Question

the jump shot: a game - changing move
when dr. james naismith created the game of basketball at springfield college in 1891,
no one predicted the soaring jump shots such as michael jordan and kareem abdul - jabbar
would one day make famous. none of these players were around keeping both feet
on the ground, well, for the most part. in fact, basketball was a sedate game with low
scoring in its early years. in the 1930s, when university of missouri player john
griffith tried an over - the - head jump shot while scoring—his coach pulled him out of the
game. however, after watching cooper perform the move in practices, the coach
reluctantly had a change of heart and allowed cooper to use the jump shot at games.
meanwhile, similar situations were taking place at other colleges. as a result of the
boldness of these early innovators, the jump shot caught on and
became an integral part of the game.
what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
because john coopers jump shot was an eye - catching move, his coach
reluctantly allowed him to use it during games.
because innovators like john cooper challenged the conventions of
basketball, the jump shot became a popular move.

Explanation:

The passage discusses how John Cooper's jump - shot, an innovative move, initially faced resistance but became popular as it challenged basketball conventions.

Answer:

Because innovations like John Cooper challenged the conventions of basketball, the jump shot became a popular move.