Earl Lloyd
Inducted:
2003
Stats
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Born
April 3, 1928
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Died
February 26, 2015
Crossville, Tennessee, U.S.
Position
Contributor
College
West Virginia State (1946–1950)
Earl "The Big Cat" Lloyd was a towering figure in basketball history, not just for his 6'5" frame, but for the immense barrier he shattered. On October 31, 1950, playing for the Washington Capitols, Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game. While others like Chuck Cooper and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton were drafted or signed in the same period, the schedule dictated that Lloyd was the first to step onto the court, forever changing the trajectory of professional sports.
Lloyd was far more than a historical footnote; he was a rugged, defensive-minded power forward who played nine seasons in the league. His greatest team success came with the Syracuse Nationals, where he and teammate Jim Tucker became the first Black players to win an NBA Championship in 1955. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Lloyd's Awards and Honors
- NBA Champion (1955 - Syracuse Nationals)
- CIAA Player of the Decade (1940s)
- NAIA Silver and Golden Anniversary Teams
- Inaugural “Legends of Black History” Sports Award (2001)
- Congressional Resolution in his honor (2008)
- 11 Retired by West Virginia State University
NBA Team
As Player
Washington Capitols (1950–1951)
Syracuse Nationals (1952–1958)
Detroit Pistons (1958–1960)
As Coach
Detroit Pistons (1971–1972)
Louisiana Tech (1985–2002)
NBA Stats
Seasons coached:
20
Overall Record:
576–87 (.869)
NCAA Championships:
1 (1988)
Final Four Appearances:
9
National Title Games:
5
30-Win Seasons:
13
Conference Titles:
13 Regular Season / 12 Tournament