Now, basketball is one of the most-recognized games on the planet. Its stars are larger-than-life and command major media attention no matter where they go.
However, it wasn't always this way. There was a time when basketball wasn't even a sport. It was merely an idea for a game.
The idea belonged to Dr. James Naismith. And today, we're taking a look at the man behind the game of basketball.
The Early Life of Dr. James Naismith
James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861 in Almonte, Ont. A small lumber town in the midst of the Canadian wilderness, Almonte was not an easy place to live.
Both of Naismith's parents died when he was young, succumbing to typhoid fever when it ran through town. Naismith and his siblings were adopted by their grandparents.
His childhood was similar to many who lived well outside the city. He spent many hours outside with the other children in town, playing and creating games. One such game was called 'Duck on a Rock.'
With origins dating back to medieval times, Duck on a Rock is a game in which players attempt to knock a small rock off of a larger stone while throwing their own at it. Unless someone had exceptional aim (which is difficult to have when throwing an irregular stone), you had to arc your throw to knock off the rock.
Naismith would later explain that this game and the arced throwing motion became a sort of inspiration for basketball's jump shot.
Despite his modest country upbringing, Naismith excelled in academics and athletics. He enrolled at McGill University in Montreal in 1883, earning a B.A. in Physical Education and playing everything from rugby to gymnastics.
After spending a short time as the athletic director of McGill University, Naismith accepted a position in 1890 at the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Mass.
There, he worked closely with Luther Halsey Gulick. Gulick, a pioneer in physical education, asked Naismith to design an indoor game that would keep athletes in shape during the brutally cold Massachusetts winters.
It was no easy task.
Rugby and football were the most popular sports at that time and both were deemed too dangerous to be played inside. Naismith was given two weeks to design a game for his 18 students, with the goal being to create a game with fewer injuries and a greatest emphasis on teamwork.
The Birth of Basketball: How It All Began
On Dec. 21, 1891, Naismith introduced his new game to his students. He used two peach baskets nailed to the gymnasium balcony (each about 10 feet high) and a soccer ball. There were about a dozen rules to the game, but its most standout feature was the use of a vertical goal.
The first ever game ended with a 1–0 final score, but it was clear the game had plenty of potential.
Among the original rules for the game:
- No running with the ball
- No physical contact to members of the opposing team
- The ball must be thrown, not carried
- Basket is 10 feet high
It doesn't take long to see that dribbling was not allowed in this early version. That's because it wouldn't emerge until years later when players began to learn how to bounce the ball while moving.
The Spread of Basketball After Its Invention
It didn't take long for the game to take off, however. Over the next 12 months it spread like wildfire throughout YMCA networks across the nation. By 1893 it was being played at Smith College and by 1900 it was a staple in high school and collegiate athletics.
Unlike most inventors, Naismith didn't seek patents or trademarks for his game. He viewed basketball as a gift to society, not a commercial enterprise. He would often comment that he was thrilled to see how the game evolved beyond his original vision.
In 1898, Naismith accepted a position at the University of Kansas, where he founded the men's basketball program. He would coach the Jayhawks for almost a decade, but he remains the only coach in Kansas history with a sub-.500 record.
Naismith's legacy at Kansas was his ability to mentor players and students. Famously, he connected with Forrest Allen, who Kansas fans call 'Phog' and credit as being one of the best basketball coaches in history.
Phog Allen would go on to win 590 games with the Jayhawks.
Naismith served in World War I as a volunteer chaplain and physical educator with the YMCA and the Canadian military. At one point he traveled to France to oversee physical education for soldiers. Even there, basketball was played among troops.
By the 1920s basketball was booming and was catching on worldwide. It made its Olympic debut in 1936 and Naismith attended as a special guest in Berlin.
The 13 Original Rules of Basketball
According to the official Team USA basketball site, these are the original 13 rules for the game of basketball:
- The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
- The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).
- A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.
- The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.
- No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.
- A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3,4, and such as described in Rule 5.
- If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).
- A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
- When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.
- The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
- The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
- The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.
- The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Who Was Dr. James Naismith? A Deep Dive on the Man Who Invented Basketball.
