SALT LAKE CITY — Wataru “Wat” Misaka, who played for two championship teams at the University of Utah before making history in professional basketball, has died at the age of 95.
Although small in stature, the 5-foot-7 point guard was a key part of Utah’s 1944 NCAA championship squad and the 1947 NIT title team. Of Japanese descent, he then become the first Asian player in professional basketball history — appearing in three games for the New York Knicks in the 1947-48 season when the NBA was known as the Basketball Association of America.
The Ogden High graduate served a two-year stint in the United States Army between championships at Utah, where he earned an engineering degree after turning down an offer to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.
“Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story” is a documentary that came out a decade ago that chronicled his life and place in basketball history. Besides being the first non-Caucasian to play in what is now the NBA, Misaka dealt with the challenges of being a Japanese American during World War II. He later served part of his military service in Hiroshima.
Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said it was a very sad day to lose Misaka.
“He was a champion and remained a passionate fan throughout his lifetime. His was an amazing story and he remained close to our program during my time here. Great man and will be deeply missed.” — Utah basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak
“Wat embodied such an amazing Ute spirit,” Krystkowiak noted. “He was a champion and remained a passionate fan throughout his lifetime. His was an amazing story and he remained close to our program during my time here. Great man and will be deeply missed.”
Former Utah athletics director Chris Hill had similar thoughts.
“He’s a legend for what he’s accomplished,” Hill said. “He also was a tremendous Ute and everybody liked him. You have to think great thoughts of what he did for the university and how he carried himself.”
In a statement, current Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said, “We are saddened to learn of the passing of Wat Misaka. He was a part of the Utah teams that won national championships in the 1940s, but Wat was bigger than the game of basketball, blazing trails into places nobody of his descent had gone before. He was such a kind and thoughtful man and will be missed by so many. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and Utah fans, who all mourn his passing.”
Longtime Ogden High coach and athletic director Phil Russell posted a tribute on Facebook.
“A great loss to our community here in Ogden and to the State of Utah as well,” Russell said. “He was an icon and was selected to the Ogden High Hall of Fame as well as the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. He will be missed by our community.”
Misaka led Ogden High to a state championship in 1940. He went on to lead Weber Junior College to a pair of ICAC crowns, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the 1942 tournament. Misaka was honored as Weber College’s Athlete of the Year in 1943. He went on to join fellow Ogden High alum Arnie Ferrin at Utah.
“Wat was a person who was an achiever in all he did. His contribution to winning a national championship may not be remembered, but his play won the championship for Utah in the 1947 Tournament,” Ferrin said. “Imagine playing in Madison Square Garden, the mecca of college basketball, guarding the best player in the game (Ralph Beard) and shutting him out. That may be the best defensive performance in the history of the tournament.
“He did so many great things such as representing the Japanese as an American citizen during the war,” Ferrin added. “He was one of my best friends, in fact we all should have a friend like him. I will miss him dearly.”