Earl Lloyd: The pro basketball trailblazer who doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Earl Lloyd during his playing day at West Virginia State College, which is now West Virginia State University. He appeared for the Yellow Jackets from 1946-1950. (West Virginia State University)
We all know the state of West Virginia and the National Basketball Association are deeply intertwined. From Jerry West to Mike D'Antoni, the Mountain State and NBA go hand-in-hand.
But another Mountain State great, who rarely gets the praise he should, shattered the league's racial barrier in its earliest days, Earl Lloyd.
Lloyd is the Jackie Robinson of professional basketball. He was a trailblazer, becoming the first African-American to play in the Association when he appeared for the Washington Capitals in 1950. He also became the first Black player to win an NBA title.
Although not a native of West Virginia, Lloyd played for West Virginia State College from 1946-50, where he was an All-American for the Yellow Jackets. Today he is memorialized on State's campus with a larger-than-life statue surrounded by memorabilia of his accomplishments.
Earl Lloyd’s statue inside the Walker Convocation Center at West Virginia State University. (Mountaineer Media)
He was the 100th pick in the 1950 draft. Over the decade, he would play for three teams: the Capitols, Syracuse Nationals and Detroit Pistons.
Nicknamed "The Big Cat," Lloyd only played until 1960, when he transitioned into the coaching profession. It was then he became the first Black assistant coach and second Black head coach of an NBA team.
Several organizations have recognized his achievements, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 2003.
Lloyd passed in 2015, but his barrier-breaking contributions to the game of basketball will never be forgotten.
In 2017, current NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard produced and directed a documentary commemorating Lloyd's story. The 88-minute film The First To Do It was released in celebration of his life.
Several players, coaches and historians were interviewed about Lloyd's importance.
Many basketball players and coaches connected to West Virginia have had successful careers in the NBA and are even in the hall of fame, but maybe none have meant more to the game of basketball than Earl Lloyd.
