New Books Network Chris Boucher, "Harry "Bucky" Lew: A Biography of the First Black Professional Basketball Player" (McFarland, 2026)
Jan 11, 2026
Chris Boucher, an author and historian of early basketball, dives into the remarkable life of Harry "Bucky" Lew, the first Black professional basketball player. Boucher reveals how Lew broke racial barriers in multiple roles—player, coach, and franchise owner—over 25 years. He discusses Lew's resilience amid road hostility, his strategic play style, and how his influence paved the way for future Black athletes. The episode sheds light on Lew's largely forgotten legacy and the importance of recognizing the early roots of integration in sports.
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Lew Integrated Every Role In Basketball
- Harry "Bucky" Lew integrated professional basketball in 1902 and then college basketball as a coach in 1903.
- Over 25 years he integrated every major role: player, coach, manager, referee, and franchise owner.
Local Research Revealed A Forgotten Pioneer
- Chris discovered Lew researching local early-basketball history after reading Douglas Stark's book.
- Lew emerged from Lowell's Patuckerville YMCA scene and surprised Boucher by being unknown despite local proximity.
Digitized Newspapers Reconstruct Early Basketball
- Boucher used digitized newspapers and local archives plus family interviews to reconstruct Lew's life.
- Primary sources were old newspapers and descendants like Lew's granddaughter Wendy Johnson.
