Basketball has a rich history at the YMCA – James Naismith created the game of basketball in 1891 at the Springfield YMCA – well before segregation was abolished. 

During these years, the game of basketball was often played in community centers, like the Harlem Y. 

As a part of our continued celebration of Black History Month, we want to share the stories of some of the unsung Black heroes from the history of basketball and highlight the impact they made on the sport in helping make it what it is today.

To see more unsung Black heroes from the history of basketball, head to our YouTube page or click the link below to watch a short video put together by the Y’s own, Cedric Dew.

WATCH