Basketball's Tall Tales Did you know that basketball was originally played with a soccer ball?

This fact may surprise many fans of the sport today.

Back in the late 1800s, when Dr. James Naismith invented basketball, he used a soccer ball for the first game. The unique choice of equipment stemmed from the need for a ball that could be easily handled and passed.

The soccer ball's larger size and bulkier shape presented a challenge, leading Dr. Naismith to develop specific rules to accommodate this unconventional choice.

This intriguing piece of basketball history highlights the sport's humble beginnings and the innovative thinking that shaped it into the beloved game we know today.