Wataru "Wat" Misaka (December 21, 1923 – November 20, 2019) was an American professional basketball player. He was the first non-white player and the first player of Asian descent to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1]
Misaka played college basketball for the Utah Utes.[2] He played three games for the New York Knicks in 1947. He was born in Ogden, Utah.
Misaka died at the age of 95 on November 20, 2019 in Salt Lake City.[3]
He lasted just three games, but is remembered as the first non-Caucasian player in modern professional basketball, three years before African-Americans were included.