Why is the game of basketball so popular?
Basketball attracts a huge following in the US and the rest of the world. More than 200 basketball-playing countries compete against each other. The Olympic basketball title is one of the greatest sports honors a country can hope to achieve. The popularity of basketball on the Olympic stage has helped make it the second most popular team sport in the world, just behind soccer.
Easy to play
Worldwide, more than 300 million people enjoy playing basketball. This is partly because basketball requires minimal equipment and few players. All you need to play is a pair of basketball shoes, a basketball, a hoop and the will to compete. Just dribble a ball on a court and you can practice on your own. With another player, you can play a competitive game of 1-on-1, and as more people join, you can play 2-on-2, 3-on-3 and so on.
Exciting finishes
Competitive basketball can be an exciting game. When the game clock is running down in a close game, it often comes down to the last shot. This happens a lot in basketball played at high schools, colleges and the professional level. Because there are so many dramatic finishes, it's easy for newcomers to become hardcore fans of the game.
Dream Team 1992
The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona were one of the most important moments for the sport. The US was determined to restore its dominance in Olympic basketball. To do this, it sent a team of NBA stars to take on the rest of the world. The team consisted of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and a number of other big stars. Instead of clashing egos, the stars played fantastically together, and the Americans rolled over everyone and won the gold medal. The international basketball world was impressed by the performance of the "Dream Team," which made basketball popular again.
