El Primero: The story of the first Hispanic player in the NBA

Long before winning a title with the Lakers, Butch Lee was a pioneer -- an explosive, gritty player from Puerto Rico who proved himself at New York's famed Rucker Park before becoming the NBA's first Hispanic player. (Director/Producer/Editor)

[@moonhoneymami]

I looked this up so randomly and I’ve never been so happy to see that the first Puerto Rican nba player was Afro Latino 🙌🏾

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Love U Ma

[@moonhoneymami]

😳 what?

[@aferrer74]

Wow I'm a Celtics fan and I didn't know that a Puerto Rican was the first Hispanic in the NBA 🇵🇷👍💪☝️🏆 I want AL Harford to win a Ring he will be the first dominicano to win a NBA Finals ring🇩🇴👍💪☝️🏆 he looks like a brother 🤣 look @ his name butch Lee.

[@user-gn4ni9fz3x]

Boricua Hispanic Indian n black Iam. Puerto Rican. I happy about that to. We puerto Rican era mix n some puerto Rican don't look black but they are by DNA like me we only 25 porcet Spain the rest is black n India taíno. That why we get well with the people like bush lee n magic Johnson. That was a nice story n history. Both of my grandma was black n both of my grandfather was white like Spain but only 25 porcet Spain wow that crazy. God bless you.

[@moonhoneymami]

@@user-gn4ni9fz3x God bless you too thank you for sharing

[@troohhippy5929]

Love my 🇲🇽🇵🇷 heritage. Mark Aguirre first ever 🇲🇽🇺🇸 NBA player as well with 🇵🇷 Butch Lee.

[@gabrielcamacho332]

DJ Rango dang we can make some beautiful babies ;)

[@robbarker450]

Yep a lot of people don't know that respect your knowledge 👊🏽💯

[@LatAm13]

DJ Rango beautiful and smart 😍. Arriba Mexico y PR 🇲🇽 🇵🇷

[@ivanluna4892]

Alberto Almanza 🇲🇽 first foreign in Draft 1962 Pick up Los Ángeles Lakers. Mexican team olimpic in 1960 and 1964...In 1970 Manuel Raga🇲🇽 Pick up Atlanta Hawks

[@elduraco6890]

You know dam well that PuertoRican is more prideful than Mexicooo lmao naaa jk

[@tr9478]

Puerto Ricans are trail blazers.🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷😎

[@aferrer74]

Yes we dominate everything . Hollywood. , baseball, boxing , basketball, Hip hop , war etc 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷👍💪☝️👑🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Banjo232]

When he would takeover the game in college I remember the TV analysts always saying "It's Butch Lee time"

[@thescatman5029]

Butch is THE only cat to win a New York City Public School, NCAA and NBA Title!

[@michaelcampbell5817]

The Scatman, Butch Lee isn't the only one to win High school, college and Pro. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, won high school, three NCAA championships and six NBA titles.

[@thescatman5029]

@@michaelcampbell5817 Kareem won Catholic school. I had indicated public school. It's all good, though.

[@jcostas02]

You can add a championship in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) of Puerto Rico as well.

[@udiggit13]

Grew up in the same neighborhood as Butch, watched him play in the local tournaments. I wanted to see that match up between him and Carlton Green another city legend.

[@nestornazario2130]

Are his parents Puertorriqueños or Black Americans?

[@jaycompany4886]

If that hug that magic gave butch lee after winning the title today, it would've gone viral.

[@RANDY4410]

Butch was great very nice humble guy we lived 8 blocks from each other and we use to speak back in the 70's i played a lot of street ball but i never played against Lee, great guy God bless him

[@carmencaraballo9732]

Butch was born in Puerto Rico, his parents were African-American. To label him Hispanic (the white man's term) or Latino is incorrect, because his CULTURE is that of an African-American. Now he has earned the love of the Puertorican community, by simply being who he is, a WONDERFUL human being! You simply have to love how he humbled Dean Smith back in the Olympics & the NCAA Tournament!

[@pr_tr4p_g4wd20]

carmen caraballo El nació en Puerto Rico eso lo hace Boricua de nacimiento.

[@Yanikleko]

Carmen This is what you have to learn. Race and ethnicity are two different things. He was born in Puerto Rico, that in itself makes him Puertorrican, Hispanic. That's his ethnicity. He's Latino. He is black. That's his race. There are several known athletes with Latino ethnicity and black race. Roberto Clemente, Felix Trinidad, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Delgado, Orlando Cepeda, Vladimir Guerrero, Ronald Acuña, etc.

[@jcostas02]

If I'm not mistaken, his parents were from one of the Virgin Islands- I think St. Thomas. They commonly come over to PR to give birth as the conditions are better. Many of his teammates on the PR team weren't even born on the island. Having spent his formative years in the US he surely lives and acts lives like an American. Nevertheless, he lives in PR, speaks Spanish and lives like a Puerto Rican now. To say he was the first player born in the Latin American to play for the NBA is legit.

[@ricosuavepr1207]

@@Yanikleko Well technically speaking a latino encompass culture, ethnicity, and identity of Latin America he was born in PR to American parents and moved to NY two days after he was born. He just recently over the years embraced the culture and his ethnic background would be American and Virgin Islander. Now all those other guys were all born to either Native Puerto Ricans or Dominicans so that's not the same thing culturally, ethnically or within the identity.

[@ARIZJOE]

@@jcostas02 Interesting details. Al McGuire loved Butch - because he was a New York tough guy who could deliver in the clutch. "Go ahead and throw it, Butch. You can't hit the scoreboard."

[@tppwttiger2244]

Alfred “Butch” Lee was an amazing player. He came to our Island 🌴 and immediately won a championship. With the Rio Piedras Cardinals. A point guard that manage the game real well. He coached my hometown team the Arecibo Captains in 1992. And put my hometown team back on the map by taken them to the finals. I was so glad and honor that he coached my hometown Arecibo. So not only was he good as a Basketball player, but also as a coach. NBA: Being drafted the first Puertorican born in the NBA is an honor that he will always treasure all his life. Butch didn’t last that long in the NBA because he had a tougher competition, the NBA players in the 70’s were too good! But if we could run the clock backwards Butch Lee will be burning the league he will be a superstar! Because the NBA league today is garbage. Top 4 Greatest Puertorican Basketball players ever: 1)Raymond Dalmau 2)Neftali Rivera 3)Hector Blondet 4)Alfred “Butch” Lee

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

1st Afro-Boricua 🇵🇷 to play in the NBA

[@mikeroman5872]

You ain't latin. We Puerto rican, not back bra. Ddont comment on my people

[@daquontindal8855]

@@mikeroman5872 you sound dumb because puerto rican is not a race lol

[@mikeroman5872]

@@daquontindal8855 If you're black, Let you know just shut the fuck. You blacks are the only ones Who go around try to tell people what the race is. And everyones tired of it' Letting you know right know ,watch your mouth.

[@kout31]

@@mikeroman5872 Shut up son.

[@jalvarez8204]

@@YaBoiWicked Werd!!!

[@shinrips]

Butch Lee was money. He was the Pearl before the Pearl. He was unstoppable. Remember that power 3-Jerome Whitehead, Bo Ellis and Butch Lee. Their NCAA dreams dreams came true. Since then, Marquette had big time talent, Dwayne Wade, Doc Rivers, Maurice Lucas, and many more.

[@ramongonzalez7458]

Beautiful. .Gracias

[@waldemarlucena537]

🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@darlenewilson8808]

Amen.....about time!

[@maliekjcksn]

If I wasn't for his health getting in the way, could have been among the greatest short NBA players.

[@ARIZJOE]

Butch Lee is known for two big things, 1) Marquette's 1977 NCAA Championship, and 2) the 1976 Montreal Olympics where he scored all those points for Puerto Rico. Al McGuire's team lost 3 in a row at home that year, but he knew he had a chance in the tournament with Butch and several good big men.

[@jaycompany4886]

Yeah, i remember him at Marquette....and in the NBA too, fell in love with that school

[@jcostas02]

Although he just missed beating the USA in 76 Olympics, he was one of the narrator's when the Puerto beat the USA in the 2004 Olympics. Btw - he did his narration in Spanish.

[@miguelantonioacevedopellic1945]

If im not mistaken. He played for my hometown team Ponce Leones and won a championship as a player maybe be as a coach too. Not sure. He burned the PR League.

[@jasongonzalez2856]

Boricua 🇵🇷💪❤️

[@rafaelvega538]

Orgullo boricua

[@josepagan5170]

LIKE OR NOT TO MANYS BUTCH IS PUERTORICAN AND PROUDTO BE. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

[@theknow7557]

The best way to sum up Butch, Solid!

[@oldpirate7434]

Saw him played in the Pan American Games back in the 70's.

[@fredinplop]

¡EXCELENTE!

[@josepagan5170]

BUTCH LEE IS A PROUDOF PUERTO RICO LIKE OR NOT TO THOSE THEY NOT LOVE PUERTORRIQUEÑOS COÑO

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

1977 Ncaa champion 1980 nba champion Rucker Park legend

[@takeoverusa]

Incredible. God is real & good. God Bless you Butch Lee and love to you and your love ones from NY2CA and the Rich Port of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. Amazing story inspirational career. Much love❤family. It’s a Beautiful day. JL

[@heribertoperez3753]

Foto Econica que se vera por toda la vida. Gracias Butch por darle tanta Gloria a PR. Nunca te olvidaremos.

[@9some]

y fue boricua!

[@rubenraya3310]

First latino basketball player 💯🇨🇺👍

[@illmatic5032]

Why u have a Cuban flag? Take it off

[@anonymousperson8818]

He is afro latino

[@aferrer74]

🇵🇷👍💪☝️👑🔥

[@rafaelggraciamachuca8792]

Hay que conocer la historia para saber la verdad de los acontecimientos.

[@LaPotraBellaca]

He's awesome

[@SmileyRock17]

Other countries. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. We are Americans but when it comes to the Olympics we represent both sides even though we love to represent as Puerto Rican.

[@llaboy2000]

awesome

[@danielgonzales5502]

Stop hating he's Puerto Rican! Undeniably a Blackman but Boricua nonetheless-get over it haters!🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇦🇫🇦🇫🇦🇫🇦🇫🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@moonhoneymami]

Mr. F. What do you mean by that?

[@thescatman5029]

That '76 US team had Butch Lee's teammate from Dewitt Clinton High, Steve "The Bear" Shepherd!

[@mrnjo7]

When I grew up the best thing was going to Palisades Park in NJ !!! But in West 134th street between Amsterdam and Broadway and went to the Annunciation Catholic School in131st Street Convent Ave. Played Basketball in PS131 outside court ! Then went to Bishop Dubois in w153rd Amsterdam Ave! 🆒🆒🆒

[@mikeroman5872]

Love to butch, Latinos in the house

[@michaelr.4734]

Butch Lee - Marquette BasQuetteball! 1977 NCAA Champions!

[@nelsonvazquez3419]

Respect big boss

[@123slasher.16]

Butch Lee was a New York power guard like Vinnie Johnson was for Detroit a decade later.

[@glenwilson5402]

Good all player,went to J H S. 139 ,Dewitt Clinton HS went to school with him. Grew up on 148 st.

[@keyvan-268]

Erick, excellent work. How did you get the file clips from the papers?

[@ErickGalindo]

Keyvan - they’re from a wire service we subscribed to. Can’t remember the name. I think it’s in the end credits

[@ErickGalindo]

Thanks

[@maliekjcksn]

Reminds of the NBA version of Carlos Delgado

[@mrnjo7]

Kareem looked taller than 7'2" !!!??? I can imagine what the African 7'6' Motombo must have looked when in NBA with Philadelphia !??? But as I said Dominique flew over Motombo's defense and a top of the board high in the face never seen in Africa Dunk !🆒😀♥️🇵🇷🇺🇸⭐ With Dock Rivers and Kevin Willis ! My first team was Head Coach Red Holtzman ,Cassie Russell,Dave Debaucher, Mike Riorden, Phil Jackson ,Earl the Pearl Monroe ,Willis Reed and last but not least Walt Clyde Frazier ! Them dayz another Frazier was in town !!! Smokin Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali !

[@gatilleropr1]

WEEEEEEEEEPPPPAAAAAAAAA!!!

[@mdviIa]

Yo creo que el primer Español fue Walace Bryant, pivot center de 2, 14 metros nacido en la base aerea norteamericana de Torrejon de Ardoz (Madrid).

[@davidhall4401]

Vale. Estoy aprendiendo algo nuevo todos los dias. Muy interesante.

[@dwightlove3704]

A Young John Thompson in the background!!!!!!

[@el_padron_1795]

🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷 Boricua hasta la muerte coño

[@ricardosoto5770]

Rolando Blackman is Panamanian, used to play for the Mavericks and the Knicks.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

ricardo soto panameño 🇵🇦

[@jeremiahsantellan5351]

@Mr. Bi Rucho mejicans no Mexicans

[@juliomartinez3045]

@Mr. Bi Rucho los mexicanos son mexicanos los venezolanos venezolanos los hondureños hondureños pero todos son hispanos porque el español o Castellano les llega a través de España el único país que no habla castellano es Brasil que habla portugués

[@Marreroortiz]

In what year was that USA vs PR game???? THANKS

[@n.a.flores9584]

1976

[@etrigueros]

Very strange Rolando Blackman from Panama was not mentioned, one of the greatest.

[@robertdewaynefranklin1283]

As a Panamanian myself, I'd say the documentary is about the first latino ever in the NBA, Rolando indeed was born in Panama City, Panama and then moved to NY when he was 8 yo, but was selected in 9th overall in the 1981 NBA draft, Butch Lee was drafted 3 years before.

[@tankertuff9947]

Either way it’s all love! Rolando brings me back to when I was a kid! 🇵🇷 🇵🇦 all love family!!!

[@dinaflores6593]

Man all cant be mixed

[@dwaynerichburg1706]

all Humans are descendants from the Black man of africa , so everybody can deny that if they want to, but it's facts. The only people who can consider them self spanish are spainards. Every body else who comes from hispanic or latino countries are just that hispanic or latino!!

[@moonhoneymami]

Dwayne Richburg black woman** ❤️

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Butch Lee speaks English like a Puerto Rican...

[@robertchavez8759]

Great story I never new about him ... And never Would've took him 4 being Hispanic but that's the beauty of 2days world any color can be a certain ethnicity now ... I've seen black German so yea times have changed but I'm not mad or hating ... The most beautiful people in the world are usually mixed race... Sad how its like this and yet racism still exist ... But racism wouldn't exist if it weren't 4 classism ... Money is the reason 4 hate ... But the NBA never discriminates on race ... And neither does God who gives you that NBA talent ... So a lot of NBA greats coming out of the U.S.

[@oluhamilton2121]

Honestly threw me off when I found out that he was from PR. I was 'huh'?

[@YaBoiWicked]

Why so theres is alot of great Hispanic players n many of my ppl come in different colors

[@oluhamilton2121]

@@YaBoiWicked Don't worry, I am Hispanic ALSO. Didn't mean anything by it but l was thrown off by his name

[@YaBoiWicked]

@@oluhamilton2121 well para q veas we come in different colors my grandfather was actually a tad bit darker than this man too

[@oluhamilton2121]

@@YaBoiWicked He didn't have a accent or Hispanic name, much like Bernie Williams, whose family emigrated from USA TO P.R. I found that to be unusual.

[@oluhamilton2121]

@@YaBoiWicked I do that all the time when I walk into a bodega, hear them make kokoliso jokes, l respond in Spanish and they freak the F out.

[@thesolefritonetwork6291]

[FLVR] ✊🏾🥑

[@rpgf8248]

🇵🇷🇵🇷😤😤

[@erickmoran2825]

This is old to me. I 💘 it to see a latino repent

[@user-bo3ol7ly7n]

Puertorico for a small island we beat teams the we were not suppose too jj barea dallas Carlos arroyo,pr power.

[@dinaflores6593]

Haters

[@asrealasitgets7798]

First Latino really, know the different between Hispanic and Latino…hint, Spaniards are Hispanic not Latino. Understand the difference

[@adangbe]

Kareem Abdul Jabar was the first!

[@klcart]

Kareem was Trinidadian.

[@adangbe]

@@klcart You sure he isn't part Cuban?

[@klcart]

@@adangbe He has spoken many times about his grandparents being from Trinidad.

[@dinaflores6593]

Or hispanic

[@jose_4196]

Hes not Hispanic hes not Puerto Rican hes African American he said it

[@hisroyalhighness8566]

He's black not Hispanic

[@user-rd2qp6ow2x]

Hispanic isn’t race black people can be Hispanic

[@aferrer74]

Is he African American or Puerto Rican? People here are commenting that he is not Puerto Rican?🙄🤷‍♂️🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@hisroyalhighness8566]

@@user-rd2qp6ow2x Hispanic is Spanish and indigenous Obviously he's African that speaks Spanish.

[@stevenxprx1216]

​@@hisroyalhighness8566We are a mix between spaniards, africans and tainos educate yourself first

[@juliomartinez3045]

Orgulloso de el,pero el no es Hispano

[@josedelgado4317]

Representa lo que es puerto rico hermano

[@juliomartinez3045]

@@josedelgado4317 antes de todo soy fanático de él ,varias veces lo entrevisté para radio, me siento orgulloso de su trayectoria pero es una realidad él no es hispano, nació de carambola en un barco estaba en agua de Puerto Rico, eso no le quita méritos sólo hago la salvedad de lo que es cierto

[@thecsr2944]

Hay una realidad en todo esto, y es que para ser latino, hispano o simplemente puertorriqueño no necesariamente tienes que ser jibarito con mancha de platano, uno es del pais en que nace, en cualquier lugar de este planeta es asi.

[@eyeje19]

Puerto Ricans are not international players, they are Equally Americans...

[@tom11zz884]

Looks like a Black man to me :)

[@ErickGalindo]

tom11zz884 Hispanic is an ethnicity. We come in all shapes and colors. Thanks for watching.

[@9some]

lol

[@9some]

… explain that w/numbers and facts, plis

[@9some]

you are getting yours, fool

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

tom11zz884 Afro Latinx/ Afro Hispanic people are of African heritage The first Africans were enslaved by Spaniards 🇪🇸 and were sent to the Caribbean South America and Central America by boat and ship! Even some Spaniards intermarried their African slaves as well as the natives Hispanics/Latinos can be black or white, also ethnically mixed/racially mixed

[@josephgarcia5228]

The Spanish from Spain are not Latinos or Hispanics so please do not put us together at all.

[@CarlosRodriguez-xb5yx]

FY

[@javimolina5012]

Este comentario me hace sangrar los ojos, no son latinos pero si hispanos.

[@jcostas02]

Wrong!!! Spain isn't Hispanic???? They are the cradle of Hispanic culture. Spanish is a Latin-based language so of course Spaniards are Latinos. Spain is not Latin American or Hispanic American for obvious geographical reasons.

[@josecasanova5208]

🇵🇷