The Jayhawker

47. How Dr. James Naismith Created a Game & Kansas Basketball


Listen Later

Wooden. Wilt. Magic. Bird. Jordan. They're some of the legends of basketball; names that define the sport. But there's one name that means even more: Naismith. Without Dr. James Naismith—a teacher and chaplain by trade—none of those other names would mean anything. There's a reason his name is on the Basketball Hall of Fame. Because without Naismith, there is no basketball. In December of 1891, under the guidance and rules of Naismith, the first game of basketball was played in Springfield, Massachusetts. And, a few years later in 1898, he brought the sport to Kansas and founded the Jayhawks' storied program. From there, as Naismith's invention became a phenomenon, so, too, did Kansas basketball. It was at Kansas where the father of basketball coached Phog Allen, the father of basketball coaching. The rest, as they say, is history. Springfield may be the birthplace of basketball, but Kansas is its home. And with the help of his only living grandson, Jim Naismith, this is how Dr. James Naismith created a sport and its most iconic program.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The JayhawkerBy Greg Gurley and Wayne Simien

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

289 ratings


More shows like The Jayhawker

View all
Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,707 Listeners

Criminal by Vox Media Podcast Network

Criminal

37,605 Listeners

Eye On College Basketball by CBS Sports, College Basketball, Basketball, March Madness, NCAA Tournament, NBA Draft

Eye On College Basketball

2,839 Listeners

Inside the Paint by Ryan Landreth

Inside the Paint

58 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,765 Listeners

Pardon My Take by Barstool Sports

Pardon My Take

82,295 Listeners

JayhawkSlant by Jayhawk Slant

JayhawkSlant

75 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,078 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,848 Listeners

KCSN: Kansas Jayhawks News and Analysis by KC Sports Network, Blue Wire

KCSN: Kansas Jayhawks News and Analysis

402 Listeners

Hacks On Tap by Vox Media

Hacks On Tap

8,120 Listeners

Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball by Locked On Podcast Network, Derek Johnson

Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball

59 Listeners

The Hum: A Kansas Hoops Podcast by The Field of 68, Blue Wire

The Hum: A Kansas Hoops Podcast

40 Listeners

Could Be Wrong by Nick Schwerdt & Mike Vernon

Could Be Wrong

52 Listeners

Ain't No Seats by Ain't No Seats

Ain't No Seats

29 Listeners