A scholarly look at 1970s pro basketball and how the NBA became synonymous with being a Black league … lthough she could have provided more historical background on Black labor movements, Runstedtler makes a convincing argument that Black players’ successful labor battles should be considered part of the long freedom struggle of Black Americans … Deeply researched, and grounded in Black thought from the period, relying in particular on Black Sports magazine as an crucial resource … Overall, Black Ball is an intriguing look at professional basketball in the 1970s.
