Gates, William 'Pop'
1917-1999 · Contribution: 1938-1950
Basketball player and coach
Star forward for the New York Renaissance and Harlem Globetrotters during the Black Fives era
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1917, Decatur, Alabama
- Active since
- 1938
- Category
- Sports & Athletics
- Best known for
- Star of the New York Renaissance and Harlem Globetrotters
Impact on the world
Gates was one of the finest all-around players of the Black Fives era, starring for its two greatest teams and later helping open coaching to Black leaders.
An alternative history
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Sources
- Source lookupFind
Black Fives Foundation Timeline
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Related visionaries
Douglas, Robert 'Bob'
unknown-1979
Founded the New York Renaissance, the first Black-owned, all-Black, fully professional basketball team in history
Cooper, Charles 'Tarzan'
1907-1980
Star center for the New York Renaissance during their 88-game winning streak and 1932-36 dominant run
Isaacs, John 'Boy Wonder'
1918-2009
Credited with bringing the pick-and-roll play to professional basketball
Cooper, Chuck
1926-1984
First African American drafted into the NBA