Historedia
Person

James Naismith

Events
2
Episodes
5
Years
1891–1892

Every event in Historedia whose sources name James Naismith, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. James Naismith invents basketball at Springfield, December 1891

    1891–1892

    Role: Inventor

    1. December 1891 · International Young Men's Christian Association Training SchoolInvention of Basketball

      Naismith designed basketball in December 1891 to keep his gym class active on a rainy day at the YMCA Training School.

    2. 1892 · International Young Men's Christian Association Training SchoolNaming of Basketball

      Frank Mahan suggested the name "basketball" to Naismith in early 1892, which Naismith accepted.

    3. 1892 · Springfield CollegeRefusal of Naismith Ball

      Naismith refused calls to name the game "Naismith Ball" in 1892, preferring "basketball".

    4. March 12, 1892 · Springfield CollegeFirst Public Game

      Naismith invited Amos Alonzo Stagg to play in the first public basketball game on March 12, 1892.

  2. First public basketball game at the Springfield YMCA

    1892

    Role: Inviter/Inventor

    1. March 1892 · Springfield YMCAFirst Public Basketball Game

      Students defeated faculty in the first public basketball game at the Springfield YMCA in March 1892, with Stagg scoring the faculty's only goal.

Sources

  1. James Naismith Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-29
  2. Basketball Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-08