The man who invented basketball was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada on November 6, 1861. At nine years of age, James Naismith became an orphan. Both of his parents died within three weeks of each other. After high school, the man who invented basketball finished his first of four degrees from McGill University in Quebec.
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It was a philosophy degree, and he followed that with a religion degree from Presbyterian College in Montreal. One year after obtaining his religion degree, Naismith stepped foot on the grounds of the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. YMCA Training School later changed its name to Springfield College. History would be made at Springfield College during a PE class, as the rough New England winter was in full force. The year was 1891, when the man who invented basketball made history. Naismith, who was 30 years of age, was teaching a physical education class that consisted of students who were older than him. The class was getting restless from the winter, they were too old for the childrens games, and gymnastics protocol was getting boring. Naismith needed an athletic distraction from the weather and current class format.