OFFSIDE Kentomania

An exclusive interview with Kent Washington, the first Black professional basketball player to play behind the Iron Curtain. He won the Polish Cup in 1983, played an episode in the iconic "Mis" or "Teddy bear" comedy, and has written a book about his life in Poland which has just been released in Polish. 

Kent Washington, the first Black professional basketball player to play behind the Iron Curtain.

Photo: Radio Poland

A basketball tour with his college brought him to communist Poland in May 1976 and later provided an opportunity that he could never have imagined playing regularly here instead of sitting at a bench during Los Angeles Lakers games. He played professional basketball in the Polish People’s Republic from 1979 to 1983. While in this country he learnt the language, embraced the people and 'felt Polish". He described his experience in the 2021 memoir “Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland.” which has just been released in Poland.

OFFSIDE is presented by Agnieszka Bielawska with a contributing report by Danuta Isler