Nai·smith (nā'smĭth') , James 1861–1939.Canadian-born American sports educator who originated the game of basketball (1891).BasketballInspired mostly by a Canadian game he played as a child in Ontario, Canada called Duck-on-a-Rock, Naismith's basketball started December 15, 1891 with thirteen rules, twelve of which are still used today, a peach basket nailed to either end of the school's gymnasium, and two teams of nine players. On January 15, 1892 Naismith published the rules for basketball. The original rules did not include what we know today as the dribble. They initially only allowed the ball to be moved up the court via a pass. Following each "goal" a jump ball was taken in the middle of the court. Although it wasn't a rule, players would commonly use the dust of coal to cover the palms of their hands, allowing them to get a better grip on the ball. The coal palm was used up until the early 1930s when the Depression hit, making the raw materials very pricey. Also interesting was the rule surrounding balls out of bounds - the first player to retrieve the ball received possession.
The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith as a less injury-prone sport than football.