Inspiring Others: Looking back at Earl Lloyd’s legacy in basketball

By Cristhian Plasencia/Asst. Sports Director

 

The well-known Jackie Robinson comes to mind as one of the first African-Americans to play in professional sports, however many may not know who broke the race barrier in the National Basketball Association.

In 1950, Earl Lloyd became the first African American to compete in the NBA. The Washington Capitols drafted Lloyd in the ninth round, as the 100th overall pick. .

Lloyd attended West Virginia State and led his team to win the All-Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference three times. The Yellow Jackets were the only undefeated team in the 1947-48 season. The small forward was also named to the All-American list twice.

On October 31, 1950, the Washington Capitols played against the Rochester Royals, which marked the milestone as the first African-American to play in the NBA.

Lloyd came off the bench during the second half, and scored six points along with a game-high 10 rebounds that lead to a 78-70 Washington victory.

It goes down in history as the first game to include an African-American playing in the NBA, yet reporter George Beahon from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, didn’t mention it in the game recap.

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle game story read: “Bones McKinney, the Caps’ new coach, injected big Earl Lloyd, Negro Star of West Virginia State, into the lineup (after halftime) and he took most of the rebounds.”

“My philosophy was if they weren’t calling you names, you weren’t doing anything,” Lloyd said during a video press conference. “If they were calling you names, you were hurting them.”

After participating in seven games, Lloyd was drafted to the Korean War. The former Capitol served time fighting before returning to the game of basketball.

In 1952, the Syracuse Nationals signed Lloyd to a contract, where he spent six seasons with the team.

History was made in 1955, when the Syracuse Nationals beat the Fort Wayne Pistons to secure a NBA Championship. This achievement made Lloyd the first black player to win a NBA championship title.

The former small forward concluded his career with the Detroit Pistons in 1958-1960.

Lloyd recalled being refused service multiple times and fans spitting at him in Indiana. He persevered as these instances made him play harder, he said at the 2015 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Event.

In 1971, Lloyd became the second African American head coach in NBA history, but the first assistant coach for the Pistons in 1968. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

“Earl Lloyd, the first African-American to play in an NBA game, was as inspirational as he was understated,” said current NBA commissioner Adam Silver during a commemorative speech. “He was known as a modest gentleman who played the game with skill, class, and pride. His legacy survives in the league he helped integrate and the entire NBA family will strive to always honor his memory.”

The former NBA standout to play died on February 26, 2015, at the age of 86.