You sure did come a long way. The first form of Basketball started in 1891 when James Naismith, a Presbyterian minister, was instructed to lead a physical education class at the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Basketball in America: A History) He nailed boxes, or peach baskets, to walls on opposite sides of an indoor gym and having the players toss the ball in the basket. He was given about 2 weeks to invent a sport that could be played inside, but also involved physical activity and bonding.