Basketball is an individual sport where two teams, usually of five players each, against each other on a flat rectangular floor, fight for the advantage of winning the game with a series of shoot-outs, with the objective of scoring the most points to win. The sport has gained enormous popularity around the world and there are many different forms of basketball used for this purpose, including American Basketball, European basketball, Australian basketball and also the more popular Japanese basketball. The sport can be played with or without shoes, known as “rag-time” or “pitch-and-roll”. However, the most common types of basketball games are played with basketball shoes, designed specifically for this purpose. There are two distinct types of shoes worn by NBA players, with each having its own unique style and design.
One of the most famous shoes worn by NBA players is called the “Spalding” basketball shoe, named after its inventor, Tony Spalding, a renowned basketball player for the Boston Celtics. The first basketballs since the 1950’s were manufactured using traditional materials, such as leather and canvas, making them extremely durable. However, many changes have been made to the basketball shoe since they were first introduced, with new materials and styles being introduced.
Today’s modern basketball shoe uses synthetic leather and polyurethane to create a high performing basketball shoe, with air pockets in strategic places to aid the fitting of the shoes. They are available in a wide range of colours, sizes and designs, allowing a great choice for every person. Two main styles of basketballs since they began are the half-court set up, where one player sits on the side closest to the basket, and the free throw line, where two players sit opposite each other on the court to form a circle and shoot the basketballs through the hoops. Each style of basketball is designed to give the best performance possible, for both players and spectators. However, there are some special rules governing the game, such as touching or holding the ball too long by sliding your feet along the floor.