Google Preferred Sources
ForumsShare

4 things to know about the Christian origins of basketball

By CP Staff
Todd Greene/Unsplash
Todd Greene/Unsplash

With the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament tipping off this week, March Madness is once again capturing the attention of the United States. But what many may not know is that one of the world’s most popular sports is also a product of the Christian worldview.

The invention of basketball, widely credited to Presbyterian minister Dr. James Naismith in 1891, has a long yet largely untold history grounded in the Christian faith. From the missionary efforts of Naismith and the Young Men’s Christian Association, basketball’s rise in popularity over the last half-century has helped make it an international phenomenon.

Naismith’s motivations for inventing the sport extended far beyond the free-throw line. While the sport has long since become secular and professionalized, its foundational ties to Christian missionary work remain a lesser-known but significant chapter in sports history.

Here are four things to know about the Christian origins of basketball.

Was this article helpful?

Become a CP Insider.
Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

The truth has a cost, and Insiders help carry it.
A dollar from an Insider comes with no strings attached. It keeps our reporters on the story, keeps our journalism open to everyone, and keeps every editorial decision in the newsroom, where it belongs.

Become a CP Insider and choose the amount you want to pay. You can change, pause or cancel anytime. As a thank-you, you’ll get:

  • The Insider Newsletter, a members-only monthly letter from our newsroom

  • Ad-free reading across christianpost.com


From as low as $8.25/month
Prefer to give once?

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles.
Return to homepage.

Most Popular