He was from a Scottish family that had emigrated to Arizona in the United States with the hopes of finding gold. Naismith was born in Arizona but his parents found times very hard there and returned to Scotland when he was 23 years old. Naismith was recruited into the army at the start of World War I, but suffered gassing in the trenches which ruined his health.
Siya ay mula sa isang Scottish pamilya na may emigrated sa Arizona sa Pilipinas sa mga inaasahan ng paghahanap ng mga ginto. Naismith ay ipinanganak sa Arizona ngunit ang kanyang mga magulang na natagpuan beses napakahirap doon at ibabalik sa Scotland kapag siya ay 23 years old. Naismith ay recruited sa hukbo at ang simulan ng World War I, ngunit suffered paggas sa trenches na wasak ang kanyang kalusugan.