Is basketball really as popular as people say it is?

Caylin Joyce and Cayleigh Imprescia • February 26, 2024

Basketball, the five on five player sport where the players treat the ball as if it were gold, is popular all around the world, but is it really as popular as people say it is?

Basketball is well-known around the world, from the USA to Australia where it is known as netball. We have the NBA, college league, Oakmont Spartans, etc, but we put to the test of if basketball is favored throughout Oakmont Regional High School.

Research

After passing out plenty of surveys throughout Oakmont we tallied up the results. With an even number of 30%, shockingly those particular students were the few that do play basketball whether it was in or outside of school. Along with that info, obviously 70% of students don’t play basketball.

Although basketball doesn’t have a lot of love in Oakmont, football came in first with 44% of students playing. In a close second there are 39% of students that play soccer. Lastly, for a tie for third place, baseball/softball and cheer leading both ended up having 32% of students that play. Besides that, 27% of students don’t play any sport at all.

Basketballs’ History and Fun Facts

Basketball originated here in Massachusetts in Springfield
Originated on December 1, 1891
The creator of basketball was a man named James Naismith (1861-1939)
58.3% of people still claim to this day that Micheal Jordan is the greatest of all time while an even 33% of people claim LeBron James has taken over that role, and lastly a 6.8% of people say Kobe Bryant was during the time he was alive
Basketball is the most popular sport in America with the Philippines in a close second, and Australia not to far behind
Back when basketball first originated, fist fights were very popular unlike modern basketball

About the Contributors

Caylin Joyce, Reporter

Caylin Joyce is part of the class of 2027 at Oakmont Regional High School. This is her first year being part of The Oakmonitor. Caylin works as a babysitter for multiple people. In her free time, she likes to go on walks or be with her sister and nephews. She enjoys working out and occasionally boxing. Caylin loves to spend time with friends, and watching greys anatomy. She is excited to learn more things while being a part of journalism.

Cayleigh Imprescia, Reporter

Cayleigh Imprescia is part of the class of 2027 at Oakmont Regional High School. This is her second year being part of The Oakmonitor. In her free time, she likes to go on walks or hangout with her friends and family. She enjoys swimming in the summer, going to the beach, baking/cooking, and going to fun theme parks and different places. Cayleigh loves to spend time watching movies, hanging out with her boyfriend, playing games, going to the beach, shopping, and going to new places. She is excited to learn more things while being a part of The Oakmonitor club, like getting to be a better writer, getting to know new people, and having a fun time in her class.