Adjacent to downtown Springfield, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the sport – the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is a shrine to the game’s greatest players, coaches and teams. The Hall is the centerpiece of a shopping mall-esque complex that features shops and eateries, offering fans an all-in-one museum experience as they walk a path through basketball history.

Although the sport was invented in Springfield by its progenitor James Naismith in 1891, the Hall of Fame wasn’t founded until 1959. The inaugural class of inductees that year was made up of 15 legends, including coaches like Naismith and Phog Allen, one his pupils.

The first brick-and-mortar version of the Hall opened in 1968 at Springfield College, although it would move into a building it could call its own in 1985. Situated along the Connecticut River just across the highway from downtown, this was an ideal location to showcase the sport and its champions. In 2002, the Hall would expand with a move across the parking lot to their current futuristic-looking home, featuring a gigantic steel-plated rotunda designed to emulate a basketball on the outside and a quasi-arena on the inside.

Appropriately called “Center Court”, this cavernous space – around which each level of the museum revolves – is dominated by a full-sized hardwood court for visitors to hoop on. Folks can shoot around or play a pickup game, and kids can also try their hand at some mini-games. This area is actually the last stop as you work your way through the Hall, with the open-to-below views of the court teasing fans as they circle around the higher levels of the building.

The other main draw is, of course, the Hall of Fame itself. A peaceful space complete with moody lighting, this part of the museum highlights each class of inductees enshrined in the Hall from 1959 to the present day. Interactive touchscreens in the center offer visitors in-depth information on the inductees.

Among the other sights to see are exhibitions covering the sport’s pioneering women, college basketball and domestic and international professional leagues aside from the NBA. There’s also a full exhibit dedicated to Kobe Bryant, who died in a tragic helicopter crash in 2020.

Another special spot in the Hall is The Vault. Unveiled as a shrine to the Boston Celtics, who play 90 miles down the Mass Pike, this area features memorabilia and clips that tell the story of this beloved team. Although initially designed to celebrate the winningest NBA franchise – with the Celtics having clinched 18 league titles – the exhibition will eventually rotate to feature other storied franchises in the future.

The Basketball Hall of Fame, certainly a must-stop for sports fans of any inclination, is an informative and engaging museum that’s entertaining for visitors of all ages. The carefully crafted displays and spreads make you feel as if every team, every player and every coach who has left a mark on the game of basketball truly has its place in Springfield.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: 1000 Hall of Fame Ave, Springfield, MA 01105