The first basketball hoops were peach baskets without an opening in the bottom. Referees had to retrieve the ball from the basket following a scoring play by climbing a ladder

Prior to 1923, basketball teams could choose which player would shoot a free throw after a foul

NBA players run the equivalent of four miles during a game

For nine years following 1966, slam dunks were illegal

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team

Until 1929, a basketball game was played using a soccer ball