Quick Collectibles | Vintage Basketball

Nothing inspires a player more than a coach does and should, and in the long history of the well-loved game of basketball, these coaches have done their jobs well enough to deserve accolade. Here are some of the coaches who impacted basketball history:

- Philip Douglas Jackson. Who doesn’t know him, seriously? Whether you are a seasoned NBA fan or just a curious observer on the courtside, you may have heard his name in passing. He started out his career in basketball as a professional player for the New York Knicks in 1967, then later on with the New Jersey Nets in the late 70s before retiring from professional play in 1980. He became assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls in 1987 and subsequently became its head coach in 1989. He successfully used a play known as the triangle offense while taking on a holistic, zen-style approach to coaching and eventually led the Bulls to six NBA titles, and later the Los Angeles Lakers to three. Heís been inducted to the Hall of Fame and is among the 10 greatest coaches in NBA history.

- Justin McCarthy “Sam” Barry. Now this was a coach who had not only impacted his own history in the game, but also the game itself. Heís an innovator who had lent a hand in refining the rules of basketball, as well as developing the earliest form of the triangle offense made famous by the Chicago Bulls under Phil Jackson and Tex Winter. He was responsible for the following changes in the rules of the game: (1) Eliminating the jump ball after every goal, and (2) creating the center line and the 10-second rule. He holds the record for the longest winning streak in the whole history of collegiate basketball with 40 consecutive wins against UCLA.

- James A. Naismith. He was one of the coaches who impacted basketball history, even more so than any other since heís responsible for creating this well-loved sport in the first place. He developed the game in response to an order given by the head of the Springfield YMCA Physical Education Department to keep a class of irritable teenagers preoccupied indoors during the harsh winter. He developed the original 13 basic rules of the game, which has since then been refined to what we know as basketball today. He became the first college basketball coach for the University of Kansas in 1898.

- Robert Montgomery “Bob” Knight. He is the most successful and most controversial head coach in college basketball, aptly nicknamed “The General”. He won the most number of basketball games in the NCAA Menís Division with a total of 902 wins. He refined Hank Iba’s motion offense play and used his own version in his rally for victories in 40 years of coaching college basketball. His motion offense teaches players to be disciplined and unselfish in setting up and utilizing screens to open space for a pass. He received the first Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award in 1987.

There are a lot of other names that can be included in a list of coaches who impacted basketball history, and even more are rising among the ranks.

Everyone can be a basketball player; but not everyone can be great. Being great is not just having the best jersey or basketball shorts. Being great is something that is accomplished with perseverance, drive, resourcefulness and determination. Michael Jordan said, “The game is my wife. It demands loyalty and responsibility, and it gives me back fulfillment and peace.” Michael Jordan did not just participate in the game, nor did he just play. He loved the game and put his head and heart in it.

Like him, there is a great love for basketball around the world. Most colleges, if not all, have set basketball leagues that would compete with different colleges and universities. Students join try-outs to be part of the sports they dream of.  But how did it start? Who is the person behind this amazing game? Basketball was started by James Naismith in 1891. He wanted to device a game that would use mental skill, not just brute strength. The original basketball rules compared to current game were quite different. Of course, the earliest basketball game still aimed to shoot a ball into the basket. However, dribbling was not allowed before and the way to advance the ball was to pass it to a team mate.  Still, the original basketball rules compared to the current game were quite the same in terms of punishing the fouls. Pushing or tripping the opponent and striking the ball with fist were considered fouls.

Basketball is not just limited to men. Women also attempted to join the sport originally created by and for the gents. The history of women’s basketball proves that women also excelled in this kind of sports. Women’s basketball started in 1892 by Senda Berenson. As a Physical Education instructor in Smith Colleges, she wanted her students to improve their health and be physically fit. However, since this strenuous game would give women nervous fatigue, she modified the game to make it appropriate for women. The original basketball rules compared to the current game in women’s basketball were quite different also. The early rules for women’s basketball include having a court divided in three parts where each part consisted of three players from each team. Though the rules were very different from today’s basketball game, her modified rules still made the women enthusiasts enjoy the game. Today, there are also lots of women basketball players including Rebecca Lobo, Babe Didrickson and Nera White.

Basketball really caught people by the ankle. And it seems these enthusiasts have the Achilles ankle – they are vulnerable to the influences of these basketball players. Now, many basketball enthusiasts are even spending lots of money just to attend the games of their favorite stars. Of course, their enthusiasm in the game helps these famous players (especially in NBA) become more famous. More than being a sports figure, they now dominate a huge part of the fans’ life; they become their inspiration and source of happiness. With that, the players should be mindful of what they do.