Earl Lloyd becomes the first African American to play in an NBA game, Oct. 31, 1950

On this day in 1950, October 31, Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game. According to HISTORY, the 21-year-old appeared in the Washington Capitols' season opener.

Britannica says the schedule made Lloyd the first Black player to take the court in an NBA game. HISTORY reports that Chuck Cooper of the Celtics and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton of the Knicks also joined the league that season, but their teams did not begin playing until November. NPR reported that Lloyd made his debut in Rochester, N.Y.

Britannica says Lloyd was born April 3, 1928, in Alexandria, Virginia. BlackPast.org says he began his college career at a historically Black college, West Virginia State, and was drafted in the ninth round. House of Representatives remarks of March 5, 2008, in the Congressional Record, likewise say the Capitols selected him in the ninth round of the 1950 draft. HISTORY says he played seven games with the Capitols before being drafted into the military and sent to Korea.

NPR reported that Lloyd played nine NBA seasons and was known as a defensive specialist. Britannica says he helped the Syracuse Nationals win the 1955 championship. Britannica says he was the first African American assistant coach in the league (1968-70) and the second African American head coach (1971-72). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003, according to Britannica. Britannica says he died February 26, 2015.

What we don't know yet

• Head coaching. Britannica calls Lloyd the second African American head coach (1971-72). HISTORY says he became the first full-time Black head coach in 1970. The sources differ on the dates and on the "first," and this piece does not settle it.
• Seasons by team. This piece gives only NPR's nine-season total and does not break down his seasons by team.
• Other "firsts." The sources we used agree that Lloyd was the first Black player to play in an NBA game. This piece does not address the order in which the early Black players were drafted or signed, or other "first" claims about his career, such as who first won a championship.