who made basketball

Basketball was created by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor, in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Quick Scoop: Who Made Basketball?

• Inventor: James Naismith.

• When: Winter of 1891.

• Where: YMCA Training School (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts.

• Why: He needed a safer indoor game to keep students active during the cold months, as football was too rough for winter gym play.

How the First Game Looked

• Equipment: A soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed 10 feet above the floor.

• Teams: Originally 9 players per side.

• Rules: Naismith wrote 13 original rules for his new game, which he first called “basket ball” (two words).

Over time, dribbling was added, peach baskets were replaced with open nets, and the game evolved into the fast-paced global sport we know today.

In short: James Naismith didn’t just coach basketball—he literally invented it.