Helena Frye
Basketball, like American society, was racially segregated. The NBA, where today nearly 75% of players are black, originally had no black players. The Basketball Association of America, later renamed the NBA, started in 1946, and none of the 11 teams that played in the first season had any black players. This was unsurprising, as much of America at the time was segregated. Black players were finally included in the NBA in 1950, with the Boston Celtics drafting Chuck Cooper, and the Washington Capitols choosing Earl Lloyd. Despite this, racism and discrimination have continued to plague the league, with players like Allen Iverson facing racist attacks for his style and background, and others like Metta Sandiford-Artest and Latrell Sprewell facing serious punishments for on-court altercations. The NBA has also had to deal with scandals involving banned substances and match-fixing, with several players being permanently banned from the league.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Were blacks banned from basketball? | Yes, in the early years of the NBA, blacks were banned from playing. |
| When did the ban start? | The ban started in 1946 when the Basketball Association of America (BAA), later renamed the NBA, was founded. |
| How long did the ban last? | The ban lasted for four years, until 1950 when the first black players joined the NBA. |
| Were there any all-black basketball teams during the ban? | Yes, there were several all-black basketball teams during this time, including the Harlem Globetrotters and the New York Renaissance (the Rens). |
| What was the racial composition of the NBA during the ban? | During the ban, the NBA had no black players out of more than 150 players across 11 teams. |
| Were blacks banned from other basketball leagues or competitions? | Yes, there were bans on black players in other leagues and competitions, including the National Intercollegiate Basketball tournament and college basketball programs. |
| Did the NBA have any black coaches or team owners in its early years? | Information on the racial breakdown of NBA coaches and team owners in the early years is unavailable. However, it is known that Bill Russell became the first non-white and African American head coach in the NBA in 1966. In 2004-05, Robert Johnson of the Charlotte Bobcats became the first black majority team owner. |
| What is the racial composition of the NBA today? | According to recent data, the NBA in 2023 was composed of 70.4% black players, 17.5% white players, 2.2% Latino players of any race, and 0.2% Asian players. |
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What You'll Learn
The NBA's early years
The NBA, or the National Basketball Association, was founded in 1946, with its first season played in 1946-47. The Basketball Association of America (BAA) played its first season that year and later merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA.
Black players were not officially banned from the NBA, but the league had an unwritten rule that prevented their inclusion. This was partly influenced by Abe Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, who wanted to ensure he had first pick of any promising Black players. The Harlem Globetrotters, an all-Black team, were a bigger draw than the BAA/NBA at the time.
During the NBA's early years, Black players excelled in semi-professional leagues and all-Black teams like the New York Renaissance (the Rens) and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Rens won the first World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1939, and the Globetrotters won it in 1940. The Globetrotters' popularity led to NBA owners holding doubleheaders, with the Globetrotters playing in a featured game after two NBA teams played.
It wasn't until 1950 that African Americans entered the NBA, with Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Sweetwater Clifton being the first Black players to have solid NBA careers. They faced the prejudices of their time but paved the way for future Black players in the league.
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All-black teams
The period between 1904, when basketball was introduced to African Americans on a wide-scale organized basis, and 1950, when the NBA signed its first Black players, is known as the Black Fives Era. During this time, dozens of all-Black basketball teams emerged, flourished, and excelled. These teams played a crucial role in breaking down racial barriers in American sports during the early 20th century.
One of the most prominent all-Black basketball teams during the Black Fives Era was the Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New York Rens. Founded in 1923 in Harlem, New York City, the team quickly gained recognition for their skill, athleticism, and unique style of play. They had an impressive record of 2588 wins and 529 losses. The Rens dominated not just Black basketball but all of basketball for 25 years, routinely beating championship-caliber White basketball teams. In 1939, they won the inaugural World Championship of Professional Basketball, an invitation-only tournament featuring America's twelve best professional teams.
The Harlem Globetrotters were another famous all-Black team. They won the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1940 and travelled around the country, defeating various teams, including the NBA champion Minneapolis Lakers. The Globetrotters were so popular that NBA owners held doubleheaders, with the Globetrotters playing in a featured game after two NBA teams played in the first game.
The Black Fives Era produced notable NBA players who contributed to African American history. Despite facing many fears, doubts, and obstacles, the teams and players of this era fostered hope, aspiration, pride, unity, pragmatism, and self-esteem among African Americans during a pivotal period in Black history.
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The Black Fives Era
The Harlem Renaissance, founded in 1923 in Harlem, New York City, was one of the most prominent all-black basketball teams during the Black Fives Era. They gained recognition for their skill, athleticism, and unique style of play, with an all-time record of 2588 wins and 529 losses. Another notable team was the New York Renaissance (aka Harlem "Rens"), who won 2,588 out of 3,117 games between 1923 and 1948, an 83% winning percentage sustained over 25 years. The Rens played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance period, breaking the color barrier in pro basketball and helping pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement.
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Integration in college basketball
In the early 20th century, basketball was a popular sport among young African Americans. It was promoted in YMCAs in black neighbourhoods, and by 1915, African Americans played basketball in high school physical education classes, on college and university squads, and on club teams representing major urban cities.
Despite this, the integration of college basketball was a slow process. In 1947, William Garrett integrated big-time college basketball by joining the basketball program at Indiana University. He broke the gentlemen's agreement that had barred Black players from the Big Ten Conference, which was then college basketball's most important conference. Within a year of his graduation from IU, there were six African-American basketball players on Big Ten teams.
In 1947, the Indiana State Teacher's College (now Indiana State University) team, coached by John Wooden, integrated post-season collegiate basketball tournaments. The 1946–47 Sycamores won the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference title and received an invitation to the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) tournament, which Wooden refused, citing the NAIB's policy banning African American players. One of his players was Clarence Walker, an African American. The following season, the NAIB reversed its policy, and Indiana State, with Walker, accepted the invitation to the NAIB National Tournament.
In 1956, the San Francisco Dons won a college basketball championship with African-American players Bill Russell and K. C. Jones. In 1963, Loyola started four Black players in the NCAA Tournament and the Championship game, including the first black athletes to integrate the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball program, Clem Haskins and Dwight Smith. In 1966, Texas Western started five Black players in the NCAA championship game, a cultural and sporting milestone.
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The emergence of African American players in the NBA
However, the late 1940s and early 1950s witnessed the pioneering entry of African American players into the league, breaking the colour barrier and paving the way for future generations of Black players. The trio of Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton are revered as the trailblazers who initiated the racial integration process in the NBA. In 1950, Cooper became the first African American to be drafted by an NBA team, the Boston Celtics, while Clifton was the first to sign an NBA contract, joining the New York Knicks. Lloyd, a member of the Washington Capitols, made history on October 31, 1950, as the first African American to play in an NBA game.
These pioneers endured various challenges, facing prejudice, discrimination, and racist insults from fans and the general public. Despite these obstacles, they persevered and went on to have solid NBA careers, with Lloyd winning an NBA title during the 1954-55 season. Their courage and talent opened the door for other African American players to enter the league, including basketball legends like Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan.
The emergence of African American players also brought stylistic changes to the NBA game, with a faster pace and above-the-rim play becoming more prominent in the 1960s. By the 1980s, the league witnessed a significant increase in the number of Black coaches. Today, nearly 75% of the players are Black, and the NBA has the highest percentage of Black players among major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, reflecting the enduring impact of the pioneers who broke racial barriers.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Black people were not banned from playing basketball, but they were banned from playing in certain leagues and competitions. Before the NBA was integrated in 1950, dozens of all-Black basketball teams played in the U.S. during the Black Fives Era.
When the NBA, then known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), was founded in 1946, it had an unofficial ban on Black players. No Black players made a BAA or NBA roster for the league's first four seasons. The Boston Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper and the Washington Capitols chose Earl Lloyd, marking the entry of Black players into the NBA.
Yes, Black players were allowed to play in smaller pro and semipro leagues scattered across the country. Some played in all-Black teams like the New York Renaissance (the Rens) and the Harlem Globetrotters, with the Rens winning the first World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1939 and the Globetrotters winning it in 1940.
