Breaking Through

Winner, William Rockhill Nelson Award John B. McLendon was the last living protg of basketballs inventor, Dr. James Naismith, and one of the top ten basketball coaches of the century in Billy Packers opinion. McLendons amazing records in college and pro basketball earned him a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame (the first black coach to be inducted), and his coaching philosophy has had a huge influence on basketball coaches. Breaking Through is also a powerful and inspirational story about segregation and a champions struggle for equality in 1940s and 50s America. Black Magic, ESPNs Peabody Awardwinning documentary about players and coaches who attended historically black colleges and universities, covers many of the events in McLendons life that Katz writes about in his book. John McLendon was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.