INSIGHTS James Naismith invented basketball in the winter of 1891-1892, and the first match occurred on 1891-12-21. Naismith created basketball through adaptations of then-current games, including American and English rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and an Ontario game called duck on a rock. Though originally thought to have been created at the YMCA, basketball was created by Naismith at a building owned and operated by the School for Christian Workers; the organization that would eventually become Springfield College. James Naismith invented the sport of basketball during the winter of 1891-1892 in Springfield, Massachusetts as a gymnasium instructor for (what would eventually become) Springfield College . The first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21 , and the sport became officially recognized by 1905 . While there have been some adjustments to Naismith’s original parameters and 13 rules , the modern game of basketball remains essentially unchanged . BASKE...