Basketball Player: Lusia Harris
(Photo of Harris outside of her High School)
Background
Lusia Harris was the first successful female player to make it into the NBA. Harris is considered to be the pioneer of Women's Basketball in the 1970's receiving the first Broderick Cup in college while attending Delta State. Born on February 10th 1955, Lusia Harris was sent out into the world to make history for the female gender in the means of basketball. Growing up, Lusia had always loved basketball, but was under-looked of talent because she was a female chasing a men's sport.
(Photo of Lusia passing on the Women's USA Olympic team. Image courtesy of Alchetron.com)
Context (1970's NBA)
The NBA is formally known as a mens league for basketball, until the WNBA was later founded in 1996. In the 1970's, having another woman join the NBA was completely bizarre and turned heads to all of the viewers. Harris was the second female to join the NBA besides Denise Long. However, Long's draft selection by the San Francisco Warriors was voided, therefore making Harris technically the first female in the NBA. "Well, look at all the publicity we got," said then Jazz general manager Lewis Shaffel talking about the uprise of the organization (Per NBA.com)
Accomplishments
- 3× AIAW champion (1975–1977)
- 3× AIAW Tournament MVP (1975–1977)
- 3× All-American (1975–1977)
- Honda Sports Award for basketball (1977)
- Broderick Cup (1977)
(Per Wiki)
Impact
Although Lusia Harris was the second female NBA player ever. She was not forgotten. Lusia was considered the turning point for females in the field of basketball in the 1970's. She was drafted 7th overall in the 1977 NBA draft by the New Orleans jazz, currently known as the Utah Jazz. Lusia joining the NBA, drew in more viewers considering she was playing at an elite level for a female in the NBA which is a predominantly a men's league.
(Photo of Lusia putting up a skyhook in a high-school game.Image courtesy of NBA.com)
Additional Sources
Give the Ball to Lusia - Utah Jazz
Lusia Harris Biography - NBA Hoops Online
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame - Lusia Harris
Video
(Page Researched and Written by Pat Seavey.)
