Chuck Cooper (basketball) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1926 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | February 5, 1984 (aged 57) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| High school | Westinghouse (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1950 / Round: 2 / Pick: 14th overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Pro career | 1950–1956 |
| Career history | |
| 1950–1954 | Boston Celtics |
| 1954–1956 | Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks |
| 1956 | Fort Wayne Pistons |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 2,725 (6.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,431 (5.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 734 (1.8 apg) |
Charles Henry Cooper (born September 29, 1926 – died February 5, 1984) was an amazing American professional basketball player. He made history in 1950 by becoming one of the first three African-American players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The other two players were Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Earl Lloyd.
Chuck Cooper was also the very first African-American player to be drafted by an NBA team. The Boston Celtics picked him as the 14th overall player in the 1950 draft. Because of his important contributions, Cooper was honored and added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 9, 2019.
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Chuck Cooper's Early Life and College Basketball
Chuck Cooper was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, Daniel, worked as a mailman, and his mother, Emma, was a school teacher. Chuck went to Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh and finished in 1944.
During his last year of high school, he scored over 13 points per game. He was even named an All-City first-team center. After high school, he played basketball for one semester at West Virginia State College. Then, he joined the United States Navy to serve during the final parts of World War II.
After his time in the Navy, Chuck went to Duquesne University. He was an incredible player there, earning the title of All-American. He started every game for all four years he played. He even set a school record by scoring 990 points during his college career.
While Cooper played at Duquesne, his team had a fantastic record of 78 wins and only 19 losses. They were invited twice to the important National Invitation Tournament. In the 1949–50 season, he was the team captain. That year, the team was nationally ranked all season, finishing with a 23–6 record and ranking sixth in the country. Chuck Cooper also became the first African American to play in a college basketball game south of the Mason–Dixon line.
Chuck Cooper's NBA Career
After college in 1950, Chuck Cooper first joined the famous Harlem Globetrotters. But soon, on April 25, 1950, he made history. The Boston Celtics chose him as the 14th pick in the NBA draft. This made him the first African American ever drafted into the NBA.
The Celtics' owner, Walter A. Brown, picked Cooper. The team was coached by the legendary Red Auerbach, and Cooper played alongside the great Bob Cousy. Some other team officials tried to tell Brown not to draft Cooper because he was Black. But Brown famously said, "I don't care if he's striped, plaid or polka dot. Boston takes Charles Cooper of Duquesne." Cooper played his first NBA game on November 1, 1950, against the Fort Wayne Pistons.
Chuck Cooper played for the Celtics for four years. Then, he was traded to the Milwaukee Hawks. He finished his NBA career playing for the Ft. Wayne Pistons. After leaving the NBA, he played for the Harlem Magicians for a year. Sadly, he injured his back in a car crash, which ended his basketball playing days.
During his NBA career, Cooper played in 409 games. He scored a total of 2,725 points, averaging about 6.7 points per game. He also grabbed 2,431 rebounds, averaging about 5.9 per game. Plus, he made 733 assists, averaging about 1.8 per game. Some statistics like blocked shots or steals were not recorded back then.
What Chuck Cooper Did After Basketball
After his NBA career, Chuck Cooper continued his education. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Minnesota in 1960. He was married twice, first in 1951, and then in 1957 to Irva Lee. He and Irva Lee had four children together.
Chuck worked hard to improve his hometown of Pittsburgh. He served on the Pittsburgh school board, helping to guide local education. He was also appointed as the director of parks and recreation for the city. This made him the first Black person to lead a department in Pittsburgh. He also helped with the Pittsburgh National Bank's program to promote fairness in hiring. He worked as an urban affairs officer until he passed away in Pittsburgh at age 57 on February 5, 1984.
See also
In Spanish: Chuck Cooper para niños
- Basketball in the United States
- Race and ethnicity in the NBA
