Even if it does not have the impact of the future first game, the date of April 25, 1950 is capital in the history of the league and American sport for black players. That day is the first real Draft of the NBAborn in August 1949 from the merger of the BAA and the NBL.
In 14th position, the Celtics choose chuck cooper of Duquesne, making him the first black player drafted in history. He is followed a few moments later by Earl Lloyd100th pick by the Washington Capitols.
It is the latter who will become, by chance of the calendar, on October 31, 1950, the first black basketball player to play in a regular season game in the NBA.
The pioneers that are Earl Cooper and Chuck Lloyd are, on the same day, this April 25, 1950, accompanied by Nat Clifton. The one who was nicknamed “Sweetwater” had just spent a few years with the Harlem Globetrotters. Hired by the Knicks, he becomes the first black player to sign an NBA contract. His career will be 544 games long, for 10 points and 8.2 rebounds on average.
Chuck Cooper, he will play 409 games, the majority with Boston, for 6.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. As for Earl Lloyd, after 560 games, he will make a copy of 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds.
In December 1950, at the height of the season, these three pioneers were joined by a fourth black player: Hank DeZonie. But the latter, engaged with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, will only stay in the NBA for five games.
Finally, for the anecdote, this Draft 1950 will see its sixth choice, Irwin Dambrotbest player in the 1950 Final Four, turning his back on the NBA to prefer a career as a dentist…
