Who’s the First Black NBA Player?

On October thirty first, nineteen fifty, the NBA was forever changed when Earl Lloyd stepped onto the NBA court with the Washington Capitals, becoming the first African American to play in an NBA game. And despite him breaking down this barrier in one of the most popular leagues today, he's often not remembered in the likes of others such as Jackie Robinson. And we're going to dive into why and give light to this historical basketball figure on today's episode of Daily Sports History. Welcome to Daily Sports History. I'm Ethan Reese, your guide to a rapid deep dive into sports history every day. And today's trivia question is what two other African Americans also played in the NBA in nineteen fifty Now, actually didn't start as long ago as Major League Baseball. It started in nineteen forty six and was created when the Basketball Association in America and the National Basketball League joined, creating the National Basketball Association. And when they started, as most leagues started back in the day, they were segregated, so only white players were able to play. And that was the same as the NFL and Major League Baseball, who were about to change that, but the reason being was just that was how things were done at that time. If you wanted to have a successful league, you had to be segregated. Although the Harlem Globe Tritters did prove that wrong and they're going to factor in to today's main focus. Earl Lloyd now Earle, was born in Virginia into a coal mining family, but quickly became a standout in sports in his segregated high school. That didn't mean he didn't draw attention due to his basketball skill, as he would grow to be six', five which at the time was really tall in, basketball and he would receive a scholarship To West Virginia State, university a historical black, college and he would lead the team to conference titles while averaging fourteen points in eight, rebounds and in his final year in, college he led them to an undefeated, season being the only team in The United states that went undefeated in. College but after that, time there was a lot of options for black basketball players after graduating college except The Harlem Globe, trotters And lloyd tried out for them and was able to make their team and was part of the team that actually defeated The Minneapolis lakers because this at this, time as we covered before In Harlem globetrotter, episodes at this, point the Hardm globetrotters were just a basketball, team no. Gimmicks they were just a good basketball team that played a brand of basketball similar to what we see more today in THE, nba rather than the jokes and gimmicks were used to. Now but then came the nineteen FIFTY Nba, draft and by this point the league was starting to grow a little bit, bigger And Major League, baseball the Largest american sports league at the, time had been. Segregated Jackie robinson had broke the color barrier and already been named AN, mvp so basketball was starting to do the. Same and in the nineteen fifty, Draft Chuck cooper ended up being the twelfth overall, pick With Earl lloyd going as the one hundredth overall pick in the ninth, round and The New York knicks would later sign Another Harlem Gloke, Trotters Nate Sweetwater. Clifton as all three of these basketball players Were African american and all three had had played with The Harlem Gloke, trotters the Top African american team at the, time and the reason Why Earl lloyd is the First African american player in THE nba was because he was drafted by The Washington, capitals who played one day Before Chuck cooper of The Boston celtics and four days Before Nate Sweetwater clifton of The New York. Knicks so that's one of the reasons why we don't Remember earl as much because there was other ones breaking the barrier with. Him it wasn't him just. Alone, Now Jackie robinson did Have Larry dobie who also broke the color barrier in The American league that same, year but these were done so close together that they kind of get lumped into a, group and they were All Harlem. Globetrotters they have a lot of. Connections but also another issue was he had played seven games with The capitals and then they, folded and shortly after that he got drafted into THE Us army and had to fulfill his military. Duties and then when he came back in the nineteen fifty three fifty four, season he was then signed by The Syracuse, nationals whould later on become The philadelphia seventy six. Ers he would also play with The Fort Wade, pistons who later became The Detroit, pistons and along with a teammate he had on that, Team Jim, tucker became the First African americans to play on AN nba championship, team but he would retire in nineteen sixty after just a nine year basketball. Career and another reason why he's not as well known as the likes Of Jackie robinson is that even though he had a sign, career he only averaged eight, points six rebounds on one assist over his. Career he was more of a defensive focused, player which is great on a, team but is often unsung and forgot about even on the greatest of. Players so Whereas Jackie robinson was An All star WINNING MVPs, Ear lloyd was just a quality player that every team needs. Now after, retirement he went into coaching and it actually ended up becoming the First African american assistant coach in THE nba and was named the head, coach making him the first full Time African american head coach in nineteen seventy. One as Previous African american Coaches john McLendon And Bill russell were player, coaches but following a slow, start he was relinquished of his, duties but would go on to work with The pistons as a, scout discovering great players such As Willis reed And Earl. Monroe and he would go on to work in The detroit public school system working with underprivileged, children teaching them job, skills and he would later be inducted into The Virginia Sports hall Of fame and Have february, ninth two thousand and one be known As Earl Lloyd day In virginia and would have get inducted into The Basketball hall Of fame in two thousand and, three and the basketball court in the FAMOUS Tc Williams High, school which is known For remember The, titans is actually named After Earl, lloyd who grew up in that same, town and his best season was in nineteen fifty four where he scored ten, points had seven, rebounds and to assist all career, highs but is a far cry from being. Stardom but just because he wasn't a superstar on the basketball, court him breaking down these, barriers along with his former teammates of The, globetrotters allowed the sport to open its doors and now over seventy percent OF nba players Are African american and each one of them can Think Earl lloyd for breaking down these barriers over seventy years, ago allowing them the chance and the opportunity to make it to THE nba to live out their. Dreams and if you want to learn more about basketball, history check out the Podcast Once upon A. Dribble Host josh And calvin dive into interesting topics surrounding basketball, history giving you a specific deep dive into what's going on into basketball and how it has grown into the game it is today and when there's gonna be a link in the show description for you to check out their. Show and if you enjoy today's, episode please leave us a like or a five star rating wherever you're. Listening it makes my day every TIME i see, that helping me know That i've done something special for. You so's if you could do that for, me it would be greatly. Appreciated and come back tomorrow for more daily sports. History and did you catch the answer to today's trivia question what two Other African americans made their debut in nineteen fifty With Earl. Lloyd the answer Is Chuck cooper with The Boston, celtics And Nate Sweetwater clifton with The New York, knicks all three of which previously played with The Harlem. Globetrotters