USA - Ian Naismith: ‘Rules of Basketball to help charities’

he original 13 rules of basketball would fetch a good price.

David and Suzanne Booth, a married couple in Kansas, shelled out $4.3million for them at a Sotheby’s Auction on December 10.

And just like that, something that Ian – the grandson of basketball’s creator, Dr James Naismith – had been looking after for more than three decades was off to the state that not only has a huge basketball tradition but one with strong links to his family as well.

Dr James Naismith founded the basketball program at Kansas, one of the most famous college teams in the sport, and also served as the athletic director.

“It's been a happy ending,” Ian Naismith said. 

“They went to a good place.

“My grandfather was there for 41 years. 

“I'm just happy it's done.”

So what did Ian really think about the money? Was it what he had hoped for, or expected?

After expenses, $3.8million will go to the fund International Naismith Basketball Foundation and all of its charities.

“Sotheby's did a magnificent job,” Ian Naismith said. 

“I was quite impressed by how they ran the sale.

“They probably would have brought a little bit more money in better times, but these are not better times. 

“But the money goes back into our charities.




That's what's important to me.”

The charities

Ian Naismith talks with a lot of pride when asked about the charities.

“We have a family foundation for kids, and we do the work,” he said.

“We're very hands-on. I have a small office in Saint Kitts (West Indies) and have had a presence there for the better part of 20 years.

“We've worked over the years with children's homes, throw-away kids, whatever.

“We filled that role for a long time and I do the same kind of thing in the United States.

“When my wife was alive, that was her absolute passion in life. She never saw a kid that she couldn’t help.

“That's what we do. But with the economy leading some of our sponsors over the years not to sponsor anymore, they couldn't afford it, we're recycling the money back into kids.”

At the time of the sale, Ian Naismith admitted it was important experience in his life.

“I had mixed emotions,” he said.

“My brother, sister and I had the rules for 30 years. My dad had had them for 41 years and there were 39 years for my grandfather. However, we always knew it was a situation that at some point, we'd sell those to help fund the foundation.

“We could see that with the money deteriorating, it was time to do it.

“It was a good thing, I'm glad we did it and it's done and now we're back to work.”

Ian Naismith was asked by FIBA.com if it was a lot of money.

“It sounds like a lot of money but when you see these players signing $50 and 60million contracts and they don't do anything towards the game as far as we're concerned, it's not a lot of money.

“But yes, it is a lot of money. I don't want to sell it short.

“What I can do with that kind of money, we can continue to fund the foundation.”