Growing up, Wat Misaka wasn’t the tallest kid on the basketball court, but he was fast and he loved the game! In his Japanese American basketball league, Wat dribbled with speed and shared the ball as much as he scored. Encouraged by his father to always do his best, Wat applied this mindset to every challenge in his life.

As Wat spent more time on the court, his passion for the game grew. He played in college at the University of Utah during WWII, a time when many Japanese Americans were stripped of their freedoms and incarcerated by the US government. Wat fought against racism and brought his best to every game. His team-player mentality made him shine on and off the court, and he became an inspiration to his Japanese American community. After helping his team win the national championship, Wat was drafted by the New York Knicks, making him the first non-white athlete to play in the NBA.

Wat’s motivational story of rising to a challenge and bringing your best to everything you do is a reminder of the power we each have to inspire others—if we just take our shot!

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