Kent Washington

This article is about the basketball player. For the city, see Kent, Washington. For the neighborhood, see Kent (Washington, D.C.).
Kent Washington
Personal information
Born (1956-01-10) January 10, 1956 (age 68)
New Rochelle, New York, United States
Listed height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Career information
High schoolNew Rochelle High School
CollegeSouthampton College (1974–1978)
Playing career1974–1995
PositionPoint guard
Career history
As player:
1978–81Start Lublin
1981–83Zagłębie Sosnowiec
1983–8?IFK Linköping
198?–19??Plannja Basket Luleå
19??–1995BC Växjö
As coach:
00000000IFK Linköping
00000000Luleå BBK
1997–?Iona Gaels
2000–04Mercy College

Kent "Ken" Washington (born January 10, 1956; nicknamed "Nut")[1][2] 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.

  1. ^ Haggerty, Nancy (June 12, 2020). "Breaking barriers: Washington first American to play pro basketball behind Iron Curtain". The Journal News.
  2. ^ "Historia Polskiej Ligi Koszykówki Mężczyzn". plkhistory.ugu.pl. Retrieved May 2, 2023.