phenom lets play basketball another sports thriller by jim plautz james naismith ( 1861-1939 ) on december 1 , 1891 , in springfield , massachusetts , james naismith hung two half-bushel peach baskets at opposite ends of a gymnasium and out-lined 13 rules to his students at the international training school of the young men 's christian association ( ymca ) , which later became springfield college .