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The NBA in Black and White: The Memoir of a Trailblazing NBA Player and Coach
A memoir of hard lessons learned in the racially segregated and sometimes outright racist NBA of the early ‘60s by celebrated NBA player and the first Black Coach of the Year, Ray Scott. Introduced by Earl "the Pearl" Monroe.
“There’s a basic insecurity with Black guys my size,” Scott writes. “We can’t hide and everybody turns to stare when we walk down the street. … Whites believe that their culture is superior to African-American culture. ... We don’t accept many of [their] answers, but we have to live with them.”
Ray Scott was part of the early wave of Black NBA players like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who literally changed how the game of professional basketball is played—leading to the tremendously popular financial blockbuster the NBA is today. Scott was a celebrated 6’9” forward/center after being chosen by the Detroit Pistons as the #4 pick of the 1961 NBA draft, and then again after he was named head coach of the Pistons in October 1972, winning Coach of the Year in the spring of 1974—the first black man ever to capture that honor.
Scott’s is a story of quiet persistence, hard work, and, most of all, respect. He credits the mentorship of NBA player and coach Earl Lloyd, and talks about fellow Philly native Wilt Chamberlain and friends Muhammad Ali and Aretha Franklin, among many others. Ray has lived through one of the most turbulent times in our nation’s history, especially the time of assassinations of so many Black leaders at the end of the 1960s. Through it all, his voice remains quiet and measured, transcending all the sorrows with his steadiness and positive attitude. This is his story, told in collaboration with the great basketball writer, former college player and CBA coach Charley Rosen.
“There’s a basic insecurity with Black guys my size,” Scott writes. “We can’t hide and everybody turns to stare when we walk down the street. … Whites believe that their culture is superior to African-American culture. ... We don’t accept many of [their] answers, but we have to live with them.”
Ray Scott was part of the early wave of Black NBA players like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who literally changed how the game of professional basketball is played—leading to the tremendously popular financial blockbuster the NBA is today. Scott was a celebrated 6’9” forward/center after being chosen by the Detroit Pistons as the #4 pick of the 1961 NBA draft, and then again after he was named head coach of the Pistons in October 1972, winning Coach of the Year in the spring of 1974—the first black man ever to capture that honor.
Scott’s is a story of quiet persistence, hard work, and, most of all, respect. He credits the mentorship of NBA player and coach Earl Lloyd, and talks about fellow Philly native Wilt Chamberlain and friends Muhammad Ali and Aretha Franklin, among many others. Ray has lived through one of the most turbulent times in our nation’s history, especially the time of assassinations of so many Black leaders at the end of the 1960s. Through it all, his voice remains quiet and measured, transcending all the sorrows with his steadiness and positive attitude. This is his story, told in collaboration with the great basketball writer, former college player and CBA coach Charley Rosen.
- GenresSports
224 pages, Hardcover
Published June 7, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 16, 2023
Any book that starts with an introduction by Earl “The Pearl” Monroe is something worth reading! This book by Ray Scott with Charlie Rosen is quite a ride through the illustrious playing and coaching career of Ray Scott. Scott went from the #4 draft pick of the 1961 NBA draft to being the first Black man to ever win the Coach of the Year award! Along this never before traveled road, Scott also not only played with and against some of the most iconic names in the NBA from Wilt Chamberlain to Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West but he also met and conversed with social Giants Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Coretta Scott King, Muhammad Ali, and Joe Frazier just to name a few, and the stories he has to tell, damn!
Scott details what was wrong and right about the NBA in the 60s and 70s but also ventures into what is right and wrong with the NBA today. Scott’s direct, honest, and non-preachy ways of orating his opinions and stories are beyond reproach. This is a must-read for anybody who wants to know the whole truth concerning the NBA then and now but is also interested in the societal issues that went on in the 60s and persist today.
Scott details what was wrong and right about the NBA in the 60s and 70s but also ventures into what is right and wrong with the NBA today. Scott’s direct, honest, and non-preachy ways of orating his opinions and stories are beyond reproach. This is a must-read for anybody who wants to know the whole truth concerning the NBA then and now but is also interested in the societal issues that went on in the 60s and persist today.
February 15, 2023
I've read and enjoyed biographies of many black basketball players, including Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Ray Allen and others. While all those books note the discrimination black players faced in the NBA they don't tell the inside story of so many black players and the obstacles they faced, as Ray Scott does in his superb book "The NBA in Black and White."
The book chronicles the history of black players in the NBA along with a memoir of Ray's life, including many of his extra curricular activities and interests (like being a boxing promoter/fight organizer, Muhammed Ali's good friend, being Coretta King's bodyguard without a firearm!). He also comments on the changes in the pro game from the 1960s to the present day, which old timers like me can very much relate to.
Can't express how enjoyable it was to read. I learned a tremendous amount and did quite a bit follow on research to learn more on my own.
My absolute highest recommendation for this marvelous book! Buy it today and start reading. You won't be disappointed!
The book chronicles the history of black players in the NBA along with a memoir of Ray's life, including many of his extra curricular activities and interests (like being a boxing promoter/fight organizer, Muhammed Ali's good friend, being Coretta King's bodyguard without a firearm!). He also comments on the changes in the pro game from the 1960s to the present day, which old timers like me can very much relate to.
Can't express how enjoyable it was to read. I learned a tremendous amount and did quite a bit follow on research to learn more on my own.
My absolute highest recommendation for this marvelous book! Buy it today and start reading. You won't be disappointed!
November 26, 2025
A very enjoyable read which brought back great memories of the great players Coach Scott played with, played against, and coached. Probably the most valuable aspect of his book is Ray’s perspective of the role racism has played, not only in sports like the NBA, but in his personal life, his family life and in Ray’s hope for our future generations.
January 1, 2023
Interesting read and gave me a better understanding of Ray Scott’s career as a player and coach. Ray Scott isn’t a well known former NBA player, but still nice to read and learn about his career.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews