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The first recorded basketball game in Europe took place in Paris in 1893, organized by Mel Rideout at a YMCA.

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In 1909 the first international match was held in Saint Petersburg: Mayak Saint Petersburg beat a YMCA American team

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Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909)

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Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909)

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was held in 1919 in Joinville-le-Pont, near Paris, during the Inter-Allied Games

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Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921)

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Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921)

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 1935: First European Basketball Championship 

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 1935: First European Basketball Championship 

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(EuroBasket) held in Geneva, Latvia won the inaugural title.

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the first Olympic basketball tournament was organized in the 1936 Berlin Olympics on outdoor tennis courts

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Yugoslavia and Soviet Union establish strong basketball programs.

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wins EuroBasket, basketball gains popularity in Eastern Europe.

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was held in Argentina in 1950

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USSR dominates international basketball; Modestas Paulauskas and Sergei Belov become legends

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Won its first FIBA World Championship

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USSR beats USA in a controversial Olympic final in Munich — a defining Cold War basketball moment.

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1980s: Dražen Petrović, Arvydas Sabonis, Toni Kukoč

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1980s: Dražen Petrović, Arvydas Sabonis, Toni Kukoč

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They lead a new wave of European talent.

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USSR wins Olympic gold again; Yugoslavia wins 1990 FIBA World Cup

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EuroLeague gains prominence as club competitions become more professionalized.

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Stars like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili (though Argentine, played in Europe) make global impact.

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EuroLeague Basketball Company founded, clubs gain more control over competitions

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FIBA reorganizes EuroBasket into a four-year cycle

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Europe produces major NBA stars (Dončić, Jokic, Giannis)