Basketball in New Zealand Basketball in New Zealand The sport of basketball was first played in New Zealand in 1908. When basketball invented by the Canadian Dr James Naismith in 1891 it had failed to reach New Zealand until the early 1900s. A former Naismith student, J. H. Greenwood, introduced basketball to New Zealand when he was appointed physical director of the Wellington branch of the YMCA in 1908. The sport was called indoor basketball to avoid confusion with the English offshoot of basketball played by females outdoors. New Zealand women's basketball was renamed netball in 1970. The YMCA spread the game from the
Kal Naismith Kal Naismith Kal Naismith (born 18 February 1992) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a winger for Wigan Athletic . A Rangers youth graduate, Naismith made his breakthrough into the first team in the 2012–13 season, after loan spells at Cowdenbeath and Partick Thistle. He has represented Scotland at under-16 and under-17 level. He plays either as an out and out striker, as a winger or in an attacking midfield position. His main attributes are his ball control and skill. Naismith was sent on loan to Cowdenbeath and Partick Thistle during the 2011–12 season. On his return from loan