1950 was a year of awakening for the NBA. In 1950, four black men played in the NBA: Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, HanK DeZonie and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton. They were the first African-Americans to play in the NBA.
On October 31, 1950, Earl Lloyd, a member of the Washington Capitols, became the first African-American to play in an NBA game when he entered a game against the Rochester Royals.
Chuck Cooper was the first African-American to be drafted out of college by an NBA team, the Boston Celtics. Chuck played 66 games in his first season with the Celtics. He averaged 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. He would have been the first African-American to play in the NBA, but Earl Lloyd played one day before him because of the schedules.
The first Aftrican-American player to sign an NBA contract was Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, when his Harlem Globetrotter contract was purchased by the New York Knicks. Earlier, Harold Hunter out of North Carolina College had signed a contract, but he was cut during pre-season and never played in the NBA.
Other early black NBA players were Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, and Elgin Baylor.
O.J. Simpson
Earl Lloyd and Chuck Cooper.
Earl Lloyd of the Washington Capitols against the Rochester Royals on October 31, 1950.
Nat Clifton and Charles Cooper1950 was a year of awakening for the NBA. In 1950, four black men played in the NBA: Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, HanK DeZonie and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton. They were the first African-Americans to play in the NBA.Read more: Who_were_the_first_African-Americans_to_play_in_the_NBA
About 80% are African American
Chuck Cooper
Earl Lloyd was the first african american to play in the NBA
There were many "First" people to play, i can tell you the first MVP... Bob Pettit in 1956
There was not a first person to play NBA basketball ,ritard, basketball is played in teams.
First you join High School basketball and then if a college likes how you play they draft after that you play college basketball. After that you can decide if want to go in the NBA draft. When you go in the NBA draft if a NBA team likes they will pick to play for the team. After that you can play in the NBA.
No female has ever played in an NBA game.
2004
lolloi
The Cavaliers first began play in the NBA in 1970
The first black man to play in the NBA is Charles Henry Cooper who was known as Chuck Cooper. He played for the Boston Celtics.
In 1996
Micheal Jordan
Chuck Cooper