[1] He attended the segregated Scott High School in Woodville, Texas,[1] and played for coach John Payton,[2] winning back-to-back Prairie View Interscholastic League 1A state championships in 1957 and 1958.

[3] Beaty attended Prairie View A&M University, a small National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school outside of Houston, Texas.

[3] Beaty was named to the inaugural NBA All-Rookie Team in 1963, along with Dave DeBusschere, Terry Dischinger, John Havlicek and Chet Walker.

[6] A physical player, Beaty led the NBA in personal fouls in 1962–63 and 1965–66, and tied for the league lead in disqualifications during the 1963–64 season.

[15] Utah's success continued in the playoffs, sweeping the Texas Chaparrals in the first round (4–0), before defeating the Indiana Pacers (4–3) to advance to the 1971 ABA Finals.

[18] In total, Beaty played four seasons with the Stars, being named to the All-ABA Second Team twice and making the ABA All-Star Game three times (1971–1973), before returning to the NBA as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

[1] As reported by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Award writer Peter Vecsey, Beaty's Utah roommate Willie Wise said Beatty "was greatly influenced by Martin Luther King and became a staunch proponent for equality in all arenas, especially education.

[26][4] Earlier, in 1997, Beatty was named to the ABA's 30-man all-time team,[3] and in 1989, was inducted into the Prairie View A&M Sports Hall of Fame, and is a recipient of the William "Billy" Nicks Legend Award.

[27] Host Josh Levin ends every episode of the Slate sports podcast Hang Up and Listen by saying, "Remember Zelmo Beaty."