basketball is today played by more than 300 million people worldwide, making it one of the most popular team sports. in north america, basketball has produced some of the most-admired athletes of the 20th century. polls conducted by espn and the associated press named basketball player michael jordan respectively first and second greatest north american athlete of the 20th century, and both polls featured fellow basketballers wilt chamberlain (of ku, like naismith) and bill russell in the top 20.