Travel in Time with Dan: Fictional Interview with Dr. James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball (1861–1939)
Dan: Hello everyone! Today, I’m at the University of Connecticut Sports Museum, surrounded by championship banners and trophies. Connecticut claims to be the basketball capital of the world, and I’m honored to “sit down” with Dr. James Naismith, who invented basketball in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts—just down the road from here. Welcome, Dr. Naismith.
Dr. James Naismith: Thank you, Dan. It’s extraordinary to see what this simple game has become. When I hung those peach baskets in Springfield, I never imagined it would lead to this—an entire state, right next door, claiming supremacy in a sport I created to keep students active during winter.
Dan: Let’s start with that. You invented basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. What was your original vision?
Dr. James Naismith: My vision was modest, Dan. I needed an indoor game that could keep young men physically active during the harsh New England winters. I hung two peach baskets at opposite ends of the gymnasium, created thirteen simple rules, and threw in a soccer ball. The goal was exercise, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. I certainly didn’t envision dynasties, championships, or entire states claiming titles based on the game.
Dan: Yet here we are at UConn, where they’ve won multiple national championships. The women’s team has twelve under Coach Geno Auriemma, the men’s team has six in thirty years.
Dr. James Naismith: Twelve championships? Six in thirty years? That’s remarkable consistency. In my time, we were simply trying to teach young people the fundamentals of the game. To sustain excellence over decades requires something far beyond athletic talent—it requires institutional commitment and exceptional leadership.
Dan: That leadership came primarily from two coaches who arrived around the same time in the mid-1980s: Geno Auriemma for the women and Jim Calhoun for the men. Both inherited struggling programs.
Dr. James Naismith: Ah, so they were builders, not inheritors of success. That’s significant. It’s one thing to maintain a winning program, quite another to create one from mediocrity. What did they do differently?
Dan: They both created what people here call a “culture of excellence.” Not just winning, but expecting to win at the highest level. Auriemma has been there over forty years and surpassed John Wooden’s record of ten championships.
Dr. James Naismith: Surpassed Wooden’s record? John Wooden was a student of the game, a true educator. For someone to exceed his achievements speaks to extraordinary dedication. Culture is everything, Dan. I always believed basketball was more than a game—it was a vehicle for teaching discipline, teamwork, and character. It sounds like these coaches understood that principle.
Dan: The claim that Connecticut is the basketball capital of the world really gained traction in 1995 when both teams were ranked number one. The women went 35-0, perfect season. Then in 2004 and again in 2014, both teams won national championships in the same year—the only school to ever do that twice. No other division I college basketball team has even done it once.
Dr. James Naismith: Both teams winning simultaneously? That’s unprecedented. It suggests something systemic—not just talented coaches or lucky recruiting, but an entire institution committed to basketball excellence. When I created the game, I hoped it would bring communities together. It seems UConn has done exactly that.
Dan: It has created Husky Mania! However, there are two players I often credit as pivotal: Rebecca Lobo on the women’s side in 1995, and Scott Burrell on the men’s side. They’re seen as the bridge from mediocrity to dynasty. And I was lucky enough to be a student at UCONN during the same time they were, and I’ve often see them around campus.
Dr. James Naismith: That’s pretty special, Dan. And every great program needs foundational players—individuals whose character and skill set the standard for those who follow. It’s not just about their talent, but their willingness to buy into the culture being built. Tell me about them.
Dan: Rebecca Lobo was smart enough for the Ivy League, but chose UConn, against her parents’ wishes. She led that perfect 35-0 season and changed everything for women’s basketball here. Scott Burrell, who I played against in the high school football state championship finals, was drafted first round in both professional basketball and baseball, played with Michael Jordan on the Bulls, and helped transform the men’s program under Calhoun. He was nothing short of amazing!
Dr. James Naismith: First round in two professional sports?
Dan: Yup.
Dr. James Naismith: That’s extraordinary athleticism. And for Lobo to choose UConn over prestigious academic institutions shows commitment to something larger than personal prestige. Those decisions matter. They signal to others that this place, this program, is worth investing in.
Dan: The University started calling itself the basketball capital of the world after those dual championships. Now even highway signs entering Connecticut proclaim it. There’s something here called “Husky Mania.”
Dr. James Naismith: Highway signs? Husky Mania? My goodness. You know, Dan, when I invented this game, I worried it might be too simple, that people would lose interest. Instead, it has become part of a state’s identity. That’s both humbling and remarkable. Though I must say, the true capital of basketball isn’t a place—it’s wherever the game is played with integrity, teamwork, and joy.
Dan: You should know that the university began as Connecticut Aggies, an agricultural school, playing in the Yankees Conference before joining the Big East in 1979.
Dr. James Naismith: From agriculture school to basketball powerhouse. That’s the beauty of American higher education—institutions can evolve, can excel in unexpected ways. It mirrors the game itself. To think that I created basketball with peach baskets and a soccer ball. Now look at it.
Dan: What leadership lessons do you see in UConn’s success?
Dr. James Naismith: Several things. First, culture trumps talent. Talented players come and go, but a culture of excellence endures. Second, consistency matters more than flashes of brilliance. Winning one championship is luck; winning repeatedly over decades is leadership. Third, it’s not just about winning—it’s about building something larger than yourself. Auriemma and Calhoun didn’t just win games; they created programs that continue winning even as players graduate. Finally, remember that sports should unite communities and teach character. If UConn has done that—if Husky Mania brings people together and inspires young people—then they’ve honored the true spirit of basketball.
Dan: Any final thoughts on Connecticut claiming to be the basketball capital of the world?
Dr. James Naismith: If their claim inspires them to uphold excellence, to mentor young athletes, to compete with integrity—then let them claim it proudly. But remember, the moment you declare yourself the capital is the moment you must work twice as hard to prove it. Titles are earned continuously, not once. And the true measure isn’t championships won, but lives changed and character built.
Dan: Thank you so much, Dr. Naismith. It’s been an honor to discuss UCONN and your basketball game’s evolution, and the Huskies making history.
Dr. James Naismith: May the game always bring people together, Dan. That’s why I created it, and that’s what matters most.
