More on the NBA At 75: https://apnews.com/hub/nba-at-75, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. "It's important to hear the story of the Black Fives," King said. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bob Pettit: one of the leagues first superstars, Pettit earned All-Star and All-NBA honors every season of his career (6x in the 1960s up to his retirement) with averages of 27+ points and 16+ rebounds per game for the decade. @ZayMarty. Oscar Robertson in 1960. Elgin Baylor: a 9x All-Star and All-NBA selection during the 1960s, Baylor was one of the most dominant players of the decade, averaging 28+ points, 13+ rebounds, and 4+ assists for the decade; at the same time, however, his Los Angeles Lakers lost each of their NBA Finals matchups vs. the rival Celtics. Please check your email for a confirmation. These brave individuals made a lasting impression on the game, and, through their determination and unwavering strength of character, changed the cultural landscape forever. After Sam told them what had happened, Russell implored them to talk to Auerbach. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. [3], The NBA was founded in June 1946, with its first season played in 194647. Boston took full advantage, often funneling opponents toward Russell. "And if you just had a couple of white guys in there, you might get them [the fans, not the guys] a little excited. "The narrative of the African-American experience is about facing these barriers, building vibrant alternate institutions, and then overcoming racism to demand a seat at the table. William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. 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A clearer picture of the treatment of black players in the NBA is portrayed in the careers of Oscar Robertson (1960-1974), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1989), and Charles Barkley (1984-2000), as they cover a 40 year period of significant changes in black civil rights in America and the NBA. The Celtics would retire his No. Those 403 Black players accounted for 81.1% of all players in the 2019-20 season. Eventually, Johnson's hard work started paying off. The Bureau was infamous for monitoring the activities of activists and organizers in that critical stretch of US history, a practice that has continued with the monitoring of Black Lives Matter and other . Perhaps youll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded, the statement said. A school, a park, and a home in Oakland California helped create a hotbed for Black excellence central to the Celtics success. Johnson, a Stanford-trained engineer, initially juggled his day job while moonlighting at Schomburg Center in Harlem, combing through archives. But it didnt take long for the wall those players cracked to come tumbling down for good and create a league that today has more players, coaches, and executives of color than any of our others. Sixty-three years ago today, though, on Halloween in 1950, Lloyd became the first African-American to suit up in the National Basketball Association. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Presidential Medal of Honor recipient, was among a number of prominent black athletes in the 1960s and '70s to embrace social activism and take a stand for civil rights. This 1911 image shows the "New York Girls" basketball team the sister organization of the Alpha Physical Culture Club of Harlem. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan New Jersey New York Michael Jordan (b. Nearly 25% of African American deaths at the turn of the 20th century in New York were from tuberculosis. Now, the Boston Heralds Joe Dwinell has revealed that Bill Russell was himself monitored by the FBI after a successful Freedom of Information Act request, a fact that should not surprise much given the history pointed to above. For the first time since the mass Civil Rights Movement in the South, a star Black athlete in the prime of his career joined the fight. Chris Paul is a professional basketball player and one of the highest-paid sportspersons in the world. King Jr., the secretary of education under former President Barack Obama, honored his late uncle Dolly King, a star for the New York Renaissance. The same memo suggested Russell had been in touch with (Black Panthers) leader Huey Newton with the intent to meet exiled Black Panther party member Eldridge Cleaver abroad in Algeria, perhaps to return with some sort of media from the Black Panthers to an indeterminate end. Well before the emergence of legends like Bill Russell in 1956, Wilt Chamberlain in 1959, or Oscar Robertson in 1960, there were a select few trailblazing athletes who possessed the courage to join the NBA and weather the storm on and off the court. It still has just one black owner (Michael Jordan) who holds a majority stake in his franchise, and the front office has taken steps, like instituting a pre- and post-game dress code, that can easily look like racially-motivated attempts to cast off what it believes white fans view as a thuggish reputation. So sometimes wed just have to wait until the next morning to get food.. seem strange considering roughly 80 percent of players in the NBA are African-American today. The NBA icon built a legacy off the court as a voice for civil rights. [16] In 2010, Jeremy Lin became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. Off the court, Russell was an outspoken advocate of the civil rights movement, and in 2011 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. I got to succeed or fail on this job not as a Black man or a white man or a green man, but as a coach. They were just "on the team" for little more than appearance, relegated to passing and rebounding. The biggest names on the list of trailblazing black athletes in American sports are well-known: theres Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn, Jack Johnson in the ring, Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph in the Olympics and Arthur Ashe at Wimbledon. In its infancy just 10 years prior, the NBA took its first meaningful strides in the 60s, growing from the little league that could barely get attention, to laying the framework it still stands on today a place where athletes can be more than entertainment and use their influential platform to effect change. Bills wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Russell racked up 21,620 career rebounds (22.5 per game), which ranks second only to Chamberlains career mark, and was a four-time season rebounding leader. That, in turn, allowed the Celtics to play more aggressively on the perimeter. The Black Fives built community, celebrated culture and created wealth. Also a prominent player for the US national team, Kyle Lowry was part of the US team that won the Olympic gold in 2016. The Bureau was infamous for monitoring the activities of activists and organizers in that critical stretch of US history, a practice that has continued with the monitoring of Black Lives Matter and other organizations. Black players, regardless of how talented, weren't even allowed to put the ball in the basket. 9. Nicknamed the Claw for his amazing ball-hawking skills, Leonard is known for his quiet demeanor off-court. He also founded the Each One, Teach One foundation. Nate Robinson is a former professional basketball player who has played in the NBA for the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Bulls. Rick Fox is a Canadian-Bahamian actor, businessman, former basketball player, and e-sports franchise owner. That awareness was a common thread among players who challenged the status quo. The NBA was about to broadcast live for one of the first times and owners stood to reap a huge windfall. There were 6.6 percent of the players classified as "other" races. Even star players on premier teams werent immune from indignities of racism. There was a quota for Blacks when I came in 1957. And the rest of the fellas decided that they would go home also. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. One discovery, Edwin "Teddy" Horne, was a founding member of Smart Set Athletic Club, and father of Lena Horne. Sam Jones: second only to his teammate Bill Russell in terms of career NBA titles, Jones played his entire career with the Boston Celtics and was not only a 5x All-Star and 3x All-NBA player who averaged 19+ points and 5+ rebounds per game in the 1960s, but perhaps was best-known for coming through in the clutch in the playoffs, winning nine of his 10 championships during the decade. Golden State's star sharpshooter enjoys another historic moment, which also set his playoff career high. Nicknamed The Dream, because of his dream-like ability to dunk effortlessly, Olajuwon is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketballers of all time. Russell is survived by his wife, Jeannine Russell, as well three children from a previous marriage: daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr. and Jacob. [1][4], African Americans first appeared in the NBA in 1950. So there was a lot of things that the Celtics did first for the African-American.. To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was. Bill Russell, stalwart of the Boston Celtics' dynasty of the 1950s and 60s, the only NBA player to win 11 championships and the league's first Black head coach, died on Sunday. The seven-foot-tall Cameroonian basketball player has been part of the Philadelphia team since his NBA debut in 2016-17. Jones to lead San Francisco to 56 consecutive wins and NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. "The mystic wand of Posey ruled basketball with as much eclat as 'Rasputin' dominated the Queen of all the Russias," so declared Harlem publication The Interstate Tattler in 1929. A four-time NBA All-Star, DeRozan has also been an important member of the United States national team, helping the team win gold medals at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The duo went to the elevators where they were met by Russell and K.C. One year later, Johnson served as guest curator of the "Black Fives" exhibition at New-York Historical Society. Long before he ever won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics, Leon Powe found inspiration in another connection to the Celtics organization. At that time, African Americans believed they were limited by an unofficialleague quota of four black players per team. Walter Dukes Wayne Embry * Cliff Hagan * Bailey Howell * Hot Rod Hundley Clyde Lovellette * Bob Pettit * Oscar Robertson * Gene Shue Jerry West * More 1960-61 NBA Pages 1960-61 NBA Season Standings Schedule and Results Leaders Coaches Player Stats Per Game Totals Per 36 Minutes Adjusted Shooting Advanced Other Rookies Final Season Team Ratings The Celtics exacted revenge on the 76ers the following season, winning the division finals 4-3 before defeating the Lakers 4-2 for Russells first championship as a player-coach. Also known for his accomplishments in the civil rights movement, Russell was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. The Top 10 Best Basketball Players of the 1960's. The 1911-1912 basketball team of the Alpha Physical Culture Club of Harlem. More than a third of the employees in the leagues front office are people of color, and there were six African-American general managers last seson. Elvin Ernest Hayes (born November 17, 1945) is an American retired professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma-mater Houston Cougars. But theres another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and thats the type Russell was.. H2H 113: Hank Greenberg vs. Johnny Mize Who was Better? At that time, African Americans believed they were limited by an unofficial league quota of four black players per team. They boldly walked out on a game during an era when it wasn't yet socially acceptable for Black athletes to demand change. To me, one of the most beautiful things to see is a group of men coordinating their efforts toward a common goal, alternately subordinating and asserting themselves to achieve real teamwork in action, Russell once wrote. The front office, as some have argued, has long viewed the leagues perceived blackness as a problem that needs to be fixed to achieve broad popularity, and in many ways, it has succeeded in limiting the expression of its black playersthough, to their credit, many of those players turned commissioner David Sterns dress code into their own form of social expression. He later moved to the US to represent basketball teams such as the Golden State Warriors. What would happen if the Boston Celtics faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 finals? Jones said Black players in Boston had a champion in Red Auerbach, who ruled at the helm of the Celtics dynasty. As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below. At. Alex Wong/Getty Images. In 2015 and 2016, he was named Defensive Player of the Year. Breaking down the Golden State-Los Angeles matchup with 3 things to watch, 1 X-factor and a series prediction. He was 88. Standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall, Bogues is the shortest player in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) guard out of the University of Iowa who spent 13 seasons in the NBA (1971-1984), all with the Seattle SuperSonics. Chamberlain stood 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall, and weighed 250 pounds (110 kg) as a rookie before bulking up to 275 and eventually to over 300 pounds (140 kg) with the Lakers. This was common in the NBA's early history. He also won gold medals at the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games as part of the US men's national basketball teams. BOSTON (AP) Sam Jones remembers the NBA landscape in the 1960s being only marginally different from what he had experienced growing up in America's segregated South. Further, Russell was the first African American Head Coach in the NBA, as he served as a player-coach with the Boston Celtics and later as a Head Coach with the Seattle Supersonics.
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