Helena Frye
Basketball has been a popular sport for over a century, but its history is complex and intertwined with racial dynamics. The sport was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, a Canadian teacher based in Springfield, Massachusetts, and quickly spread across the US and beyond. While basketball has always been seen as a tool for pursuing greater goals and affecting social change, its racial demographics have evolved over time. In its early days, the sport was predominantly played by white people, with the first non-white player, Wat Misaka, joining the NBA in 1947. However, by 2017, the racial composition of the NBA had shifted significantly, with a higher percentage of black players than white. This evolution has sparked debates about the role of race in basketball and efforts to promote diversity and equality within the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of debut | 1892 |
| Debut location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Initial player demographics | Mostly white |
| First non-white player | Wat Misaka, in 1947 (first Asian-American player) |
| First African-American player | 1950 |
| First African-American player in a white league | Harry "Bucky" Lew, in 1902 |
| Current player demographics | 70.4% Black, 17.5% White, 2.2% Latino, 0.2% Asian, 9.7% multiracial or other |
| Number of white players over time | Lowest in 2011 at 17%, 18.3% in 2015-16, 17.5% in 2023 |
| Number of black head coaches | Record-high of 15 in the 2022-23 season |
| Number of head coaches of color | Matched record-high of 16 in the 2022-23 season |
| Number of non-white majority team owners | 3 as of September 2019 |
| Notable events | Harlem Globetrotters vs. Minneapolis Lakers in 1948, an exhibition game between an all-Black team and an all-White team |
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What You'll Learn
The Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Minneapolis Lakers in 1948
On February 19, 1948, the Harlem Globetrotters faced off against the Minneapolis Lakers in an exhibition game at Chicago Stadium. The game was a landmark moment in the history of basketball, as it pitted the all-white Lakers against the all-black Globetrotters, showcasing the racial divide in a sport that was still segregated. The game was also highly anticipated as the Lakers, a new team formed just six months earlier, featured two future Hall of Famers: the 6-foot-10-inch George Mikan, described as the league's "first superstar", and Jim Pollard, nicknamed "The Kangaroo Kid" for his leaping ability. On the other hand, the Globetrotters were on a 102-game winning streak and were known for their entertaining mix of theatre, comedy, and basketball.
During the first half of the game, the Lakers jumped to a quick 9-2 lead, with Mikan dominating the Globetrotters' star centre, Tatum. At halftime, the Lakers led 32-23. However, the Globetrotters made a strategic adjustment, deciding to defend Mikan with two players instead of one and employing a fast-break strategy to tire out the Lakers. This proved effective, as they were able to cut down the Laker lead and eventually tie the game at 59-59 with just 1:30 remaining. With superb ball handling, Globetrotter Marques Haynes dribbled out the clock, passing the ball to Ermer Robinson, who scored the winning basket with just seconds left, giving the Globetrotters a 61-59 victory.
The impact of the Globetrotters' win extended beyond the game itself. It dealt a blow to segregation in basketball, challenging the notion that African-American players could not compete with white players. The momentum for desegregation, which had been building for years, gained further traction after this game. The Globetrotters' victory also contributed to the integration of the league a few years later, as team owners recognised the talent and drawing power of African-American players. This game marked a significant step towards breaking down racial barriers in basketball and helped to pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse sport.
The 1948 game between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Minneapolis Lakers was, therefore, much more than just a basketball game. It was a pivotal moment in the history of the sport, showcasing the talent and competitiveness of African-American players and accelerating the push for desegregation and racial equality in basketball. The game's legacy is a reminder of how sports can be a powerful force for social change and a platform to challenge societal norms and preconceptions.
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The first non-white NBA player in 1947
Basketball, a sport invented by James Naismith in the 1890s, was initially played in universities attended predominantly by white students. However, in the post-Civil War era, black players started to join in, with the game being played professionally in New Jersey by 1898. The first African American to play in an organised white league was Harry "Bucky" Lew, who played for Lowell vs Marlboro of the New England Basketball League in 1902.
In the early 20th century, black players started to play at the college level, and basketball started to become a predominantly black sport, with black players dominating the talent pool. By the 1940s, the racial dynamics of basketball were changing, and the sport was being used as a means of pronouncing racial achievement against social barriers.
In 1947, the same year that Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in Major League Baseball, the first non-white player began his professional basketball career. Wat Misaka, a Japanese American born in 1923 in Ogden, Utah, was the first non-Caucasian player in the BAA (later known as the NBA). Misaka was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1947 BAA Draft and played in three games in the 1947-48 season, scoring seven points before being cut from the team mid-season. Misaka believed his departure was due to the Knicks having too many guards, and he did not feel any discrimination from teammates or opposing players. He declined an offer to play with the Harlem Globetrotters, opting to return home to Utah to earn a degree in engineering.
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The first African Americans in the NBA in 1950
Basketball was invented in the 1890s by James Naismith. The sport debuted in 1892, initially spreading among mostly white universities. However, in the post-Civil War era, Black players began to join. By 1898, basketball was being played professionally, and in 1902, Harry "Bucky" Lew became the first African American to play in an organised white league. In the 1940s, Black players featured in the National Basketball League (NBL), which would later merge with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to form the NBA.
In 1950, three African Americans made history as the first to play in the NBA: Earl Francis Lloyd of the Washington Capitols, Charles Henry "Chuck" Cooper of the Boston Celtics, and Nathaniel "Nat" Clifton of the New York Knicks. All three players began their college careers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Lloyd, a 6'6" native of Alexandria, Virginia, was the first to play in the NBA, making his debut on 31 October 1950. He had a successful career, playing nine seasons with the Syracuse Nationals (later the Philadelphia 76ers) and becoming the NBA's first Black assistant coach in 1968 and its first Black head coach in 1971.
Cooper, standing at 6'5", was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He played for West Virginia State University before transferring to Duquesne University. In 1950, he signed with the Harlem Globetrotters and was drafted into the NBA as the 14th overall pick by the Boston Celtics. He made his debut on 1 November 1950, playing four years with the Celtics before being traded to the Milwaukee Hawks and later ending his career with the Ft. Wayne Pistons.
Clifton, a 6'8" native of England, Arkansas, grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He played college basketball for one season at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1948, he signed with the Harlem Globetrotters and became the third African American player to sign an NBA contract. He made his debut with the New York Knicks on 4 November 1950, three days after Cooper. Despite being the oldest player in NBA history to be named a first-time All-Star at 34, Clifton played several more seasons with various teams.
The entry of these three pioneers into the NBA in 1950 was a significant step forward in the desegregation of the league and paved the way for future African American players.
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The dwindling number of white American players
Basketball was invented in the 1890s and initially spread around predominantly white universities. However, in post-Civil War America, Black players began to join, and by 1898, the game was being played professionally. The first African American to play in an organised white league was Harry "Bucky" Lew in 1902. In 1916, Black players started playing at the college level, and it was then that they began to pose a serious threat to the talent pool of basketball.
Over time, the composition of races and ethnicities in the National Basketball Association (NBA) has changed. The first non-white player to play in the league was Asian American Wat Misaka, who debuted during the 1947-48 season. African Americans entered the league in 1950, and in the 2022-23 season, the NBA had a record-high 15 Black head coaches and 16 head coaches of colour.
While the NBA has the highest share of Black viewers among top North American sports, with 45% of its viewers being Black and 40% being White, it is a common perception that there is a dwindling number of White American players in the league. During the 2015-16 season, there were 42 White American-born players in the NBA, and at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, there were 43 White Americans on 30 NBA teams.
Some have suggested that the dwindling number of White American players in the NBA is due to the increasing presence of White European players. During drafts, teams might prefer a White European player over a White American player. Additionally, some have argued that basketball has become a way for Black players to pronounce racial achievement against social barriers, with the dominance of Black players in the league serving as an ode to the struggles they have endured during their assimilation into American culture.
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The proposed All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA)
Basketball, a sport invented in the 1890s, was initially played in universities that were mostly attended by white students. However, post-Civil War America saw the entry of Black players into the game. In 1898, basketball started being played professionally, and in 1902, the first African American, Harry "Bucky" Lew, played in an organized white league.
In 1948, the Harlem Globetrotters, an all-Black team, played an exhibition game against the reigning champions of the all-white National Basketball League, the Minneapolis Lakers. The Harlem Globetrotters' victory changed basketball forever, marking a shift towards integration in the sport.
Despite this historical context, in 2010, an attempt was made to revive segregation in basketball with the proposed All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA). Don "Moose" Lewis announced the formation of the AABA as an all-white basketball league, with players required to be "natural-born United States citizens" with both parents "of the Caucasian race." The plan was met with widespread criticism and opposition, with critics noting the irony of its announcement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The AABA's objective was to restore "court sanity" to basketball, with Lewis claiming that white players were "shut out" of conventional professional basketball due to the proliferation of non-organized play.
The AABA intended to include teams from twelve cities in the southern US, including Augusta, Georgia; Albany, Georgia; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. However, the proposed league faced strong resistance from various quarters. Augusta's mayor, Deke Copenhaver, emphasized his commitment to inclusiveness and refused to support the idea. Clint Bryant, the athletic director at Augusta State University, described the proposal as "absurd," and Dip Metress, head men's basketball director at ASU, predicted that no one would invest in the league, given basketball's international appeal. Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield's spokesman also dismissed the plan as "absolutely ridiculous."
The AABA's whites-only policy sparked concerns about racial tensions, with the president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, White, calling the league "ridiculous" and vowing to stop it if possible. Don Lewis, the founder of the AABA, defended his idea, stating that he did not "hate anyone of color" but wanted to create a separate league for whites to play "fundamental basketball." Despite the initial announcement and media coverage, there is no evidence that Lewis ever executed any of his plans for the AABA.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, basketball was predominantly played by white people when it was invented in the 1890s. The game initially spread across universities that were mostly attended by white students.
In the post-Civil War era, Black people started playing basketball. By 1898, the game was being played professionally, and in 1902, Harry "Bucky" Lew became the first African American to play in an organized white league. In 1916, Black players started playing at the college level and began to pose a serious talent threat.
The NBA was founded in 1946, and the first non-white player, Wat Misaka, an Asian American, debuted in 1947. African Americans started entering the league in 1950, and as of 2023, the NBA was composed of 70.4% Black players.
Some commentators have attributed the shift to the higher proportion of talented Black players, with former coach William Ellerbee stating that "inner-city kids look at basketball as a matter of life and death." Others have pointed to the social barriers and cultural performances that made basketball a way of pronouncing racial achievement.
Yes, in 2015, there was controversy over plans to launch an all-white basketball league called the All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA). The league's founder, Don "Moose" Lewis, claimed that the NBA had devolved into "street ball" dominated by "people of color." The proposed league was criticized as racist and faced doubts about finding players willing to participate.
