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James Naismith
(The Inventor of the Game of 'Basketball')
Birthdate: November 6, 1861
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Almonte, Mississippi Mills, Canada
Died: November 28, 1939
James Naismith was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, Christian chaplain, and sports coach known as the inventor of basketball. He wrote the original basketball rule book and founded the University of Kansas basketball program. Naismith saw basketball become an Olympic sport and witnessed the creation of major tournaments. He studied physical education at McGill University before moving to the United States, where he designed basketball while teaching at the International YMCA Training School. Naismith later became the athletic director and coach at the University of Kansas, influencing a prestigious coaching tree.