The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is the sport's central shrine, named after the Canadian-American gym instructor who invented the game in Springfield in 1891. The current building on West Columbus Avenue, opened in 2002, is a dramatic glass sphere beside the Connecticut River that you can see from the highway.
Inside, the collection covers the full history of the sport from its invention through to the present NBA era. Inductees include players, coaches, teams, and contributors — the Hall represents international basketball as well as the American game. There are shooting practice areas, a replica of the first court, and extensive multimedia installations covering the careers of the inducted athletes. The shop is large and well-stocked for fans. Allow two to three hours.