... Lloyd became the NBA's first black assistant coach with Detroit. Clifton, a talented baseball and basketball player, excelled as a big man for the Knicks after attending Xavier University and fighting in the World War II. [6] He was the first African American to participate in a college basketball game south of the Mason–Dixon line.[7]. * Indicates member of the Hall of Fame. In commemoration of Black History Month, we shine a light on one trailblazer each day and today, we honour the first African player in the NBA, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon. Earl Lloyd, who became the first black player to play in the NBA in 1950, died Thursday at 86. [2], Cooper was born and died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 8X10 FramedPlease look at all pictures as they are part of the description Please look at my other Great vintage Black African American Photos that I am sellingThank you for looking and Be well! Earl Lloyd is the first player … When officials from other teams learned of Boston's interest in Cooper, they suggested he shouldn't be drafted because he was black. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fameon Sep… Lloyd's alma mater, West Virginia State, confirmed the death. Before December 26, 1964, five Black players wearing the same uniform had never taken the court for the start of an NBA game. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. During his legendary career, Lloyd averaged 8.4 points during 560 regular-season NBA games. Earl Lloyd, the first black player in NBA history, died Thursday. [4] He worked to improve his hometown of Pittsburgh, serving on the Pittsburgh school board, and was appointed the director of parks and recreation for the city, becoming the first black department head. It did not provide details. Earl Lloyd, the first black player to appear in an NBA game, died Thursday at the age of 86. LIKE BLACKAMERICAWEB ON FACEBOOK. Charles Henry Cooper (September 29, 1926 – February 5, 1984) was an American professional basketball player. Edward Kitch—AP. Cooper was the first black player selected in the NBA draft in 1950, however was not inducted into the Hall of Fame until this year. [4] He then attended and played a semester of basketball for West Virginia State College (now University) before being drafted to serve in the United States Navy in the final stages of World War II. Earl Lloyd, the first black player to appear in an NBA game, died Thursday at the … Still, the players went on to have respectable careers. Many people do not realize that long before there was the WNBA, there was a woman who attempted to join the ranks of professional basketball.six-foot-three Lusia Harris of Delta State University was taken in the seventh round of the 1977 NBA draft by … Earl Lloyd, the first black player in NBA history, died Thursday. Lloyd, who celebrated his 86th birthday earlier this month, was a star player at West Virginia State and had a solid career for a number of pro teams. READ MORE STORIES ON BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM: Copyright © 2021 Interactive One, LLC. All Rights Reserved. It is because of him that 75 percent of the NBA is now the percentage of African Americans in the league . Earl Lloyd, Oct. 30, 1972. He and two others, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Earl Lloyd, became the first African-American players in the NBA in 1950. Lloyd earned his historic first NBA game distinction by virtue of his team’s schedule, otherwise it could have been possible for all of the players to have made their pro debuts at the same time. On April 25, 1950, during the first real NBA draft, it was Chuck Cooper, who was the first black draftee basketball player in history. He was 86. [4] During his time at Duquesne, the team had a 78–19 record and was invited to the then-prestigious National Invitation Tournament twice. Brown selected Cooper 14th overall. Earl Lloyd, the first black professional NBA player, passed away Thursday at the age of 86. By Amir Vera, CNN. Cooper made his NBA debut on November 1, 1950, against the Fort Wayne Pistons. Editor's Picks. Chuck Cooper broke the NBA color barrier — and he did it right here in Boston. View player profile, bio, stats, news and video highlights. He and two others, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Earl Lloyd, became the first African-American players in the NBA in 1950. Cooper was also the first African American to be drafted by a National Basketball Association (NBA) team, as the first pick of the second round by the Boston Celtics. Brown, coached by the legendary Red Auerbach and a teammate of the great Bob Cousy. On April 25, 1950, the Boston Celtics drafted Charles “Chuck” Cooper, followed by the May 24 signing of Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton by the New York Knicks and the debut of the Washington Capitols’ Earl Lloyd who was the first Black player in an NBA game on October 31. Two other black players joined the NBA that seasonthe Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper in the second round and the New Y… Lusia Harris. West Virginia State, his alma mater, confirmed the death but did not provide details. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE. Bill Russell made history as the NBA’s first black head coach. The NBA was founded in June 1946, with its first season played in 1946–47. Earl Lloyd, the first black player in NBA history, died Thursday. He was 86. After that he spent a year playing for the Harlem Magicians[4] before injuring his back in a car crash and leaving basketball. He died in 1984. Archie Clark was one of the first black players to get a basketball scholarship from the U. The NBA’s color lines were broken in the 1950-51 season when three Black players made their mark on a series of teams. Chuck Cooper: The first black NBA draft pick is going to the Hall of Fame He broke the NBA’s color barrier 69 years ago. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. During his NBA career, Cooper played a total of 409 games, scored 2,725 points for an average of 6.66 points per game, had 2,431 rebounds for an average of 5.9 per game, and had 733 assists for an average of 1.79 per game. The first African-American ever to see action in an official NBA game was Earl Francis Lloyd. Chuck Cooper and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, also African Americans, played that season, too. If any one player deserves the designation "the Jackie Robinson of basketball," it's Bill Russell, the NBA's first black superstar, who altered the balance of … In 1950 Chuck Cooper an All-American basketball player from Duquesne University (a private Catholic school in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was selected in the second round by the Boston Celtics. Nearly 75 percent of the players in the NBA are African-Americans and around 81 percent of them are people of color (Latino and Asian players). Wataru Misaka debuted in 1947–48 as the first non-white player and the first Asian American to play in the league. NBA & ABA Player Directory. The first African American to play in the NBA was Earl Lloyd. On April 25, 1950, he became the first African American drafted into the NBA when the Boston Celtics chose him with the 14th overall pick. (Strode followed two months later.) Finally, at the start of the 1950-51 season, Earl Lloyd was the first black to play in an NBA game, as his team started its season a day before either Cooper's or Clifton's. He makes special mention of Chuck Cooper, who was the first black NBA player to be drafted in, and shuns comparison with Jackie Robinson, the man who … ... Lloyd became the first Black coach in the NBA and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. On April 25th, 1950, Boston Celtics owner Walter A. He was a pioneer. As some statistics were not kept during that time, it is not known how many blocked shots, steals or turnovers he had during his career. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. On March 21st 1946 Washington became their marquee signing: the first black player to sign an NFL contract in the postwar era. [5] He played four years with the Celtics,[3] then was traded to the Milwaukee Hawks before ending his career as a member of the Ft. Wayne Pistons. C. ooper was a roommate of Hall Of Fame guard Bob Cousy, and later went on to become a social worker and eventually the director of Minnesota’s Park and Recreations board. The shooting guard from Pittsburgh was an All-American selection at college and the first black player drafted in the NBA, selected by the Boston Celtics. [1] He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 9, 2019. [4] He attended Pittsburgh's Westinghouse High School and graduated in 1944. First Black NBA Player. Only 2,184 spectators attended Lloyd’s history-making game and saw then-NBA President Maurice Podoloff ceremonially toss up the opening tip. Earl Lloyd was the first African-American to play in an NBA game. Aug 15, 2019. The Boston Bruins will retire their No.22 jersey in honor of Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first black player.. O’Ree made history as the league’s first Black player on … By Matthew Impelli On 8/27/20 at 1:44 PM EDT. It did not provide details. Mon, Jan 11, 2021. He first played for the Washington Capitals and helped the Syracuse Nationals win the title in 1955. Chuck told the team newsletter, “I’m convinced that no NBA team would have made the move on blacks in 1950 if the Celtics hadn’t drafted me early.” Life before the NBA He blossomed into an NBA point guard following a standout career with the Gophers in baseball, too. Index of Letters. [3] Following his service, he enrolled at Duquesne University where he was an All-American, started all four years, and set the school record for total points with 990 in four seasons. No details were released as to the cause of death. No NBA player had scored 50 points in back-to-back nights since Bryant did it with 60 against the Memphis Grizzlies and 50 against the … Shortly afterwards, Nat Clifton was the first black player to sign a contract with an NBA team. Lloyd was the first black player to play in an NBA game, when he was on the Washington Capitols in 1950. 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