Charles Henry Cooper was an American professional basketball player. Cooper played college basketball for the Duquesne Dukes and was named a consensus second-team All-American in 1950. According to the November 18, 1950 issue of the Afro-American newspaper, he was the first Black "basketer" [sic] to be named an All-American college athlete. Cooper was the first African-American to be drafted by a National Basketball Association (NBA) team; he was chosen by the Boston Celtics with the first pick of the second round of the 1950 NBA Draft. Cooper and two others—Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Earl Lloyd—became the first African-American players in the NBA, in 1950. In a six-season NBA career, Cooper played for the Celtics, the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks, and the Fort Wayne Pistons, averaging 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Chuck Cooper, American basketball player (died 1984)
On September 29, in the year 1926, Chuck Cooper, American basketball player (died 1984). This event is recorded as a Notable Births event in the history of September 29, one of 461 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Chuck Cooper (basketball). Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on September 29, 1926 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Births event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 10 May 2026.
On This Date in History 461
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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