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James Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada on November 6, 1861. James Naismith was listed as an inventor, basketball coach and writer. Death is recorded on November 28, 1939, at the age of 78. Schooling on record includes Almonte and District High School and McGill University. Awards on record include Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, FIBA Hall of Fame (2007) and 1 more.
My Take
James Naismith belongs in a category I find endlessly inspiring: the accidental world-changer. A Canadian physician, chaplain, and educator, he simply needed to keep students active through a cold winter and nailed a peach basket to a wall. That modest fix became a sport followed by hundreds of millions worldwide. What strikes me most is the gap between the humility of the act and the scale of its legacy. He never chased fame the way the game's stars later would, yet his single idea outran them all. To me, that quiet, problem-solving creativity is the purest kind of genius.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- James Naismith
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェームズ・ネイスミス
- Reading
- じぇーむず・ねいすみす
- Born
- November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Rooster
- Origin
- Almonte, Ontario, Canada
- Height
- 179 cm
- Occupation
- inventor / basketball coach / writer / cleric / physician
2. Background
- High school
- Almonte and District High School
- University
- McGill University
Awards & achievements
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
- Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
- 2007 FIBA Hall of Fame
- 1999 Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was James Naismith born?
Born November 6, 1861.
When did James Naismith die?
Died November 28, 1939, aged 78.
Where was James Naismith from?
James Naismith was from Almonte, Ontario, Canada.
What did James Naismith do?
James Naismith worked as inventor, basketball coach, writer, cleric, physician.
How tall was James Naismith?
James Naismith was 179 cm.
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