buzzz worthy. . .
Earl Lloyd, who broke U.S. professional basketball's color barrier
when he became the first African-American to play in the National
Basketball Association, died February 26, 2016 at age 86. The cause of his death
was not disclosed.
Lloyd, an Alexandria, Virginia native who lived in Crossville, Tennessee, made sports history when he entered a game for the now-defunct Washington Capitols on October 31, 1950 at the age of 21.
The game failed to make any headlines because pro basketball was a young sport in 1950, overshadowed by baseball, golf and college football.
But Lloyd opened the door for thousands of black players to come, including some of the biggest names to ever play any professional sport.
The 1.98 meters tall Lloyd, who was just short of 2 meters tall (about 6 1/2 feet), was drafted into the Army after just seven games with the Capitols. He later played for pro teams in Detroit and Syracuse, New York, and was head coach of the Detroit Pistons from 1971 to 1972.
Lloyd was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Lloyd, an Alexandria, Virginia native who lived in Crossville, Tennessee, made sports history when he entered a game for the now-defunct Washington Capitols on October 31, 1950 at the age of 21.
The game failed to make any headlines because pro basketball was a young sport in 1950, overshadowed by baseball, golf and college football.
But Lloyd opened the door for thousands of black players to come, including some of the biggest names to ever play any professional sport.
The 1.98 meters tall Lloyd, who was just short of 2 meters tall (about 6 1/2 feet), was drafted into the Army after just seven games with the Capitols. He later played for pro teams in Detroit and Syracuse, New York, and was head coach of the Detroit Pistons from 1971 to 1972.
Lloyd was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.