very unique group of schools. I don’t know how you would ever attain our status if you didn’t have it already. I think that’s what it’s going to change.”

Bilas, however, remained confident that basketball-centric programs will “make it work,” noting that athletics success can fuel school-changing growth and improvements beyond sports.

“These revenue streams are growing and they’re going to continue to grow because live sports is very valuable,” Bilas said. “It’s not just valuable on the football side, that’s the most valuable. But basketball’s really valuable. Women’s basketball, some of these other sports. So we’ll see how it comes out.

“I see all these different institutions continuing to compete at a high level, but now they’ll have to compete for talent in the economic realm.”

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Essay on History of Basketball

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Words: 674 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 674 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The origins of basketball, development as a professional sport, impact on society, in conclusion.

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