19. In 1950, the Boston Celtics were the first NBA team to draft an African-American. Whom did they draft?
From Quiz Boston Celtics
Answer:
Charles "Chuck" Cooper
Charles Henry "Chuck" Cooper, who played his college ball at West Virginia State (1944-45) and, after his World War II service in the US Navy, Duquesne (1946-50). He was selected by the Celtics in Round Two, the 14th overall pick.He played for the Celtics from 1950-1954, and then for the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks from 1954-56. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1977 as a contributor.
Earl Lloyd was the second African-American to be drafted in 1950 (Round Nine, the 100th overall pick. On October 31, 1950, he became the first African-American to play in an NBA game. From 1950-1960, he played for the Washington Capitols (1950-51), the Syracuse Nationals (1952-1958) who won an NBA championship in 1955), and the Detroit Pistons (1958-1960), whom he later coached in 1971-72. He entered the NBA Hall of Fame in 2003 as a contributor.
Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton was the third African-American to be drafted in 1950. After playing with the Harlem Globetrotters (1947-59), he was taken by the New York Knicks (1950-56), and then played for the Detroit Pistons (1956-57). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a player in 2014.