Why Do We Love Basketball?
Basketball is ranked as the 3rd most watched sport in the world. Originating in the United States and created by Canadian-American John Naismith basketball quickly caught fire in popularity across the country. Through the years we see the United States would superstars come and go. The best players in the world were from the United States, and it took the late 90's for the rest of the world to catch up. Now there are professional basketball leagues all over the globe.
The first time most people play basketball it isn’t even for an organized team. Its going to the playground with some friends. All you need is a ball. A game of “pick up” basketball is quick and impromptu. Technically all you need is another person and you have a game of 1v1. Add another to play “taps” or “21”. If a fourth person comes then you can play a game of “2 on 2”, and so on until hopefully get enough for “5 on 5”. Just to play the game of basketball is inexpensive. You don’t need gear. Just a pair of sneakers, a ball, and the neighborhood hoop. This also help basketball players practice on their own, with very little help from a second person,
Basketball is a personal game. There are only 5 players on a team on the court at the same time, and the camera is always on them. They don’t where helmets, or gear. There is a reason Lebron James is one of the most recognizable athletes in the entire world and not just in the United States. People are able to see what these players look like constantly when they are playing. They can see their emotions, body language, and they passion. A fan feels a personal connection with the athletes. So much that a good portion of fans root for players opposed to an organization.
It also can be a mental game. Not referring to “X’s and O’s” but the mental battle a player has against an opponent. Basketball players are usually defended by the same player for the entire game. Cameras can pick up trash talk between players. This creates a game within the game almost. Rivalries amongst players can last for entire careers. Fans have been given these rivalries for years whether it be Magic vs Larry, Lebron vs Durant, or the three-way dance between Kareem, Russell, and Wilt the NBA gives us contests between some of the greatest basketball players of all time which is truly a “Clash of Giants”.
College Basketball gives the viewer a different kind of atmosphere. Arena’s smaller but much rowdier and louder. March Madness sweeps the nation, giving birth to office pools all across the country. People who don’t even watch basketball fill one out just to “get in on the action”, or so they have something to root for. Once in a while we have a player like Zion come along and take the country by storm but there is another type of story that people love college basketball for and it comes in the month of March, the “Cinderella Story”. Even though the clocks eventually strike midnight for 99.7% of them they are fun to follow and watch. We have been exposed to these magical runs before from George Mason’s Final Four run in 2006, Loyola Chicago in 2018, or Jimmy V’s Wolfpack defeating Houston’s “Phi Slamma Jamma” to win the National Title we love a good underdog story.
The needs to play a game of basketball are inexpensive but the wants for the shoes can burn a hole through your wallet. From Nike and the Air Jordan's’ to today where it seems like everybody has their own sneaker, these shoes are a part of basketballs culture. The shoes are meant for playing a game but are worn anywhere. Fans can wear and show off their favorite players new shoe out at a social gathering. Basketball is the only sport that can pull this off. No other sport has a connection to fans through an accessory like basketball shoes.
Thunderous dunks, ball handles that make defenders fall over, and a buzzer beater for the win. These are memories that we remember our favorite players doing and even ourselves (if we were lucky enough). These moments whether we were on the right or wrong side has a lasting impact. Basketball gives us personal connections with literal giants that walk among us. Peaking into their world allowing us to share their moments of historic victory, and heartbreaking loss. From the kid going to the playground for the first time, or Michael Jordan. Basketball has a lasting impact on us all.
