On November 6, 1902, Harry Haskell Lew broke racial barriers by becoming the first Black player to participate in a professional basketball game, a milestone that largely went unrecognized for decades. Lew, known as Bucky, stepped onto the court for the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in Lowell, Massachusetts, marking a significant moment in the early history of the sport.

Born on January 4, 1884, in Lowell, Lew grew up in a family with a notable legacy of resilience and activism. His great-great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, and his grandparents provided shelter to escaping slaves via the Underground Railroad. Growing up in this environment, Lew began playing basketball with the local YMCA team at age 14.

At 18, Lew was invited to join the all-white Pawtucketville Athletic Club, a team competing in the New England Basketball League. Despite the early invitation, Lew was initially relegated to the bench and denied playing time due to racial prejudices. During a game in Marlborough, Massachusetts, team manager James Gray refused to substitute him even after an injury sidelined a teammate. When fans vocally protested, Lew was finally allowed to play, making him the first Black professional basketball player.

Basketball at the time was still developing. Invented only 11 years prior by James Naismith in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, the sport lacked many of the rules and equipment known today. Physical play was common, and all professional players were white—except Lew.

Lew’s skill and tenacity soon earned him respect on the court. Newspapers praised his defensive abilities, and his presence became a significant part of his teams' strategies. However, he faced severe racial discrimination. Lew recalled enduring verbal abuse similar to that later experienced by Jackie Robinson in baseball, and at times faced hostility that went beyond verbal attacks.

In 1904, a notable incident occurred during a game against the Natick team, where star player Harry Hough and his teammates refused to compete when Lew was on the floor due to racial prejudice. The league fined Natick, but Lew sat out the game to allow it to proceed. Despite such obstacles, Lew helped lead his Haverhill team to the league championship, though they fell short against Natick.

After the New England Basketball League disbanded, Lew continued playing and coaching in various New England teams for nearly two decades, also becoming one of the early Black officials in the sport. After retiring from basketball, he managed his family’s dry-cleaning business full-time in Springfield, where he lived until his death in 1963.

Despite his pioneering role, Lew remained relatively unknown for much of basketball history. His story was largely uncovered through the efforts of local historians and his family, including his granddaughter Wendy Johnson. Only in recent years has he received broader recognition. In 2001, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame featured him in an exhibit honoring Black pioneers of the sport. Though not inducted into the Naismith Hall, Lew was posthumously recognized in 2024 with induction into the American Basketball Hall of Fame in Detroit.

Lew’s legacy is now acknowledged as foundational to the integration of basketball, with historians and enthusiasts emphasizing his role in paving the way for future generations of African American players. His granddaughter expressed gratitude for renewed attention to his life, underscoring the enduring impact of his contributions to the game.