James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, has a fascinating origin story.

This fun fact—Naismith wasn’t a basketball player—highlights how the sport began.

He created basketball in 1891 while teaching at Springfield College in Massachusetts.

Naismith himself never played formal basketball games.

The invention grew from a need for a winter indoor activity for students, not personal participation.

Naismith became more of a rule-maker and promoter than a player.

Understanding this origin deepens appreciation for how sports are invented and adopted.

Though he never played, Naismith’s impact on the NBA is immeasurable.