The NBA and NBPA will honor the 75th anniversary of the league’s first Black players—Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton, and Earl Lloyd—throughout the 2025-26 season.
As part of the milestone, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics will tip off Black History Month 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 annually on NBA Pioneers Day (Feb. 1), featuring commemorative jersey patches, warm-up shirts, and the NBA Pioneers Trophy for the winning team.
“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 Mark Tatum.
“If not for the courage, determination, and resilience of Black athletes, our league would not be what it is today,” added NBPA Foundation Executive Director Erika Swilley.
The Cooper, Clifton, and Lloyd families also expressed gratitude for the recognition and the establishment of the annual NBA Pioneers Classic.
Throughout Black History Month and during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles, the NBA and NBPA will host community events, in-game tributes, player content, educational initiatives, and a digital NBA Black History virtual gallery on NBA social channels and NBA.com. The 5th annual NBA HBCU Classic, featuring Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University, will also take place during All-Star Weekend, while teams wear special warm-up shirts to celebrate the Pioneers’ legacy.
The season-long celebration began at the 2025 NBA Draft, with family members of Cooper, Clifton, and Lloyd honored and NBA stars Jaylen Brown, Stephen Curry, and Karl-Anthony Towns reflecting on their enduring impact.
Historic milestones of the NBA Pioneers include:
- Chuck Cooper – First Black player drafted (April 25, 1950)
- Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton – First to sign with an NBA team (May 24, 1950)
- Earl Lloyd – First to play in an NBA game (Oct. 31, 1950)
Their vision, resilience, and leadership transformed the NBA and inspired generations to dream bigger and push further.