by Roger Crain

Created on: March 17, 2009   Last Updated: March 20, 2009

In 1891, James Naismith invented the game of basketball, but its history would be incomplete without documenting the role that African Americans have played in that perennial sport. And now, they have not only broken race and class barriers, but also have become a dominating force on both the college and professional court.

It's been nearly 50 fifty years since Earl Lloyd and Charles (Chuck) Cooper was drafted by their respective teams on October 31, 1950, but because the Washington Bullets had scheduled their first game four days ahead of the Boston Celtics, Earl Lloyd is credited with being the first black player to play in the NBA; while Chuck Cooper the first black player to be drafted. Yet they both did their "Jackie Robinson" and changed the history of the game by breaking basketball's color barrier.

Lloyd and Cooper was followed by Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton who was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1957; and who, helped the Knicks go all the way to the NBA finals that year.

But the Celtics were not to be outdone. They searched for until they found a basketball player who would forever change the game. That player was none other than William Felton (Bill) Russell.

As you probably know, Bill Russell stood at 6' 10" and was a powerhouse who proved to be worth his weight and height in gold: He became a 5-times winner of the NBA's Most Valuable Player's (MVP) Award. And he was the primary reason why the Celtics won 11 consecutive championships during his tenure.

Before Bill Russell would leave the game of basketball, he would meet up with Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlin. Both players would take the game of basketball to a new level and would inevitably be showered with accolades from their adoring fans.

Yet after Bill Russell's retirement, the Los Angeles Lakers would become the new champion, dominating the NBA's finals and being spurred on by Wilt's incredible slam dunk and his massive 7'1" stature.

1970's wouldn't end until a UCLA standout would be drafted by the Milwaukee Bucs. Lew Alcindor would lead the league in scoring as a rookie and become a dominating force with those awesome sky hooks, which would become his registered trademarks. Yet these two basketball greats would both lead their respective teams to NBA Championships and be elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 1980's would see more talented black stars dominate the court; consequently, basketball would become a huge social phenomenon and replaced baseball as America's favorite pastime.

But the decade wouldn't past until we see Earvin "Magic" Johnson be pitted against Michael Jordan, both of whom would take their respective teams to the NBA finals, and the Chicago Bulls would win hands down.

Furthermore, Michael Jordan would show us that he could not only dunk the ball, but also could leap into the air like the basketball had wings. It would be a sad day in America when Jordan retires from the game so that he could play for the Chicago Cubs, proving both his versatility and crossover appeal.

Today, we are seeing a new breed of talent on the basketball court with Cole Bryant who is leading the way. And as long as those NBA scouts keeping going after that talent, the African American basketball player will continue to make professional basketball that dominating force in the NBA.

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