Basketball in the United States Basketball in the United States Of those Americans citing their favorite sport, basketball is ranked second (counting amateur levels) behind American football. However, in regard to money the NBA is ranked third in popularity. More Americans play basketball than any other team sport, according to the National Sporting Goods Association, with over 26 million Americans playing basketball. Basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian physical education teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world's premier men's professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. It contains 30 teams
Jason Naismith Jason Naismith Jason Naismith (born 25 June 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer, who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Peterborough United. Naismith has previously played for St Mirren, Greenock Morton, Cowdenbeath and Ross County. He has also represented Scotland in youth internationals, including one game at under-21 level. Naismith was born in Paisley. A member of St Mirren's under-19 squad, Naismith made his first team debut as a substitute on 25 February 2012 against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League. In May 2012, Naismith was loaned out to Greenock Morton for six months. In doing so