Mu 1891, Mmarekani James Naismith adapanga basketball. Panthawiyo ankaphunzitsa ku YMCA International Training School ku Springfield, Massachusetts. Popeza derali lili ndi mapichesi ambiri, ana kuno amakonda kusewera mpirawo mumtanga wa mapichesi. Izi zinamupangitsa kukhala ndi chidwi chopanga masewera a basketball kutengera momwe masewera ena a mpira amakhalira monga mpira wamiyendo ndi hockey.

Poyamba, masewera a basketball anali osavuta, opanda zoletsa pa kukula kwa bwalo kapena chiwerengero cha anthu omwe akutenga nawo mbali. Osewerawa amagawidwa m'magulu awiri ofanana omwe amaima mbali zosiyana za bwalo. Woweruza akaponya mpira pakati pa bwalo, osewera ochokera m'magulu onse awiri amathamangira m'bwalo kuti akaugwire ndikuyesera kuuponya m'basiketi ya mdani. Chifukwa chakuti basiketi ya pichesi ili ndi pansi, mpirawo umatsala m'basiketi ukamenyedwa, ndipo anthu ayenera kukwera makwerero apadera kuti achotse mpirawo.

Poyamba, masewera a basketball anali osavuta, opanda zoletsa pa kukula kwa bwalo kapena chiwerengero cha anthu omwe akutenga nawo mbali. Osewerawa amagawidwa m'magulu awiri ofanana omwe amaima mbali zosiyana za bwalo. Woweruza akaponya mpira pakati pa bwalo, osewera ochokera m'magulu onse awiri amathamangira kubwalo kuti akaugwire ndikuyesera kuuponya m'basiketi ya mdani. Chifukwa chakuti basiketi ya pichesi ili ndi pansi, mpirawo umatsala m'basiketi ukamenyedwa, ndipo anthu ayenera kukwera makwerero apadera kuti achotse mpirawo. Kuphatikiza apo, Naismith adapanga lamulo lopanda ungwiro la mpikisano wokhala ndi zigawo 13 zomwe zimaletsa kuthamanga ndi mpira, kugwira anthu, kukankhira anthu, kugwetsa anthu, kumenya anthu, ndi zina zotero. Izi zidawonjezera kwambiri chisangalalo cha masewera a basketball ndipo zidakopa anthu ambiri kuti achite nawo masewerawa, zomwe zidapangitsa kuti basketball ifalikire mwachangu ku United States konse.