Who Was the First NBA Player Ever?
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, and the first professional basketball league to be established in the United States. The NBA has come a long way since it was first founded in 1946, and has become one of the most successful sports leagues in the world. But who was the first NBA player ever?
The answer to this question is not as simple as it may seem. The NBA has gone through many changes over the years, and the first NBA player to ever suit up for an NBA game was not necessarily the first player to ever sign a contract to play in the league. In fact, the first player to ever be drafted into the NBA was not even born in the United States!
Basketball’s Origin in the United States
Before the NBA, there were many different basketball leagues and teams in the United States. The first known game of basketball in the United States was played in 1891. The game was created by Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian-American physical education instructor.
Naismith wanted to create a game that would keep his students active and entertained during the cold winter months. He devised a game with two teams of five players each, and set up two peach baskets as the goals. The game was an instant hit and quickly spread to other schools and colleges.
The Birth of the NBA
The National Basketball Association was created in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America. The league was initially made up of 11 teams, all of which were located in the Northeastern and Midwest regions of the United States.
The first season of the BAA was a success, and the league went on to become the NBA in 1949. The NBA was made up of 17 teams, including the original 11 BAA teams.
The First Drafted Player in the NBA
The first player to ever be drafted into the NBA was Chuck Cooper, a forward from Duquesne University. Cooper was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1950 NBA Draft.
Cooper was the first African-American to be drafted into the NBA, and he paved the way for many other African-American players in the league. Despite the racial prejudice of the time, Cooper went on to have a successful NBA career and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
The First NBA Player to Suit Up for a Game
Although Chuck Cooper was the first player to be drafted into the NBA, the first player to suit up for a game was actually Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. Clifton was a power forward from the Harlem Globetrotters and was signed by the New York Knicks in 1950.
Clifton was the first African-American to play in a regular season game in the NBA, and he made history by becoming the first African-American player to be signed to a standard NBA contract. Clifton went on to have a successful NBA career, and his number 19 jersey is retired by the Knicks.
The First African-American NBA Player
Although Nat Clifton was the first African-American to play in a regular season game in the NBA, he was not the first African-American player to ever sign a contract with the league. That honor belongs to Earl Lloyd, a center from West Virginia State College.
Lloyd was drafted by the Washington Capitols in the 1950 NBA Draft, but he was not allowed to play in the NBA until the 1952 season due to a “gentleman’s agreement” that barred African-Americans from playing in the NBA. Lloyd eventually made his debut with the Syracuse Nationals in 1952, becoming the first African-American to play in the NBA.
The First All-African-American Starting Lineup
The first all-African-American starting lineup in the NBA was the New York Knicks in 1964. The lineup consisted of:
- Walt “Clyde” Frazier – Point Guard
- Earl Monroe – Shooting Guard
- Dave Stallworth – Small Forward
- Willis Reed – Power Forward
- Bill Bradley – Center
This lineup went on to have a successful season, making it all the way to the NBA Finals. They eventually lost to the Boston Celtics, but this lineup showed that African-Americans could compete and succeed at the highest level in the NBA.
The First African-American NBA Head Coach
The first African-American head coach in the NBA was Bill Russell. Russell was appointed head coach of the Boston Celtics in 1966 and went on to have a successful tenure as head coach.
Russell was also the first African-American to win an NBA championship as head coach, leading the Celtics to two championships in 1968 and 1969. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
The First Woman to Play in the NBA
The first woman to ever play in the NBA was Ann Meyers Drysdale. Meyers was a member of the Phoenix Suns in 1979 and became the first woman to ever sign a contract with an NBA team.
Meyers played in a total of three preseason games with the Suns, but was eventually cut from the team before the regular season began. Despite this, she is still remembered as the first woman to ever suit up for an NBA team.
Conclusion
The NBA has come a long way since its inception in 1946, and many different players have made history in the league. The first player to ever be drafted into the NBA was Chuck Cooper, a forward from Duquesne University. Cooper paved the way for many other African-American players in the league.
The first player to actually suit up for an NBA game was Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, a power forward from the Harlem Globetrotters. Clifton was the first African-American to play in a regular season game in the NBA.
The first all-African-American starting lineup in the NBA was the New York Knicks in 1964. The lineup consisted of Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Dave Stallworth, Willis Reed, and Bill Bradley. This lineup showed that African-Americans could compete and succeed at the highest level in the NBA.
The first African-American head coach in the NBA was Bill Russell, who led the Boston Celtics to two championships in 1968 and 1969. The first woman to ever play in the NBA was Ann Meyers Drysdale, who signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns in 1979.
The NBA has seen many changes over the years, and many different players have made their mark on the league. Each of these players has made history in their own way, and they will forever be remembered as the pioneers of the NBA.