Who Invented Basketball

The man who invented basketball was Canadian- born James Naismith. He was born on November 6, 1861 in Almonte, Ontario. James was the oldest son of John and Margaret Naismith, who were Scottish immigrants. Sadly, James lost both his parents to Typhoid Fever and was orphaned at only ten years old. His grandmother continued to raise James and his siblings until she died in 1873. Later, they were in the care of an uncle.

In 1883, Jim Naismith began his four-year Bachelor of Arts program at McGill University in Montreal. There he joined the Rugby team and participated in gymnastics. By his junior year, his athletic involvement was winning him awards. Jim was involved in the Literary Society and was even a member of the choir. After four years of successful schooling, he was placed on the Honor List, passing his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and Hebrew. Top ten in his class, he graduated on April 30, 1887.

After graduating he went on to enroll in the theological school that was affiliated to McGill University. At the Presbyterian College he became a physical education instructor to finance his continuing education. His theological professors were not happy about his love of sports. Jim played lacrosse and rugby, which they considered tools of the devil. Luckily, the man who invented basketball didn’t agree with his colleagues’ outlook on sports. He continued to be involved in athletics. In 1890, after obtaining his diploma at the Presbyterian College he left for America. He went to Springfield, Massachusetts where he trained at the YMCA and taught various courses.

At that time, indoor sports consisted of gymnastics and calisthenics. Outdoor sports, such as football were played and were popular. But, there was a gap when football season ended and baseball season began. The superintendent, Luther Gulick was concerned that men in the indoor program at the YMCA were getting restless. After losing two instructors who no longer wanted to teach the indoor program, Gulick asked James Naismith to take over. Gulick also challenged James and the others in the Physical Education department to come up with game that could be played indoors. They were given two weeks to come up with a new game. James Naismith became the man who invented basketball.

The Game Of Basketball

 The man who invented basketball came up with 13 rules. The first games were played with nine players on each side. A soccer ball was used. Players were awarded points for the times the soccer ball was tossed into a peach basket. Basketball became a big success. In 1893, iron hoops and hammock-type baskets were introduced. It was still necessary to remove the ball from the hoop every time, though. Open-ended nets didn’t get introduced into the game for another ten years. James Naismith only played the game he invented twice. He played in a public match, in 1892 at the YMCA Training School and in 1898 at the University of Kansas. He said he just didn’t get around to playing. James Naismith passed away on November 28, 1939.

Although he did not get to see the worldwide popularity that the game enjoys today, the man who invented basketball did get to see basketball become an official Olympic sport in 1936. That year the United States defeated Canada to win the gold medal in Berlin.

Since then, basketball has enjoyed other milestones. Wheelchair Basketball began in 1947 and has become a competitively played game since the 1970’s. The first National Basketball Association all-star game was played in 1951 at Boston Garden. A game that was started in a YMCA gymnasium has grown into a sport that more than 300 million people play around the world.

Who Invented