james naismith (november 6, 1861 – november 28, 1939) was a canadian and naturalized american sports coach and innovator. naismith invented the sport of basketball in 1891. he is also said to have introduced the first football helmet. naismith wrote the original basketball rulebook and started the university of kansas basketball program. he lived to see basketball become an olympic demonstration sport in 1904 and an official event at the 1936 summer olympics in berlin.