NBA celebrates 75th anniversary of first Black playersChuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd and Nat Clifton transformed the NBA in 1950 as the league's first Black players.October 31, 2025
Top Moments: Lloyd, Cooper, Clifton blaze new path in NBAAs the first African-American players in the NBA, the roles that Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd served went far beyond the court.
01:31NBA Pioneers: Debut GamesOn October 31, 1950, Earl Lloyd stepped onto the court and into history as the first Black player to play in an NBA game, becoming a Pioneer in the NBA. Fellow NBA Pioneers, Chuck Cooper made his debut for the Boston Celtics on Nov. 1, and Nat Sweetwater Clifton made his debut on Nov. 4 for the New York Knicks. Stephen Curry, Jaylen Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns reflect on the 75th anniversary of these barrier-breaking debut games.
00:31NBA Pioneers ClassicBucks Head Coach Doc Rivers introduces the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic, featuring the Milwaukee Bucks vs the Boston Celtics on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 P.M. ET on ESPN.
