Robert Douglas
Inducted:
1972
Stats
Born
November 4, 1882
Saint Kitts, British West Indies
Died
July 16, 1979
New York, U.S.
Position
Contributor
College
NA
Robert Douglas was a pioneering figure in basketball and one of the most influential contributors to the sport's early professional era. In 1923, he founded and managed the New York Renaissance (Rens), the first all-Black fully professional basketball team owned and operated by an African American.
Under his leadership from 1923 to 1949, the Rens became one of the most dominant dynasties in basketball history, barnstorming across a segregated America and routinely defeating the best white professional teams of the era. For his tireless dedication to the game, his role in breaking down racial barriers, and his pristine executive leadership, Douglas made history in 1972 by becoming the first Black individual inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a Contributor.
Douglas's Awards and Honor
- Founder of the New York Renaissance (Rens)
- First Black Inductee in the history of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- World Professional Basketball Tournament Champion (1939)
- Black Fives Foundation Honoree for pioneering African American basketball history.
NBA Teams
Founder and Owner
New York Renaissance (1923-1949)
NBA Stats
Franchise Founded:
New York Renaissance (1923)
All-Time Record:
Over 2,300 victories
Historic Winning Streak:
88 consecutive wins (1932–1933)
World Professional Basketball Tournament Champion:
1939