Earl Lloyd was a pioneering figure in the world of basketball. Born in 1928 in Alexandria, Virginia, Lloyd was the first African American to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He made his debut for the Washington Capitols on October 31, 1950, just a few months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
Lloyd's path to the NBA was not an easy one. He faced discrimination and racism throughout his career, both on and off the court. Despite these challenges, he persevered and made a name for himself as a talented and hardworking player.
Lloyd attended West Virginia State College, where he played college basketball and led his team to two conference championships. After college, he was drafted by the Capitols in the ninth round of the 1950 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, Lloyd played in just six games before being drafted into the military. He returned to the NBA in 1952 and played for the Syracuse Nationals until 1960, winning an NBA Championship with the team in 1955.
Lloyd was known for his defensive skills and his ability to play multiple positions on the court. He was also a respected leader and teammate, known for his calm and composed demeanor on the court. After retiring from playing, Lloyd became a coach and a scout, working for various NBA teams and helping to develop young players.
In 2003, Lloyd was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the sport. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 86, but his legacy as a pioneer and trailblazer in basketball lives on. Earl Lloyd will always be remembered as a pioneer and an important figure in the history of basketball.
Earl Lloyd Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
In 2007, the newly constructed basketball court at T. The Life Of Basketball: The First Present Day Basketball The first game that resembled the present-day basketball was initially played by the early Olmec community back in the 16th century. Lloyd scored six points in his debut game, but he opened a door that thousands of NBA players followed him through. By: Matt Ankenbrandt, Small College Basketball SID Story Links Kansas City, Mo. On October 31, 1950, 21-year-old Earl Lloyd became the first African-American to play in an NBA game when he took the court in the season opener for the Washington Capitols. Â "What an outstanding, highly-qualified, highly-impressive Hall of Fame Class! Lloyd, that's got to count for something. He spent six seasons with Syracuse and two with the Detroit Pistons before retiring in 1960.
Alexandria's Earl Lloyd Breaks Basketball's Color Line
This photo will always be in my office!! West Virginia State's Earl Lloyd was included in the class as both a player and contributor. Fifty years after he first took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers, teams across the MLB held moments of silence on the field, and the league's commissioner retired Robinson's number across baseball. For many, the presence of black bodies and faces occupying roles from players to personnel seems as inevitable as it was initially implausible. Earl Lloyd died on February 26th 2015 at the age of 86. When did Earl Lloyd retire? Professional basketball was one of the sporting world's many also-rans, alongside football and boxing. About The Hall Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501 c 3 organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level. Basketball was seen as a city sport, dominated on the collegiate and professional levels by In the postwar years, the Earl "Big Cat" Lloyd center is honored by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed left and Atlanta Hawks Vice President Dominique Wilkins during a halftime ceremony at an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Hawks on Feb.
The late Earl Lloyd, NBA pioneer, on racism in America : Alexandria African American Hall of Fame
I have coached hundreds of black players and have always had a black assistant coach since I received a funded position. The great thing about sports and being part of a team is that you when hear negative things in society which might be common thought, you get to make your own judgements based on the individuals and the evidence sitting next to you. Now retired and living in Tennessee, Lloyd and his wife, Ginny, have one grown child. It was going to be somebody sooner or later. Travis Waldron 63 Years Ago Today Earl Lloyd Became The First Black Player In The NBA 1. Earl Lloyd averaged 8. Lloyd's NBA debut came on October 31, 1950, with the Washington Capitols.
Earl Lloyd: The Man Who Broke the NBA’s Color Barrier
His connection and commitment to his community compelled him to serve young people as a placement administrator for the Detroit public school system; the director of programs for underprivileged children teaching job skills; and as a recruiter of young black executive talent for Chrysler before serving as Community Relations Director for the Bing Group, a Detroit manufacturing company in the 1990s. The Cleveland Rams signed Washington on March 21, 1946, after he had worked in the Los Angeles Police Department and played four years of minor league football. Lloyd, right shakes hands with Personal information Born 1928-04-03 April 3, 1928 Died February 26, 2015 2015-02-26 aged86 Nationality American Listed height 6ft 6in 1. The History Of Basketball The sport basketball was created in 1981 and has grown to be one of the most popular sports to be played worldwide. Earl Lloyd poses for a photo at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Oct.
Earl Lloyd Was Basketball's Jackie Robinson. Why Isn't He Famous?
Basketball has constantly changed throughout history and continues to change today. We learned that even though we might have looked totally opposite, there were so many similarities which we shared that made us human, that made us kids, that made us basketball players, that made us the same. The game is played anywhere where you can get a ball and something to throw the ball through. As the season goes along look at the same people and you will come to realize that you no longer focus on the differences of your teammates, but only on the things in which you share in common. Lloyd has since been joined by Clifton in the Hall of Fame.
