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Basketball is an American game．A man named James Naismith made it up in 1891．He wanted a game to play inside in winter．The first real game was played in 1892．
Naismith put up two baskets．There were nine men on each side．The men tried to throw the ball into the baskets．There were no holes in the bottom of the baskets．When a ball went in the baskets, it stayed there．
The game had to stop．A man had to climb up to get the ball out of the basket．It was a slow game．After a while, net baskets were used．The bottoms were cut out of the baskets．
At first, many men could play．Now only ten men play the game．There are five men on each side．Basketball today is a very fast game．
Once basketball was only played in this country．Now it is played in many lands．
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