Wat Misaka
From Hoopedia
Wataru "Wat" Misaka (Japanese: 三阪 亙 Misaka Wataru) (born December 21, 1923 in Ogden, Utah, U.S.) was a college and professional basketball player. When he appeared as a New York Knicks sub in a game against the Washington Capitols on November 13, 1947, he became the first non-white player in the National Basketball Association (then known as the Basketball Association of America).
Misaka, born in Utah of Japanese immigrant parents, playing for the University of Utah. He led his school to the 1944 NCAA Division I Men's Tournament and 1947 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championships. In the NIT championship game Misaka held All-American Ralph Beard to two points, as Utah upset the highly touted Kentucky Wildcats of Adolph Rupp.
A 5'7" point guard, he was a first round draft pick in the 1947 Draft by the New York Knicks. Misaka must have been seen as a draw, because he was the only Knick pictured in an ad announcing the opening game in the New York Times. During the 1947-1948 season, he played in three games and scored seven points before he was cut from the team.
Misaka was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
