Jesus And James Naismith: The Christian History Of Basketball
The Christian History Of Basketball And Its Lessons For The Church Today
Jesus And James Naismith: James Naismith is a name that is well-known among basketball historians and enthusiasts. As the inventor of the sport, Naismith is steeped in legend.
The story about how he organized the first game with a couple of peach baskets, a soccer ball, a rowdy class of college students, and a handful of rules has been retold time and time again. It will likely be retold as long as people play basketball.
But how many people know of the links between basketball, Christianity, and sports ministry? Relatively few, most likely, but historian Dr. Paul Putz is one of those intimately familiar with the subject.
As the Assistant Director for the Faith and Sports Institute and the Program Director for Truett’s Master of the Arts and Theology and Sports Study degree program, Dr. Putz certainly knows a lot about these topics.
In a fascinating and insightful talk, Dr. Putz goes in-depth into the Christian roots and influence on basketball. He also shares three valuable lessons that Christians today can learn from the game’s history, namely:
- Basketball is about the people that we are becoming.
- How basketball valued freedom as well as boundaries.
- How the early development of basketball demonstrated the value of pluralistic work for the common good.
I’m going to delve more into those three points later.
Dr. Putz also shares many interesting quotes and anecdotes about James Naismith, providing further insight into the man responsible for one of the most beloved sports in the world.
The talk was presented at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, as part of its 2023 Sports Ministry Chapel Service. You can watch a video of the full service, including Scripture reading and worship, here.
Christianity’s Role in the Development of Basketball
From the video’s opening moments, Dr. Putz’ passion and knowledge of the subject matter is clear. His keen insights into the role that Christianity played in the development of the sport are both informative and engrossing.
I was especially captivated by his ability to go beyond an academic retelling of the events that transpired, enriching the historical narrative with many valuable insights and lessons.
Dr. Putz’ gift for telling captivating stories can perhaps be traced to his own upbringing. Although a historian by profession, his father was a preacher.
Some of his father’s teachings likely rubbed off on the youth. As Paul himself said: “I’ve probably got a little bit of that in me.”
Dr. Putz’ account of the first game of basketball ever played was fascinating in itself. But what I found especially rewarding was his insight into how Naismith’s faith played such a crucial role in the development of the sport.
Check: 101 Facts About The History Of Basketball
Three Lessons That Early Basketball can Teach Christians Today
Naismith’s faith neatly ties in with three lessons that basketball can teach the Church, as discussed by Dr. Putz.
1. Basketball is about the people that we are becoming
The first point that Dr. Putz made is that basketball is about the people that we are becoming. He illustrates this by explaining Naismith’s idea of Christian witness as forming and shaping people to exhibit Christ’s character in their daily lives by way of sports such as basketball.
2. Basketball valued freedom as well as boundaries
Dr. Putz’ second point is how basketball valued freedom as well as boundaries. Again, he refers to Naismith’s vision for basketball, which was a way to navigate cultural conditions to become creative and expressive people, who nevertheless acknowledge the need for boundaries, limits, and structure.
3. The early development of basketball demonstrated the value of pluralistic work for the common good
The third point Dr. Putz made is how the early development of basketball demonstrated the value of pluralistic work for the common good. He illustrated this point by explaining how Naismith himself acknowledged that basketball was influenced and shaped by people from different backgrounds and different identities.
This was apparent in Naismith’s support of John McClendon, who would become one of the most important basketball coaches of the 20th century. McClendon achieved this despite widespread resistance to the inclusion of African Americans in the sport during its early years.
Naismith was also a staunch supporter of Edwin Henderson, who later became known as “the Grandfather of Black Basketball”, and Senda Berenson, a Massachusetts college instructor who was instrumental in opening up the sport to women and introducing it to the Jewish community.
A Fascinating and Inspiring Talk
Dr. Putz touched on many other points throughout his presentation, covering the development of basketball, the sociopolitical factors that shaped it, and its ties with Christian teachings. It’s a fascinating and educational talk, and I certainly learned many valuable lessons from it.
I strongly recommend watching the video to anyone who is interested in James Naismith and the early years of basketball, sports ministry, and the lessons the game can teach us about the Church. It’s entitled “Jesus And James Naismith: The Christian History Of Basketball And Its Lessons For The Church Today”, and you can find it on the Faith & Sports Institute YouTube channel.
