BOSTON – Chuck Cooper III often felt frustrated when folks discussed the first Black players in sports. They’d always mention Jackie Robinson for baseball, and that was fine. But when it came to basketball, they’d leap to Bill Russell, which didn’t sit well with him.
Cooper knew the truth: his father, Chuck Cooper, was among the first Black players in the NBA, along with Earl Lloyd and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. This trio shattered barriers at the start of the 1950-51 season.
This past Sunday, a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics marked a shift in recognition. The league is now honoring Cooper and his groundbreaking peers on February 1 each year as Black History Month kicks off.
At the TD Garden, families of these players were celebrated in a big way. They took pictures at center court, were introduced during halftime, and shared their thoughts with the press. Kevin Lloyd, Earl’s son, reflected on his father’s legacy, saying, “He’d be pleased with how the game has changed. He’s smiling knowing he’s a part of this.”
Jataun Robinson, Clifton’s daughter, echoed that sentiment, wishing her father could see the tribute.
On April 25, 1950, Chuck Cooper made history as the first Black player drafted by the NBA when the Celtics selected him in the second round. Earl Lloyd soon followed, stepping onto the court for the first time on October 31, 1950. Clifton, who played for the Harlem Globetrotters, was instrumental in breaking down barriers. The Knicks faced pressure to sign him, and they did, paving the way for future Black athletes.
Despite their trailblazing paths, these players didn’t shine in the spotlight during their careers because college basketball had more fame at that time. Cooper noted, “The education process started with Ron Thomas’s book ‘They Cleared the Lane.’ We kept pushing to share our stories.” Gradually, all three were inducted into the Hall of Fame by 2019, and their achievements are now recognized through various NBA honors.
Cooper believes Boston is the right place for the Pioneers Classic; after all, the Celtics were the first to draft a Black player and to have an all-Black starting five. He advises young people about making choices for the right reasons, as this can lead to extraordinary outcomes—much like the Celtics’ 18 championships.
Current Celtics star Jaylen Brown enjoyed the event. He appreciated the homage to past players, saying, “To know where you’re going, you have to know where you came from.”
Beyond honoring history, the Pioneers Classic supports the future. The NBA Foundation and the NBPA Foundation each donated $75,000 in scholarships to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like West Virginia State, where Lloyd graduated, and Xavier University, where Clifton studied. They plan to invest $750,000 into HBCUs over the next five years.
This event isn’t just about celebrating achievements; it’s about inspiring the next generation and reinforcing the importance of history in shaping the future of basketball and beyond.
For more details on the impact of Black players in sports, check out Ron Thomas’s insightful work on the subject or visit NBA’s official announcements.
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