Basketball is now the second most popular sport worldwide, trailing only football and soccer in the number of participants, fans, and leagues. Its popularity is due to the fact that the game of basketball requires the most number of physical skills, making basketball players the most complete athletes. The speed, grace, and teamwork required to play the game combined with the athleticism required make it beautiful to watch and fun to play.
The United States has always been and always will be the greatest basketball nation. Although the rest of the world has been catching up with us (note the increasing number of international players in the NBA from all parts of the world), we invented it (thank you, Dr. Naismith), we perfected it (thank you, Coach Wooden, Bill Russell, Larry, Magic, Michael, Lebron, etc.), and we still have the highest concentration of excellence at all levels--high school, college, and professional.
Indiana has long been known to be basketball crazy. The image of a basketball goal on every garage, barn, or any other place you can put one in (including the governor's residence) is based, as most legends are, on a ring of truth. Indiana has always been basketball crazy. Decades before March Madness became a national trademark, Hoosier Hysteria rippled through the entire state at tourney time.
Other states can claim they are the "best" basketball state. Certainly, North Carolina does, and cases can be made for Kentucky, New York, and California. This study provides overwhelming statistical evidence and so much anecdotal support that it is undeniable that Indiana is the center of the basketball world.
