He would later recall that it was his commitment to the Springfield College philosophy of serving others that inspired him to create this great game - a game that soon spread beyond our campus, throughout New England, and around the world, impacting the lives of hundreds of millions across all ages.

What isn't often told is that he created the game in our Springfield College Humanics philosophy - educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others. The story of how Naismith invented the game through a charge by Luther Gulick (then the College's physical education superintendent) to come up with a new indoor activity that could be played by college students during the long New England winters is well known. James Naismith's connection to Springfield College as a graduate student and instructor who invented the game here in Springfield, Massachusetts as part of his work with the College. We welcome you to our 'Where Basketball is Invented' webpages, celebrating Dr.