Who is the father of basketball, James Naismith? All the facts and details

The father of basketball, James Naismith, as he was and is still famously known, was a physical educator, physician, and sports coach best known as a basketball inventor and to top it all off, a Christian chaplain. He founded the University of Kansas basketball program and wrote the original basketball hand-rule book.

He saw basketball reach high heights, like the Olympics in 1904 and NCCA in 1938. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, is named in his honour as he was an inaugural inductee in 1959.

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Father of basketball

His invention in the winter of 1891 earned him the name of the father of basketball due to his creation of the indoor game in an attempt to tame a rowdy class sport-wise.

James Naismith's early life

He was the second child of Mr John and Mrs Margaret Naismith, Scottish immigrants. He helped his parents in farm labour alongside engaging in games such as catch, hide and seek and his favourite game of all time, duck of the rock.

Later his parents died, and he had to live with his uncle and aunt, where he continued his education till his fame. Being a Presbyterian minister, he is also remembered for being a Freemason.

James Naismith's education

James attended Bennie's Corner Grade School for his primary education, Almonte High School for his secondary education and McGill University for his higher studies. While in University, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Physical education.

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However, he attended other institutions like The Presbyterian College, Montreal, where he pursued an education in theology and Springfield College, YMCA of Denver, and the University of Kansas, where he served as an instructor, lecturer, coach and chaplain.

James Naismith's family

On June 20, 1894, James married his wife, Maude Evelyn Sherman (1870-1937), in Massachusetts. The duo had five children, who were, Margaret Mason Stanley (1895-1976), Helen Carolyn Dodd (1897-1980), John Edwin (1900-1896), Maude Dawe Ann (1904-1972) and James Sherman (1913-1972).

Two years after the death of his wife, he married his second wife, Florence B. Kincaid, Dr Frank B. Kancaid's first wife. However, no child was born as a result of this union.

Who is considered the father of basketball?

James Naismith is the father of basketball following his discovery of the game in 1891 while serving as a faculty member at Springfield YMCA.

What did James Naismith invent?

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Naismith invented an indoor game that would provide an athletic experience to a rowdy class in Springfield school under the orders of Dr Luther Gulick during a harsh winter. He was given 14 days to think of a game and used the popular sports at that time like rugby, lacrosse, soccer, football, hockey and baseball as his points of reference.

To begin with, he decided that the big soft soccer ball was the safest for the sport, then chose a hand pass as a means of playing contrary to the early games and lastly placing the goal above the players' head to reduce body contact, just like his favourite childhood game of duck on a rock.

He then asked the janitor to bring him boxes to act as the goals but was instead brought for peach baskets, which resulted in the game being named basketball.

James Naismith's age

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He was born on November 6, 1861, in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian-American died in his home, Lawrence, at 78 years on November 28, 1939. This was nine days after being diagnosed with a significant brain haemorrhage, just eight months after the birth of the NCCA basketball championship.

James Naismith's awards

In memory of Dr James, a trophy was skillfully sculpted by Marty C. Dawe of Atlanta and was first awarded to UCLA's Lew Alcindor in 1969. It has been cited in the years after that to teams and players with unique basketball talent.

James Naismith's achievements

The Doctor is remembered by many communities for his contributions to society. His achievements include:

• Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
• Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame
• Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
• Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame
• Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame
• Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame
• McGill University Sports Hall of Fame
• International Basketball (FIBA) Hall of Fame

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James Naismith's quotes

The sports figure, in all his wisdom, left behind some quotes which he will be remembered, some of which include:

"Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideas."

"The invention of basketball was not an accident. It was developed to meet a need. Those boys would not simply play 'Drop the Handkerchief."

"I am sure that no man can derive more pleasure from money or power than I do from seeing a pair of basketball goals in some out-of-the-way place."

"Basketball does not build character; it reveals it."

"I want to leave the world a better place for me, having been here."

"In case of dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field."

Thanks to innovation, the father of basketball has left an excellent sport for future generations to venture in and improve their lives. Despite the sport being played perhaps better than how it was played before, we all cannot help but appreciate the impact of the sport in this generation.

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