What were the origins of basketball?
James Naismith, a gym instructor in New England, invented basketball in 1891 as an alternative to football. The original basketball game involved throwing a ball into a peach basket. Since then, the game has progressed to become one of the most popular sports in the world.
<START_INST>What were the origins of basketball?<END_INST><START_CTX><END_CTX><START_A>James Naismith, a gym instructor in New England, invented basketball in 1891 as an alternative to football. The original basketball game involved throwing a ball into a peach basket. Since then, the game has progressed to become one of the most popular sports in the world.<END_A>