Chuck Cooper III

Duquesne men rally from 30 points down to win at buzzer triblive.com/sports/duquesn…

⭐️ The NBA Pioneers. 2025 marks the 75th Anniversary of the first Black players entering the NBA. In 1950, Charles “Chuck” Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” 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 “Sweetwater” 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 “Sweetwater” Clifton & Earl Lloyd. Celtics capped it with a win over the Bucks behind Jaylen Brown’s 30 PTS, 13 REB.

Chuck Cooper, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, and Earl Lloyd—who broke the league's color barrier in 1950. As the first Black players drafted, signed, and to play, respectively, their resilience reshaped the league

Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Nat Clifton become pioneers as the first Black NBA players 70 years ago. More or less? @Pick6 | #Rockets

“Black 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,” Doc Rivers bit.ly/4qdNCLU

Anfernee Simons on playing in the first NBA Pioneers Classic: “It’s very special, not many can say they’re a part of history.”

#Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff on today’s inaugural #NBA Pioneers Classic honoring the first three black players in the league - Chuck Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd - who broke the color barrier in 1950. #nets 👇🏾

Jaylen Brown arrives in gear for the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic between the Bucks and Celtics 🙌 (via @NBA)

J.B. on the NBA Pioneers Classic: “Our 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.”

Pittsburgh's Chuck Cooper honored for role in breaking NBA's color barrier post-gazette.com/sports/nba/202…

An up-close look at the first-ever NBA Pioneers Classic trophy! Standing at 19.50” 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 “Sweetwater” 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!

The @NBA has been celebrating the league's Black pioneers, including Chuck Cooper of @DuqMBB. The festivities reach their peak during #BlackHistoryMonth . @GoDuquesne @celtics @jaytatum0 triblive.com/sports/nbas-ce…

Great article! TY. Grateful @ChuckCurtiTRIB @TribSports

NBA PIONEERS CLASSIC: The NBA will continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NBA Pioneers – Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd, the league’s first Black players – 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.

@NBA Grateful🙏🏾

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On April 25, 1950, Chuck Cooper became the first Black player drafted into the NBA. When the Celtics selected him, it marked a turning point for the league. The inaugural Pioneers Classic | Bucks vs. Celtics, Sunday at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN and the ESPN app.

Chuck Cooper was : First Black basketball player to be named an All-American college athlete ✅ First African-American players in the NBA ✅ First African-American to be drafted by an NBA team ✅ #MLKDay2026 #MLKDay #pioneers #DifferentHere