Wat Misaka Honored by the New York Knicks As First Player of Color in the NBA

Wat Misaka, who was drafted by the New Yorkbaseball. Misaka's professional basketball career soon
Knicks in 1947, was recently honored by the Knicksended as he was cut from the team after three
basketball franchise at a presentation during a gameseason games without being given any clear
at Madison Square Garden. Misaka was the firstexplanation or reason.
non-white person to play in the National BasketballAlthough it was not long after the end of World War
Association (NBA which was then known as theII, Misaka said he experienced little intolerance while
Basketball Association of America or BAA).with the Knicks. He stated that he felt less prejudice
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), theagainst him in New York than he did anywhere else,
nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil andand he has great admiration for New Yorkers.
human rights organization, congratulates Misaka forAfter he left the Knicks, he was offered a chance to
this well deserved honor and recognition. Misaka andplay for the Harlem Globetrotters. He chose instead
his wife Katie, who accompanied her husband to Newto return to the University of Utah to complete his
York and the Knicks game, are long time membersschooling to obtain an engineering degree. He was
of the JACL and belong to the JACL Salt Lake Cityinducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Chapter.In 2009 President Barack Obama learned of Misaka's
A Japanese American Nisei (second generation born inoutstanding achievement and invited him to attend a
the United States of immigrant parents from Japan),ceremony at the White House. Misaka and his son
Misaka was born in Ogden, Utah, on December 21,Henry were in attendance as President Obama
1923. Except for his stint with the Knicks and hismentioned Wat Misaka in his speech. He talked of
military service, he has lived in Utah for his entire life.Misaka's accomplishment of being the first player of
After playing basketball in high school, he was a starcolor in the NBA.
on the basketball team at Weber College in Ogden,Floyd Mori, National Executive Director of the JACL
Utah. He credits then president of Weber College,and a personal friend of Misaka, attended the White
Henry Aldous Dixon, with being kind and supportiveHouse ceremony and the Knicks honor with Wat
of Japanese Americans at a time when they foundMisaka. He stated: "Wat was my idol when I was a
few friends. Misaka then transferred to the Universitychild growing up and listening to the University of
of Utah, where he continued to play basketball. UponUtah basketball games on the radio. Later I had the
returning from the 1944 NCAA tournamentprivilege of getting to know Wat when we became
championship which the University of Utah won,friends and golfed together with a group in Utah
Misaka found that he had been drafted into thealmost weekly. He remains a gentleman with genuine
United States Army. He served for two years withhumility in spite of his great accomplishments and
the army in the occupation of Japan at the end ofinspiration to others."
World War II after which he returned to school andAs he left Madison Square Garden after the game,
basketball.Misaka was stopped by many people who wanted to
Misaka was a point guard on the University of Utahhave a photo taken with him as his story had inspired
basketball team which won the NIT Championship atthem. An exceptional athlete throughout his life,
Madison Square Garden in 1947. That year, theMisaka is a championship bowler as well as an avid
Knicks drafted Misaka in the first round. It was thegolfer.
year that Jackie Robinson broke into major league