Walter Brown drafted Chuck Cooper, the first Black player drafted into the NBA
His Boston Bruins gave Willie OâRee his NHL debut as the leagueâs first Black player đ@celtics@NHLBruins
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Ray Goss was one of the great voices in college basketball. For 58 seasons, he served as the Voice of the Dukes with class and professionalism.
Grateful we were able to honor him with a Chuck Cooper Foundation Centennial Award. Already deeply missed.
Rest in peace, Ray Goss.
"Chuck Cooper not only made an indelible mark on the NBA, but the legacies he left behind are just as large."
Jaylen Brown and Chuck Cooper III reflect on the legacy of NBA Pioneer Chuck Cooper, the first Black player selected in the NBA Draft.
https://t.co/xn4008x5TE
Thank you, Chandi Chapman, for being such a beautiful part of our Centennial Gala.
You brought intelligence, style, grace, and professionalism to a night celebrating 100 years of Chuck Cooperâs life & legacy, and you carried it all in a beautiful way!
âď¸ The NBA Pioneers. 2025 marks the 75th Anniversary of the first Black players entering the NBA. In 1950, Charles âChuckâ Cooper, Nat âSweetwaterâ Clifton and Earl Lloyd made history, each creating a legacy in the NBA, impacting the game and paving the way for future generations of players who followed. Chuck Cooper became the first Black player drafted. Nat âSweetwaterâ Clifton became the first Black player to sign with an NBA team. Earl Lloyd became the first Black player to play in an NBA game.
This month, we pay tribute to the first generation of Black athletes who played for Boston teams during the early years of the integration of professional sports. Today, we salute:
Chuck Cooper, Boston Celtics (1950-1954)
To learn more about Chuck Cooper, visit our website!
Boston hosted the first NBA Pioneers Classic honoring Chuck Cooper, Nat âSweetwaterâ Clifton & Earl Lloyd. Celtics capped it with a win over the Bucks behind Jaylen Brownâs 30 PTS, 13 REB.
Chuck Cooper, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, and Earl Lloydâwho broke the league's color barrier in 1950. As the first Black players drafted, signed, and to play, respectively, their resilience reshaped the league
âBlack history is being whitewashed with the removing of Black war heroes, civil right leaders from books & our kids are not being taught about the atrocities of slavery, lynchings,Jim Crow & redlining (while the NBA) has decided to stand up,â Doc Rivers https://t.co/7cd7p79OiJ
#Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff on todayâs inaugural #NBA Pioneers Classic honoring the first three black players in the league - Chuck Cooper, Nat âSweetwaterâ Clifton and Earl Lloyd - who broke the color barrier in 1950. #nets đđž
J.B. on the NBA Pioneers Classic:
âOur league is at the forefront when it comes to understanding the history of all of its participants. ⌠This is a great opportunity for us to understand the more we learn about one another, the more we recognize we're not as different.â
An up-close look at the first-ever NBA Pioneers Classic trophy!
Standing at 19.50â tall to celebrate the year the Pioneers entered the league (1950) and 20.25cm wide, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Pioneers entering the league. All the angles and measurements of the trophy are guided by these two numbers!
The NBA Pioneers are Chuck Cooper (the first Black player drafted into the league), Nathaniel âSweetwaterâ Clifton (the first Black player to sign with an NBA team), and Earl Lloyd (the first Black player to appear in an NBA game).
The winner of the Pioneers Classic will receive this trophy tonight!
NBA PIONEERS CLASSIC: The NBA will continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NBA Pioneers â Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel âSweetwaterâ Clifton and Earl Lloyd, the leagueâs first Black players â when the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks meet in the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic on Sunday at 3:30pm/et on ESPN. Beginning this year, the NBA Pioneers Classic will be played annually on Feb. 1, marking the start of Black History Month and recognizing NBA Pioneers Day. As part of the matchup, the Bucks and Celtics will wear commemorative jersey patches and warm-up shirts, and the winning team will receive the NBA Pioneers Trophy.