– NBA Pioneers Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd Became First Black Players in the NBA 75 Years Ago –

– Inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic to Feature Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 P.M. ET on ESPN –

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2025 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) today announced that they will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NBA Pioneers – Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd, the league’s first Black players – throughout the 2025-26 season. 

As part of the celebration, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics will tip off Black History Month and celebrate NBA Pioneers Day with the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Going forward, the NBA Pioneers Classic will be played between two NBA teams on Feb. 1 – NBA Pioneers Day – each year to recognize the start of Black History Month and honor the legacy of the NBA Pioneers.  As part of the matchup, the Bucks and Celtics will be outfitted with commemorative jersey patches and warm-up shirts, with the winning team receiving the NBA Pioneers Trophy.

“Chuck Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd’s courage and determination broke barriers and changed the course of NBA history,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.  “We look forward to honoring their enduring legacy around this milestone anniversary and in the many years to come.”

“As we celebrate the 75th anniversary and legacy of the NBA Pioneers Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd we are reminded that if not for the courage, determination, and resilience of Black athletes, our league would not be what it is today,” said NBPA Foundation Executive Director Erika Swilley.  “Our players thank them for paving the way for future generations and for their impact that extends far beyond the basketball court.” 

“On behalf of the Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd families, we are grateful to the NBA and NBPA for this incredible recognition and for establishing the annual NBA Pioneers Classic and Day,” said Chuck Cooper III.  “Ensuring our fathers’ legacies continue to inspire future generations and fans.”

Throughout Black History Month and at NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles, the NBA and NBPA will host community events, hold in-game moments recognizing the NBA Pioneers, share educational resources from partners, promote player content and curate a digital NBA Black History virtual gallery across NBA social channels and on the Black History Month webpage on NBA.com(https://www.nba.com/bhm).  In addition, the 5th annual NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T between Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University will take place at NBA All-Star 2026, and NBA teams will wear special warm-up shirts throughout February to celebrate the legacy of Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd.

The NBA and NBPA’s season-long celebration of the NBA Pioneers tipped off during the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm when the family members of Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd were recognized.  NBA stars Jaylen Brown, Stephen Curry and Karl-Anthony Towns reflected on the impact, influence and legacy of the NBA Pioneers here.

In 1950, Cooper was the first Black player drafted into the league (April 25), Clifton was the first to sign with an NBA team (May 24), and Lloyd was the first to appear in an NBA game (Oct. 31).  Their resilience, vision and leadership fundamentally reshaped the game, laying the foundation for a more dynamic league and inspiring generations to dream bigger and push further.  Read more about the history of what the Pioneers overcame here.

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About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.5 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness. 

About the NBPA

Established in 1997, the National Basketball Players Association Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members and providing support and assistance to persons, communities, and organizations throughout the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need. Through grants that match players’ philanthropy and charitable giving, the Foundation highlights and accelerates the real and collaborative work that basketball players do worldwide to build their communities and create meaningful change.