Blacks dominating the game of basketball

by Ashley Felder (BPRW)

Developing from a game typically played by whites to one dominated by blacks. When did African Americans start to dominate basketball?

Basketball was created in 1891 by James Naismith. For many years basketball remained an all white sport up until 1950-1951 season. The NBA Encyclopedia states that, “The season also marked the first appearance of black players in the league. Chuck Cooper became the first black player to be drafted when he was chosen by Boston; Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first to sign an NBA contract when he signed with New York, and Earl Lloyd became the first to play in an NBA regular-season game because the schedule had his Washington team opening one day before the others.” These guys were the men who opened doors and broke racial barriers to make basketball what it is today.

The Black Athlete Sports Network says, “With 420 roster players on the 30 NBA teams just over 10% of the players this season are White Americans.” The 2005-2006 basketball season the Denver Nuggets team did not consist of any Caucasians.

Today’s game of basketball has evolved into something that society would have never guest nearly 50 years ago.
A sport dominated by African Americans!