Red Klotz, a first generation son of Russian Jewish immigrants, is one of basketball’s greatest pioneers. During a career spanning eight decades, Red opposed the Harlem Globetrotters 14,000 times, beating them just once’on his winning shot. Despite never topping 5′7″ Red overcame his diminutive size, anti-Semitism, the Great Depression, and WWII to succeed in basketball.
During his storied career with the Washington Generals, the opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters, Red helped introduce basketball to 116 countries and became an ambassador for America and the Jewish people.
Born and reared in the “Jewish basketball hotbed” of South Philadelphia, Red was denied entry to Temple University because of a quota on Jewish ballplayers. Instead, Red starred with his Jewish best friend, Herman Drizen, at (Catholic) Villanova University.
Red went pro with the Philadelpha Sphas (South Philadelphia Hebrew Association), where he was mentored by Jewish NBA trailblazer Eddie Gottlieb. In 1948 Red became the shortest player to win an NBA championship, with the Baltimore Bullets
This biography traces Red’s unlikely journey as the game’s most-traveled man.
