Google honors basketball creator Dr. James Naismith with new Doodle

Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Canadian-American Dr. James Naismith who created the game of basketball, with a new Doodle.

Google's homepage features an animated sequence of students playing basketball with Naismith looking on and checking things off on a clipboard.

Naismith invented basketball in 1891 and on this day in 1892, announced his game along with the rules in Springfield College newspaper The Triangle.

Naismith earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from McGill University and came up with basketball after taking a job as an instructor at the YMCA International Training College located in Springfield, Mass.

Naismith was tasked with inventing an indoor game in order the avoid the harsh winters of New England. He came up with the game using peach baskets, a soccer ball and ten rules.

Basketball at first incorporated elements of American football, soccer and field hockey. The sport grew popular and made it to the Olympics in 1936, which Naismith attended in order to toss up the ball for opening tip-off.

Naismith thought basketball could help students physically and mentally, while being enjoyed by all during a time when schools were segregated.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was made in Springfield, Mass., in 1959.