*Content warning: sexual assault, violence* Basketball is played in the parks and playgrounds of the inner-city, changing the fate of players who manage to overcome the obstacles of these communities. Often this provides inspiring stories, but I’ll warn you, this is not that story. Fans may not be familiar with former Detroit Pistons player Reggie Harding, a guy that makes Dennis Rodman look like a saint.
Detroit’s east side is where Reggie’s story started, unfortunately it’s also where it abruptly ended. His story is synonymous with the city of Detroit, and is a lesson in the harsh reality of what the wrong decisions lead to, even after making it to the league.
Harding wasn’t born into the best situation, and him just making it to the NBA should somewhat be commended, as much as his negative actions are condemned. Reggie was born on May 4th 1942, being raised by his adopted parents after his biological mother decided adoption would be best. Some say she was forced by her relatives because she was only 17 at the time of birth. The adoption was a secret that was kept from Reggie, he didn’t learn about until later in life, when a local Detroit newspaper wrote a column about Harding. This is just the beginning of what would be one of the most interesting stories in NBA history.
Detroit Pistons: Harding was a high school phenom turned monster
Harding was destined for greatness on the basketball court, as by middle school he stood 6-foot-5 inches tall. He was mentored by Bill Irving who introduced him to the game of basketball. Around this same time, or shortly thereafter he also happened to catch his first criminal charge after stealing a vehicle and driving back to Detroit from a summer camp farm in Cadillac Michigan. His actions were prompted by being bullied as the only African American kid there, his height also made him a target. His actions resulted in him being placed on probation for the offense.
That was the beginning of Harding’s career as a criminal, but it was also the beginning of his success as a basketball player, which would contribute to overshadowing his off the court antics. Seemingly everyone turned a blind eye, only acknowledging him as a basketball phenomena around the city.
It’s said he had close to 140 collegiate offers to play division one basketball after dominating at Eastern High School. He averaged 31 points, 25 rebounds, 10 blocks, and 8 assists, leading the team to three city titles, and two state championships. He was a 6-foot-10 center who could dribble, pass, and shoot the ball, truly unprecedented at that time.
He met an up and coming singer Florence Ballard, both recognizable at the time for their talent. He was considered by many as the best high school basketball player ever, and she was a member of the Primettes, which later became the legendary female group the Supremes. One night Florence was walking home from a party, when Reggie stopped her asking if she needed a ride home. This is when the unthinkable happened, once inside the vehicle he allegedly raped Ballard at knifepoint. Some say this was the turning point in her life that spiraled her into a deep depression. Harding was never charged criminally for the events that took place in that parking lot that dreadful night.
After high school it was evident he wasn’t ready for the testing process to get into college. Reggie Harding was credited with a first grade reading level, but teachers would give him good grades because his talent. This hindered him, forcing him to attend a small college prep school in Tennessee. Afterwards he entered the NBA draft where Harding made history becoming the first player ever selected straight from high school with 29th overall pick in 1962 by the Detroit Pistons.
Reggie Harding in the big leagues both on and off the court
The league decided he was ineligible due to his stint at the college preparatory school since it was a learning institution. The rule stated a player could be drafted if not planning to attend college, however they have to be one year removed from high school. He played for a few small leagues that were available and the following year the Detroit Pistons drafted him again with their 48th pick, making him one of the only players to be selected twice in the annual NBA draft.
He finally made it to the NBA, yet his surroundings didn’t change. Harding may have benefited more as a player if he left his hometown. He was suspended before suiting up for the Detroit Pistons after finding himself in more legal troubles. This postponed his debut, making his first showing mid-season, playing in 39 games his first season after everything was settled.
As a rookie with the Detroit Pistons he averaged 11.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He only played three seasons in Detroit, averaging a double-double in the first two, as his issues were never lack of talent. His playing career showed promise early on and the league was taking notice.
Red Auerbach once said regarding his potential Harding could “match NBA’s top pivot-man” praising his play. He was in the big leagues now, making a name for himself on and off the court. In this contest he tallied 23 points and snagged 19 rebounds matched up against Bill Russell’s and the Boston Celtics.
It seems the more success Reggie had on the court in his profession, the more trouble he had off of it. By the time his professional career kicked off, he was involved with robberies, suspected of heroine distribution amongst other things. In the league he was known to carry a pistol in his gym bag, it was even rumored he had a prostitution ring for players.
Recently Marquez Johnson, former Milwaukee Bucks player made reference to Reggie Harding on the No Chill with Gilbert Arenas podcast in regards to his iconic role in White Men Can’t Jump. Johnson stated that his role in the film was inspired by Harding.
Watch the clip here:
He also detailed a incident in which Harding allegedly dangled a prostitute out of a window in San Francisco. He accused her of not paying him after rendering services to teammates on his behalf. Whether it was his drug addiction, upbringing, or just bad decision-making, the league didn’t change his street mentality.
He couldn’t shake the street life, no matter how far he was from the Motor City. The issues continued, eventually leading to the largest fine in NBA history up to that point. The two thousand dollar fine was handed out along with a season-long suspension after being convicted of assault on a police officer after an argument over a parking ticket. The Detroit Pistons later traded him to Chicago for a third round pick in 1967.
Detroit Pistons: The bitter end for Reggie Harding
After going to Chicago, Reggie Harding never found his footing and was finished with the Bulls after one season. He finished his career with 9.0 points 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in the NBA after just four seasons.
He made a quick stop in the ABA league, playing for Pacers in the 1968 season, when he averaged 13.4 points and 13.4 rebounds per game with the red white and blue ball. However his violent streak was on full display as a member of the Pacers. He pulled a gun on a teammate, accusing him of being a racist and another time he threatened a coach at halftime over playing time, and much more, subsequently ending his playing career professionally.
After basketball, Harding extended his criminal record doing prison time for a weapons charge. He cleaned up his life during his stint in Jackson State Prison and tried to make a comeback, although teams felt he was too much of a risk, which sent him back into the life of crime, leading to him being shot twice in the legs while attempting to flee the scene of a robbery.
His biological mother Lily Mae Thomas eventually entered his life, building a relationship. Trauma and pain hit Reggie when she was murdered by her spouse. At the funeral it’s said he stared at her coffin speechless for approximately fifteen minutes before giving his requests for his own funeral arrangements. Shortly after, Reggie Harding’s life came to a tragic ending in similar fashion. Gunned down by a once friend after a altercation between the two men, he died September 2nd, 1972 at the youthful age of thirty.
This is one of most heartbreaking stories in league history. The story of Reggie Harding has been taught to incoming rookies entering the league, creating a silver lining in his story as a learning tool for others. His life went full circle from a kid on Detroit’s eastside, to the NBA, then back to the same streets he roamed as child. Many fans never heard of Reggie Harding, but his legacy is now the lessons learned from his troubled life. That’s the true story behind the first high school player ever drafted.