Kent Washington

Kent "Nut" Washington (born January 10, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player. He was the first American as well as the first black professional basketball player to play behind the Iron Curtain. He played professional basketball in the Polish People's Republic from 1979–83. He was the PLK Most Valuable Player in 1980. He won the Polish Cup in 1983. In total, he played professional basketball in Europe for 14 years. He is the author of the 2021 memoir Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland.

Early and personal life Washington was born in New Rochelle, New York, to Ralph (New Rochelle’s first black police detective) and Cloteal Washington. He has an older brother, Kurt.

He received a four-year scholarship to NCAA Division II Southampton College (now Stony Brook Southampton). There, he majored in sociology and scored 1,082 points for the Colonials. He completed his career as the school's career assists leader. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 10th round in 1977. Their daughter, Kehli, was born in Sweden, became a star softball player for New Rochelle High School, Rider University, and the Swedish national softball team, and played softball professionally in the Netherlands. In total, he played professional basketball in Europe for 14 years.

In Poland, Washington averaged 20 points per game, and playing in the Polish Basketball League (PLK) was the PLK Most Valuable Player in 1980.

His popularity was so great in PRL-era Poland during his five seasons there between 1978 and 1983 that it was dubbed "Kentomania". Washington, a black man, was a novelty for Polish fans; he said: "They touched my hair and my skin out of curiosity." One time a two-year-old bit Washington on his finger, thinking he was chocolate.

Sweden Washington later played professionally for 10 years in Sweden. He played for three teams in its top league—IFK Linköping, Plannja Basket Luleå, and BC Växjö, led the league in scoring in 1985–86, and averaged 23 points per game in his Swedish career.

Honors Washington was inducted into the New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

Memoir Washington is the author of the 2021 memoir Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland.