Cooper, Chuck
1926-1984 · Contribution: 1950
Basketball player
First African American drafted into the NBA
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1926, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Active since
- 1950
- Category
- Sports & Athletics
- Best known for
- First African American drafted into the NBA
Impact on the world
Cooper broke the NBA's color line in the draft, opening the league that would become one of the most prominent showcases of Black athletic excellence in the world.
Sources
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1 more sources and references are available to members.
Related visionaries
Russell, Bill
1934-2022
First Black head coach in NBA history; first Black coach to win an NBA championship
Cooper, Charles 'Tarzan'
1907-1980
Star center for the New York Renaissance during their 88-game winning streak and 1932-36 dominant run
Gates, William 'Pop'
1917-1999
Star forward for the New York Renaissance and Harlem Globetrotters during the Black Fives era
Doby, Larry
1923-2003
First Black player in the American League