![]() The league that young Earl Lloyd occupied was drastically different than the one we know today, where black players make up 74 percent of the league. ![]() A few months later, Earl Lloyd, who was just 22 at the time, crashed the boards of NBA integration on the night of Octowhen the Washington Capitols faced the Rochester Royals - making Lloyd, a Washington Capitol, the first black player to compete in an NBA game. ![]() The tip-off took place in 1950 with three draft picks and a mid-season signing: Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, Nathan “Sweetwater” Clifton and Hank DeZonie. This decision led to a defining moment during the league’s infancy, 66 years ago today. In his novel, " They Cleared the Lane," Thomas, who has written extensively about the NBA’s black pioneers, explains how the desire of a small group of team owners to secure the talent and gate attraction of black players eventually outweighed the reluctance of a majority of others. ![]()
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