Andrew Pace
Basketball is a sport with a rich history that has evolved over the years since its creation in the 1890s by James Naismith. While the sport initially spread among predominantly white universities, it gradually gained popularity among the black community, particularly in the early 1900s. The accessibility of the sport, requiring minimal equipment and a versatile playing surface, contributed to its widespread adoption. By the 1910s, basketball had become deeply ingrained in black culture, with the formation of black college conferences and leagues, as well as street basketball becoming a cultural identity for lower-class blacks in inner cities. Despite facing racial barriers and social challenges, black athletes broke through and excelled in the sport, with African Americans comprising a significant percentage of players in the NBA and 70.4% of the NBA in 2023. The dominance of black players in basketball is a testament to their perseverance and talent, shaping the sport into what it is today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year basketball debuted | 1892 |
| Creator of basketball | James Naismith |
| Year basketball became popular among African Americans | 1910 |
| Year African Americans started playing at the college level | 1916 |
| Year African Americans first appeared in the NBA | 1950 |
| First African American drafted in the NBA | Chuck Cooper |
| First African American to sign a contract with an NBA team | Harold Hunter |
| Year with the lowest percentage of white players in the NBA since 1990 | 2011 |
| Percentage of black players in the NBA in 2023 | 70.4% |
| Percentage of white players in the NBA in 2023 | 17.5% |
| Percentage of Latino players in the NBA in 2023 | 2.2% |
| Percentage of Asian players in the NBA in 2023 | 0.2% |
| Percentage of multiracial or "other" race players in the NBA in 2023 | 9.7% |
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What You'll Learn
The emergence of black college basketball programs
The Black Fives Era
The Black Fives Era, spanning from 1904 to the 1940s, was a pivotal period for the emergence of Black college basketball programs. During this time, basketball was introduced to African Americans on a wide-scale organized basis, leading to the formation of dozens of all-Black teams that excelled in the sport. Morehouse College, then known as Atlanta Baptist College, started its basketball program in 1909 and played against other HBCUs, including Tuskegee Institute and Clark University. Their varsity basketball team, the Maroon Tigers, began a remarkable 42-game winning streak in 1916, showcasing the early success of Black college basketball programs.
Black College Conferences
In 1916, Black college basketball took a significant step forward with the formation of the first Black college conference, the Central Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAA). This conference was established by educators, coaches, and faculty members from Hampton Institute, Shaw, Lincoln, Virginia Union, and Howard universities. The CIAA's creation provided a structured platform for organized Black college leagues, alongside the unorganized street matches that were also taking place.
Pre-World War I Stars
Even before World War I, African American athletes were making their mark in major-college programs. Notable stars during this era included Paul Robeson at Rutgers University, Wilbur Wood at the University of Nebraska, Fenwick Watkins at the University of Vermont, and Cumberland Posey at Penn State and Duquesne. These pioneers laid the foundation for increased Black participation in college basketball.
Post-World War II Integration
Following World War II, there were significant strides towards integration in college basketball. In 1947, William Garrett joined the basketball program at Indiana University, breaking the gentlemen's agreement that had barred Black players from the Big Ten Conference. Despite facing segregation and taunts, Garrett excelled and became an all-American player. His success paved the way for more Black players in the Big Ten Conference and beyond.
Breaking Barriers in the 1960s
The 1960s witnessed further breakthroughs for Black college basketball programs, with Loyola making history in 1963 by starting four Black players in the NCAA Tournament and Championship game. That same year, Western Kentucky University took a significant step forward by integrating Black athletes Clem Haskins and Dwight Smith into their basketball program, putting them at the forefront of integration in the Southeast. Additionally, Cleveland State hired John McLendon in 1967 as the first African American head coach of a major college basketball program, marking another milestone in the advancement of Black representation in college basketball leadership.
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The role of black YMCA leaders
Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher, as an indoor sport for students. Initially, the game spread across universities attended predominantly by white students. However, in the early 1900s, basketball started to gain traction among Black communities, particularly in the YMCAs, YWCAs, and athletic clubs in the North.
By 1910, basketball had become one of the most popular sports among young African Americans. The sport's simplicity and minimal equipment requirements contributed to its popularity. Black YMCA leaders played a crucial role in this dissemination, promoting the sport in indoor and outdoor courts, parks, and playgrounds within Black neighbourhoods.
In Indiana, an unlikely setting for civil rights breakthroughs due to its segregationist stance, the leader of the largest Black YMCA in the world during the late 1940s, viewed sports as a tool for broader integration. This perspective facilitated the gradual integration of Division I college basketball.
The formation of Black college basketball conferences and teams further solidified the role of Black YMCA leaders in the sport's integration. In 1916, educators, coaches, and faculty members from several universities, including Hampton Institute and Lincoln University, established the first Black college conference, the Central Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAA). This conference and the emergence of Black college basketball programs fostered a cultural identity for lower-class Blacks in inner cities, intertwining with other cultural expressions such as music and fashion.
In conclusion, Black YMCA leaders were instrumental in introducing basketball to Black communities and promoting its popularity. Their efforts, alongside those of other pioneers, helped transform basketball into a predominantly Black sport, reflecting the struggles and achievements of Blacks as they navigated assimilation into American culture.
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The rise of black players in the NBA
Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith as an indoor sport for students to keep them occupied during winters. Initially, the game spread across universities attended predominantly by white students. However, in the early 1900s, basketball started to gain popularity among the black community, especially in the YMCAs, YWCAs, and athletic clubs in the North. By 1910, basketball was one of the most popular sports among young African Americans.
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 the same year, the first black college conference was formed, known as the Central Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAA). Basketball became a cultural identity for lower-class blacks in the inner cities, and it went hand in hand with other cultural expressions such as music and fashion.
African Americans first appeared in the NBA in 1950. Chuck Cooper was the first black player drafted in the NBA, and Harold Hunter became the first African American to sign a contract with any NBA team, although he was cut from the team during training camp and did not play professionally. In 1955, the University of San Francisco Dons men's basketball team, coached by Phil Woolpert, became the first team with three black starters to win the NCAA championship. Led by Bill Russell and KC Jones, they went on to win again in 1956.
In the 1960s, with the emergence of African American players, the NBA game evolved to be played faster and above the rim. Many of the league's great players were black, and they believed they were limited by an unofficial league quota of four black players per team. In the late 1980s, teams started hiring black coaches in large numbers, and in 1984, John Thompson Jr. became the first African American head coach to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.
In 2023, the NBA was composed of 70.4% black players, the highest percentage of any major professional sports league in the US and Canada. The league has become a platform for racial achievement and a reflection of the struggles that blacks endured during their assimilation into American culture.
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The impact of black coaches and management
Basketball has been a sport with significant participation from the Black community for over a century. While the sport was initially played in predominantly white universities, it spread to Black communities in the early 1900s, especially in the YMCAs, YWCAs, and athletic clubs in the North. The game's accessibility—requiring little equipment and playable on almost any surface—contributed to its popularity among young African Americans.
The Harlem Renaissance Big Five, known as the Rens, and the Savoy Big Five, or the Harlem Globetrotters, rose to prominence during this era. The Globetrotters, in particular, became one of the best-known sports teams globally, touring Europe in 1950 and entertaining audiences with their comedic performances alongside their athletic prowess.
At the collegiate level, Coach Edwin Henderson of Howard University in Washington, D.C., played a pivotal role in introducing basketball to Black students. By 1915, African Americans were playing the sport in high school and college settings, with Hampton University, Lincoln University, Wilberforce University, and Virginia Union forming some of the first predominantly Black basketball teams.
In the 1920s and 1930s, several Black college basketball programs excelled, including Xavier University of Louisiana, Alabama State University, Lincoln University in Missouri, Morgan State University, and Wiley College. Despite the limited participation of Black women due to sexism, clubs like the SSC and the Crescent City Athletic Club in Washington, D.C., fielded African American women's teams, with the former winning the NCAA championship in 1984.
In 1955, the University of San Francisco Dons, coached by Phil Woolpert, became the first team with three Black starters to win the NCAA championship. The team included future Hall of Famers Bill Russell and KC Jones. Loyola University Chicago, coached by George Ireland in the early 1960s, is also credited with ushering in a new era of racial equality in college basketball by regularly fielding four Black players, breaking an unwritten gentlemen's agreement.
In 1966, Bill Russell became the first non-white and African American head coach in the NBA, and in the late 1980s, NBA teams began hiring Black coaches in large numbers. In 1984, John Thompson Jr. of Georgetown University became the first African American coach to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.
In terms of management and ownership, Robert Johnson of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets) became the first Black majority team owner in the NBA in 2004–05. Michael Jordan, who succeeded him, and Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé formed the first instance of two non-white majority owners in a major US sports league in 2013–14.
The presence of Black coaches, managers, and owners in basketball has been instrumental in breaking down racial barriers and fostering diversity within the sport. It has also contributed to the cultural identity associated with basketball, particularly within the Black community, showcasing the pioneering efforts and struggles for racial equality in American sports.
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Basketball as a form of racial achievement
Basketball has become a form of racial achievement for the Black community, with the sport being closely associated with Black culture and Black excellence. This association is so strong that when one thinks of basketball, the image of a Black player often comes to mind.
The roots of basketball as a predominantly Black sport can be traced back to the early 1900s, when the game started to gain popularity among Black youths, especially in YMCAs, YWCAs, and athletic clubs in the North. By 1910, basketball had become one of the most popular sports among young African Americans. The accessibility of the sport played a crucial role in its adoption by the Black community, as it could be played on almost any surface and required minimal equipment.
The integration of basketball into Black communities was largely driven by Black educators and leaders who recognized the potential of the sport as a tool for social change. In 1916, Black players started competing at the college level, marking a significant milestone. That same year, the first black college conference, the Central Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAA), was formed, solidifying the presence of Black athletes in the sport. Basketball soon became a cultural identity for lower-class Blacks in inner cities, intertwined with other cultural expressions such as music and fashion.
The Harlem Renaissance Big Five, known as the Rens, and the Savoy Big Five, or the Harlem Globetrotters, rose to prominence during this time, becoming some of the best-known basketball teams in the world. The success of these teams and players like Jackie Robinson, who excelled in multiple sports, served as a testament to Black talent and resilience in the face of racial barriers.
Over time, Black participation in basketball continued to grow, and by the 1960s, the NBA saw an influx of talented Black players, including Hall of Famers like Bill Russell and KC Jones. The emergence of Black players in the league brought a new style of play, with the game being played faster and above the rim. Despite facing unofficial quotas limiting the number of Black players per team, Blacks continued to excel and dominate the sport.
Today, the NBA has the highest percentage of Black players among major professional sports leagues in the US and Canada, with 70.4% of its players being Black. The league also boasts a significant number of Black coaches, managers, and owners, showcasing the diverse range of achievements possible within the sport.
While the racial dynamics of basketball have evolved, the sport remains a symbol of racial achievement for the Black community, reflecting their struggles and triumphs in the face of historical racial barriers.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith and by 1910, it had become one of the most popular sports among young African Americans. In 1916, Black players started playing at the college level, and by the 1920s, several Black college basketball programs stood out. However, from the 1920s to 1947, few African Americans were allowed in major college programs. In 1950, African Americans first appeared in the NBA, and in 1955, the University of San Francisco Dons became the first team with three Black starters to win the NCAA championship.
There were several factors that contributed to basketball becoming a predominantly Black sport. Firstly, the accessibility of the sport played a role. Basketball could be played on almost any surface and required little equipment, making it accessible to communities with limited resources. Additionally, the sport was promoted heavily in YMCAs and athletic clubs in Black neighbourhoods. Another factor was the emergence of talented Black players and coaches who excelled in the sport, challenging the notion of racial barriers in basketball.
With the increasing presence of African American players in the NBA by the 1960s, the style of play evolved. The game became faster and more dynamic, with above-the-rim play becoming more prominent.
Initially, when people think of old-school basketball, the players and coaches are predominantly white. However, over time, the perception has shifted, and when people think of basketball, the image of a Black player often comes to mind. This shift can be attributed to the significant contributions and achievements of Black players and coaches in the sport.
