1915 | The Black Fives Foundation

The Original Nexus of Blacks and Jews in Basketball (Parts 8-9 of 9)

During the 1910s, a Lower East Side basketball coach brought Jewish Americans and African Americans together in the sport for the first time. Who was he? What did he do? Was he Jewish?

Legendary professional basketball player John Isaacs poses in front of the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem, representing his former team with New York Renaissance Big Five retro merchandise, circa 2006. (© The Black Fives Foundation)

Happy Birthday John ‘Boy Wonder’ Isaacs

We send Happy Birthday remembrances to former pro basketball star John Isaacs, who was born September 30, 1915. The day we showed him our ‘Rens’ throwback jersey is a fond memory now.

Peter Vecsey: Isaacs Gone But Not Forgotten

Isaacs was born Sept. 15, 1915. After retiring from serious competition, he coached Tiny Archibald, Chris Mullin and a thousand others. Later, he became a counselor at the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club in The Bronx. He died Monday after a stroke. He was 93.

Meet An Ageless Wonder

This article by Sonja Steptoe is from the Sports Illustrated archives (the “SI Vault”), and originally appeared in print in the magazine’s December 24, 1990 issue. We felt it would be appropriate to re-publish the article here now, in honor of John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs, the former basketball star with the New York Rens (of Harlem) who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93. It’s easy to see why Mr. Isaacs was such a hero and friend to so many.

R.I.P. John ‘Boy Wonder’ Isaacs, 1915-2009

It’s with deep sorrow that I report the passing of John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs. John passed away this morning at the Albert Einstein Hospital in the Bronx, New York. He had suffered a stroke last week, from which he never arose. He was 93 years old.