Caught off of TokyoMango, there's a New York Times piece on Wat Misaka, the first non-white player in the NBA -- a Japanese-American that played for a short three games on the New York Knicks in 1947 before being cut from the team. At a time when U.S. and Japanese relations were at their worst, it's surprising to see the Knicks pick a Japanese person, especially one who's only 5'7".
Misaka is the subject of a documentary, Transcending, which has already garnered itself several awards and is working on getting a commercial release at the moment. They've got all the details up on the film's official site if you're interested.
While it doesn't seem like the story is one of tough racial conflict and Misaka getting unjustly cut from the team, it still brings up something that is a cultural turning point for America, even if it's overshadowed by the arrival of Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and Nat Clifton three years later. In my mind, there's no real connection with Japanese and basketball, outside of manga like Slam Dunk. What about for you guys?
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