What would James Naismith say today about the game he invented?
Statue of James Naismith in his hometown of Almonte, Ontario.
The crisp cold air of late fall always reminds me that basketball season is underway. It was something I looked forward to during the decades someone in my immediate family played or coached.
I miss the feeling of anticipation and excitement I felt when I had a personal connection to a team, but like many others I have found teams I enjoy rooting for.
Following a basketball team’s season makes it much easier to get through the dark days of winter.
But that was one of the reasons basketball was invented!
It was 130 years ago, during the 1891-92 school year, that James Naismith invented the game of basketball when his professor challenged the class to come up with a game that could be played inside in the winter. A game that would be easy to learn and interesting to play.
You can read about Naismith and the invention of basketball on the Springfield College website. There are a couple particularly enjoyable things you’ll find:
The 13 Original Rules of Basket Ball
A clip from a 1939 radio interview! Listen as Naismith describes why and how the game started, including the need for more rules than he anticipated.
Naismith would likely be amazed at how the rules have evolved as the game became more complex. I think he would be happy to see how it has become a game of strategy. A game where players develop individual as well as team skills that provide lifelong benefits. A game that women also enjoy playing.
But I wonder what he would think about the influence of money, the inequities of opportunity, and the frequency of injuries that have all become a big part of this sport with such humble beginnings.
And I hope he would see there is still value in playing, and basketball is still an enjoyable game to play and watch.
Because, in the radio interview, you can hear his enthusiasm for the game in his voice.
At the end of the interview, Naismith reflects on how he met his professor’s challenge and says, “…it just goes to show what you can do if you have to.”
It’s a lesson those of us who have played the game are lucky to have learned.
Learn more
Where Basketball Was Invented: The History of Basketball, Springfield College website
The James Naismith Reader: Basketball in His Own Words, by James Naismith, Douglas Stark, editor, University of Nebraska Press.
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