Basketball was created in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by a Canadian physical education instructor, James Naismith, as a less injury prone-sport. The game became very popular very fast as the 20th century advanced, first in America and then it spread throughout the world.
The game of basketball was created by Dr. James Naismith in December 1891 in Springfield Massachusetts, to condition the young athletes during cold months. The basket was originally a peach basket and the ball was a more soccer style. He published thirteen rules for the game. He divided his class of eighteen into two teams of nine each, then he set about and tought them the basic rules of his game. The main objective of the game was to throw the basketball into the fruits basket that was nailed onto the lower railing of the gym balcony. Everytime a point was scored, by throwing the ball in the basket, the game was stopped so the janitor could bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. After a while, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first public game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_basketball