subject: About Leagues [print this page] There are leagues of college teams and professional teams. During the regular season-December, January and February- teams play against other teams in their leagues, and also against outside teams. In March, tournaments are held for the league winners. These include the National Collegiate, the National Invitation Tournament held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. One of the first great professional teams was named the Original Celtics. They toured the country, playing against any team, and beating most of them. They helped a lot to start professional basketball. By far the most succesful team is the Harlem Globetrotters, founded in 1927. They have traveled all over the world, and have helped to make basketball popular in other countries than the United States. Basketball is an international sport, and is played in the Olympic Games. People like to watch the Globetrotters play, because while they are making great shots and plays, they are also having fun and doing tricks to make the people laugh. When basketball started, the five members of a team had positions assigned to them-center, two forwards, and two guards. In modern basketball, all players play the entire floor. One reason is because of the increased average height of the players. Members of modern basketball teams average over six feet in height, and are almost seven-footers. Tall players have an advantage. However, some of the greatest players of all time have been short men. A basketball team consists of the following basketball player positions: two guards, two forwards and one center.
