INTEGRATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE GAME

Integration opened the door for African American players to attend basketball programs that had better equipment, larger gyms, and bigger audiences. These opportunities produced stronger and quicker athletes, and ultimately, more successful college programs. But the most dramatic effect of integration was an increase in the number of players from urban environments. Inner-city playground competitions, such as the Baker League in Philadelphia and the Rucker Tournament in New York City, introduced promising young black players to professional and college scouts.

These players possessed a unique style of play that some call street basketball. The influence of street basketball was evident most clearly during the 1970s as the NBA welcomed an impressive array of players from urban backgrounds. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Julius "Dr. J." Erving, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar pushed the game into a fast-paced, high-scoring frenzy.

Monroe, a dynamic dribbler and prolific passer, was named rookie of the year after his first season with the Baltimore Bullets. Julius Erving led the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association (ABA) to consecutive titles in 1974 and 1975 before joining the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. Dr. J, as Erving was known, was one of the most creative players in the league. He patented the finger-roll, a move characterized by gently guiding the ball over the opponent's outstretched hand.

Dr. J was considered a fierce competitor and a graceful athlete; today he is a professional sports television commentator. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left a successful college career for the NBA in 1969. A conscientious and innovative athlete, Abdul-Jabbar easily dunked the ball over his opponents and developed a new and virtually unstoppable move known as the sky hook.

He helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles during his 25-year career and set the standard for contemporary centers such as Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Other standouts of this era included Willis Reed, who played with a broken leg during the seventh game of the 1970 NBA finals, his teammate Walt Frazier, and Elvin Hayes of the Washington Bullets, each of whom were also products of street basketball. Together they helped to bring new energy, excitement, and confidence to professional basketball.

By the late 1980s basketball was dominated by African American players from urban centers, and celebrity players such as Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan captivated fans. Johnson was just a sophomore guard when he led Michigan State University to a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title in 1979. At 6 ft 6 in tall, he was an unusually gifted ball-handler and a deceptive passer. Johnson left college after his sophomore year to join the Los Angeles Lakers, and during his rookie season played a pivotal role as the Lakers closed the season as NBA champions.

He and fellow teammates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Byron Scott led the Lakers to five NBA titles. In 1991 Johnson was forced to retire at the pinnacle of his career after he was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Michael Jordan was a superstar at the University of North Carolina, and after leading the team to a NCAA title in 1983, Jordan also left college early to join the Chicago Bulls. He is described by many as the best basketball player of all time. His energy, enthusiasm, and last-minute heroics produced six NBA crowns for Chicago before he retired in 1998. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan are immensely popular throughout the world and are widely considered cultural icons.