A great place for ball sports lovers – we visited the Hungarian Basketball Museum

The history of basketball in our country dates back more than 110 years, and the exhibition traces the history of basketball to the present day, with the greatest figures, events and precious relics of the sport. Norbert Lugossy, curator of the Hungarian Basketball Association, and Dezső Dobor, sports reporter, were responsible for the compilation of the permanent exhibition. The exhibition has a lot of interesting facts about the most important figures in Hungarian basketball history, famous champion teams, national teams and their achievements. The exhibits and related information are arranged chronologically and by major themes, highlighting for example the 1955 European Championship, which was won by the Hungarian national basketball team. There is also a special section on the history of women’s basketball, where you can meet some of the sport’s most prominent female figures and even get a glimpse of the minutes of the first ever women’s national team match.

Former Hungarian basketball players, their families and basketball clubs have made a very significant contribution to the exhibition. Important memorabilia and relics have come from many sources, paving the way for basketball’s past in our country, and you can tell that this personality is really palpable when you walk through the exhibition. You can see never-before-seen curiosities such as the original minutes of the European Championship final of the Hungarian men’s team from 1955, or the shoes of our only Hungarian NBA basketball player, Kornél Dávid, in which he first conquered the court for the Chicago Bulls. You can also admire almost all the medals of Ágnes Németh, a former national team basketball player, which she personally donated to the museum. A lot of effort has also been put into collecting the earliest artefacts, even from before the World War, such as a rulebook published 100 years ago, and a number of never-before-seen videos and audio recordings.

The exhibition has been put together with a strong emphasis on interactivity, which makes it really easy to immerse yourself in this journey through basketball history. At different points in the exhibition, touch-screen knowledge base interfaces allow you to gather information at your own pace and learn through play, while video and audio recordings can be immersed in the exhibition using the earphones. But the fun doesn’t stop there! We can also put ourselves to the test! If we think we are as fit as our country’s top athletes, we can compare ourselves to the silhouette of former basketball player Kornél Dávid and see how tall he is at 210 cm, but we can also practice our reaction time and hand-eye coordination with interactive game elements specially designed for the exhibition.

The medals, trophies, cups, medals and awards on display in the museum prove that there is truly something to be proud of in the past and present of Hungarian basketball. Whether you are a serious basketball fan or a casual sports enthusiast, you are sure to discover a new bond with the sport!