Charles Cooper
Inducted:
1977
Player Stats
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Born
August 30, 1907
Newark, Delaware, U.S.
Died
December 19, 1980
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Position
Center
College
NA
Charles "Tarzan" Cooper is widely regarded as the premier center of the pre-NBA era. A towering presence at 6'4" and 215 pounds during a time when such size was rare, Cooper was the physical and emotional anchor of the legendary New York Renaissance (Rens). Though the NBA did not yet exist, he dominated the professional barnstorming circuit, leading the all-Black Rens to an incredible 1,303–203 record during his 11-year tenure.
Cooper was a defensive master and a rebounding specialist who revolutionized the center position with his agility and high-speed play. In 1939, he led the Rens to a victory in the first-ever World Professional Basketball Tournament, an integrated championship that featured the best teams in the country. For his role as a dominant pioneer, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977—becoming the first African-American player to be inducted as an individual.
Cooper's Awards & Honor
- 2 World Professional Tournament Champion (1943 with Washington Bears)
- Inaugural World Pro Tournament MVP (1939)
- Hall of Fame Team Inductee (Class of 1963 with the New York Rens)
- Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2008)
- 88-Game Winning Streak leader (1932–1933)
NBA Teams
Philadelphia Panthers (1925–1928)
Philadelphia Giants (1926–1927)
New York Rens (1929–1941)
Washington Bears (1940–1945)
NBA Stats
Career Seasons:
20 (1925–1945)
Games Played
1,506
Wins:
1,303
Lose:
203
World Championships:
2 (1939;1943)
Tournament MVP:
1939 (World Professional Basketball Tournament)
Winning Streak:
88 consecutive wins in 86 days