“I felt this was a crucial moment in my life as it meant success or failure of my attempt to hold the interest of the class and devise a new game,”
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James Naismith
James Naismith was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, Christian chaplain, and sports coach, best known as the inventor of the game of basketball.
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science · Inventor of basketball (1861–1939) · inventor · basketball coach · writer · cleric · physician · head coach · basketball player · also James Naismith, Narmal, James "Doc" Naismith, Doc Naismith, Naismith
Born 6 November 1861 · Died 28 November 1939 · Q188962
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2026· 2 entries
“Before I could pull them apart, one boy was knocked out, several had black eyes, and one had a dislocated shoulder.”
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2021· 1 entry
Google placed a Google Doodle celebrating James Naismith on its home page in 18 countries, on five continents
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2013· 1 entry
Naismith was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Topeka
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2010· 1 entry
To persuade moneyed alumni to consider bidding on and hopefully winning the document at auction to give it to the University of Kansas
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2007· 1 entry
Awarded FIBA Hall of Fame (2007).
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2003· 1 entry
“Nothin'g sa'ys q'uality fantas'y l'ike misuse'd apos'tro'phes.”
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1999· 1 entry
Awarded Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame (1999).
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1991· 1 entry
Postage stamps commemorated the centennial of basketball's invention: four stamps were issued by Canada Post, including one with Naismith's name; one stamp was issued by the US Postal Service
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1977· 1 entry
At the age of 98 and is buried with her first husband, Frank B
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1976· 1 entry
On the advice of the national Historic Sites and Monuments Board
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1941· 1 entry
The National Academy of Kinesiology (née American Academy of Physical Education) recognized Naismith (posthumously) for creating the game of basketball by granting him their "Creative Award"
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1939· 2 entries
Died 1939-11-28.
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Naismith suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage
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1938· 1 entry
And 1939, he would receive honorary doctorates from both institutions
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1937· 2 entries
Naismith played a role in the formation of the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball, which later became the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
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And on June 11, 1939, he married Florence Kincaid
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1936· 2 entries
“And the whole thing started with a couple of peach baskets I put up in a gym 48 years ago.”
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Women's basketball became an Olympic event in Montreal during the 1976 Summer Olympics
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1935· 1 entry
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (founded by Naismith's pupil Phog Allen) collected money so the 74-year-old Naismith could witness the introduction of basketball into the official Olympic sports program of
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1923· 2 entries
With Naismith leading the new 40-member fraternity as "Chapter Counselor"
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Naismith, intending to bring a SigEp Chapter to KU, was initiated as a SigEp member by national office of the fraternity
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1910· 1 entry
Patrolled the Mexican border for four months in 1916, traveled to France, and published two books (A Modern College in 1911 and Essence of a Healthy Life in 1918)
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1909· 1 entry
Naismith's duties at Kansas were redefined as a professorship; he served as the de facto athletic director at Kansas for much of the early 20th century
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1904· 2 entries
Naismith discouraged him: "You can't coach basketball; you just play it
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And as an official event at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, and to see the birth of the National Invitation Tournament (1938) and the NCAA Tournament (1939)
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1898· 3 entries
Seven years after Naismith drafted the sport's first official rules
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Joined the University of Kansas faculty at Lawrence
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Naismith became the first basketball coach of University of Kansas
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1894· 1 entry
Naismith married Maude Sherman in Springfield, Massachusetts
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1891· 2 entries
Designed basketball while teaching at the International YMCA Training School
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Considered to be basketball's founding document, were auctioned at Sotheby's, New York, in December 2010
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1861· 2 entries
In Almonte, Canada West, Province of Canada (now part of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada) to Scottish parents
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Born 1861-11-06.
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