The NBA was founded in 1946 in New York City. For many years, the organization was predominantly white. Today, more than 75 percent of its players are black. We speak with basketball expert and former NBA player and coach Ray Scott about the league’s early years and its efforts to evolve in a time when segregation and discrimination ran rampant.
Guest Information:
- Ray Scott, former NBA player & coach, author, The NBA in Black and White: The memoir of a trailblazing NBA player and coach.
The NBA we know today has been shaped by greats like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant And Magic Johnson. These and other black athletes have transformed basketball through their athleticism and skill on the court. But when the NBA was just getting started, players who looked like them weren’t welcome.
Even after the NBA de-segregated, it took nearly ten years for black players to have an equal chance at getting drafted.
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