The NBA in Black and White: The Memoir of a Trailblazing NBA Player and Coach

Scott, who became the first Black coach to be named NBA Coach of the Year in 1974, delivers a moving reflection on his influential career. Raised in South Philadelphia in the 1940s, Scott’s talent on the court made him an attractive prospect for colleges and led to a successful collegiate career at the University of Portland. After being drafted to the NBA by the Detroit Pistons in 1961, the young player quickly established himself as a standout defender and rebounder, though his achievements never yielded a selection for the All-Star Game—an omission from Scott’s résumé that he notes coincided with less-talented white athletes being tapped as the best of the best. Racist prejudices affected Scott in his coaching career as well, but he found personal and career success after leaving pro hoops in 1979, with a happy third marriage, and a new job selling insurance. Fans of the sport will relish Scott’s insights, including how the game’s been changed by the emphasis on three-point shooting, as well as his tender account of finding an ally and mentor in NBA legend Earl Lloyd, who made history in 1950 as the first Black player to appear in an NBA game (“Earl was my big brother, and I did whatever he told me to do”). While it lacks the passion and depth of accounts by professional contemporaries such as Bill Russell and Connie Hawkins, this remains a valuable addition to hoops history. (June)