Who was James Naismith?
Q: Who was James Naismith?
A: James Naismith was a Canadian and naturalized American sports coach and innovator who invented the sport of basketball in 1891.
Q: What other innovation is James Naismith credited to have introduced?
A: James Naismith is also said to have introduced the first football helmet.
Q: What did Naismith write?
A: Naismith wrote the original basketball rulebook.
Q: What did Naismith do for the University of Kansas?
A: Naismith started the University of Kansas basketball program and taught and coached there from 1898 to 1907. He also served as the Athletic Director for the Kansas Jayhawks.
Q: What was Naismith's achievement as a basketball pioneer?
A: Naismith lived to see basketball become an Olympic demonstration sport in 1904 and an official event at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
Q: What are some of the honors Naismith has received?
A: Naismith has been recognized in many halls of fame, including the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame, the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame. Also, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was named after him.
Q: When was James Naismith born and when did he die?
A: James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861, and died on November 28, 1939.
