Integration of the National Basketball Association
by John Bonacorsi
Integration of the NBA
On May 25, 1950 Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton
became the first African-American to
sign with a NBA team.
Earl Lloyd was the first black man to set foot on a NBA court
and play in a game on October 31, 1950.
Charles “Chuck” Cooper was drafted by the
Celtics on April 25, 1950, becoming the first black to be drafted into
the NBA.
Challenges for Pioneers
Signs like this made it clear that black players had to sleep in a
separate hotel from their teammates.
Red Auerbach shared his knowledge of the game with all of his players, including Chuck
Cooper.
World War II
Blacks involved in the war effort, including the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American flying unit,
wanted to share the freedom they had fought for.
One realm of America that did integrate was the basketball world, with over half of the NBA being
black by 1965.
Integration Went UnnoticedThe spotlight did not shift from the Major Leagues and Jackie Robinson to
the NBA and Earl Lloyd primarily due to the
relatively small fan base of the NBA.
Integration Went Unnoticed
All-black barnstorming teams, like the Harlem Renaissance
(Rens) and the Harlem Globetrotters, were so popular
that NBA owners often featured them as part of
doubleheaders.
Integration Went Unnoticed
The NBA’s two predecessors, the NBL and BAA, both
experimented with integration. The NBL began integrating in 1942, and in 1948 it allowed the Dayton Rens, an all-black team, to
enter the league.
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters’ two victories over the NBA’s
Minneapolis Lakers made it starkly evident that black players could stand
toe-to-toe with white ones. The destruction of the mentality that
white players were better than blacks, fostered the progression of
integration.
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters’ game was characterized by highflying jams, scintillating passes, and flashy ball handling. This type of
playing style translated to the NBA with the entrance of more and more blacks into the league.
Integration Leads to Evolution of the NBA
In the 50’s and 60’s a great wave of talent entered the NBA, with players like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor changing both how their position was
played and how the game was played
Integration Leads to Evolution of the NBA
Bill Russell popularized the stringent defense characterized by highflying blocks. The impact of
his presence on the league is clearly depicted in the number of championship rings he has (11).
Integration Leads to Evolution of the NBA
Wilt Chamberlain became the league’s first prolific scorer.
Rivalries like the one he had with Bill Russell have been used ever since as
key marketing tools for the NBA.
Integration Leads to Evolution of the NBA
As the league became more and more integrated, the old style became dated, and the NBA became
infused with new styles. Elgin Baylor brought the highflying dunks, while Earl Monroe weaved between opponents with his fancy ball handling.
Elgin Baylor
Earl Monroe
Blacks in the NBA TodayWith the arrival of Michael Jordan to the NBA in 1984, the popularity of the game
was changed forever. Michael Jordan later became a part owner of the Washington Wizards, while BET
founder, Robert Johnson, became the first black majority owner of a major
sports franchise.
Today’s Game
Integration not only changed the appearance of the league, it arguably saved the sport.