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Sport History

Basketball

Origins and the sport today:

Basketball was invented by Canadian in Massachusetts in 1891. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was established in Geneva in 1932 and the first world championships were held in 1950.

The sport has grown to be hugely successful, with more than 450 million people playing basketball worldwide.

Dominated by the USA at world level, the success of the country’s National Basketball Association (NBA) has been a huge factor in the sport’s global explosion. The widespread recruitment of players from around the world has only added to its appeal.

Professionals first took part in the Olympic Games in 1992 in Barcelona. There are well established professional leagues throughout the world, including a EuroLeague, a Chinese league (CBA) and an Australian league (NBL).

Basketball at the Commonwealth Games:

Basketball is an optional sport at the Commonwealth Games, meaning it is up to the host federation to decide whether it should be on the program.

The sport has a brief Commonwealth history, having only previously appeared at the 2006 Games. Australia won gold, in both men’s and women’s competitions, while New Zealand and England walked away with silver and bronze medals, respectively. Nigeria just missed out on a podium spot, finishing fourth in both competitions.

Basketball in Australia:

Basketball is one of the most popular team participation sports in the country. Basketball Australia figures put the number at one million men, women, boys and girls - a larger participation base than cricket, rugby league and rugby union.

The National Basketball League (NBL) is the top level men’s league and began in 1979, with the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) starting in 1981. The sport struggled in the late 1990s and shifted to a summer season format (October-April) to avoid competition with football codes.

The Boomers and the Opals are the men’s and women’s national teams. The Opals have won three Olympic Games silver medals (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) and two bronze medals (Atlanta 1996 and London 2012), while the Boomers have not won a medal at the Olympics.

Andrew BOGUT is the most famous Australian name in the sport globally. He has played in America’s NBA since 2005 and won an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. However, he broke his leg in March 2017 while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Patty MILLS has competed in the NBA since 2009, first with the Portland Trail Blazers and then the , with whom he won an NBA title in 2014.

Cairns Convention Centre Basketball (CCV) Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre (TEN) Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCE)

Matthew DELLAVEDOVA has been playing in the NBA since 2013. He had three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and won an NBA title in 2016. DELLAVEDOVA then moved to the Milwaukee Bucks in a four-year deal worth a reported US$38 million ($51.7m).

In Australia, Andrew GAZE has been described as the greatest basketball player in the country’s history. He played in the NBA in the 1990s - with the Washington Bullets and San Antonio Spurs - and was also the first Australian to play professionally in Europe, with Italian side Udine. He was appointed coach of the in 2016.