Chuck Cooper (basketball)

• 1. Pittsburgh Roots And Duquesne Dominance

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  Charles Henry Cooper entered the world on the 29th of September 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father Daniel worked as a mailman while his mother Emma taught school. He attended Westinghouse High School and graduated in 1944 with an average of more than 13 points per game during his senior year. The young center earned All-City first-team honors before enrolling at West Virginia State College for one semester. World War II interrupted his college plans when he was drafted into the United States Navy during the final stages of the conflict. After serving his country, Cooper enrolled at Duquesne University where he started all four years of play. He set the school record for total points with 990 across those four seasons. The team finished with a 78, 19 record under his leadership and received invitations to the National Invitation Tournament twice. During the 1949, 50 season, Cooper captained the squad that became the first university team nationally ranked all season long. That team finished with a 23, 6 record and placed sixth in the national rankings. An article from the 18th of November 1950 issue of the Afro-American newspaper called him the first Black basketer named an All-American college athlete.

• 2. The Historic Draft Of 1950

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  Cooper signed with the Harlem Globetrotters after leaving college in 1950. On the 25th of April 1950, history changed when the Boston Celtics chose him with the 14th overall pick. This moment made him the first African American drafted into the NBA by a professional basketball team. Celtics owner Walter A. Brown selected Cooper despite pressure from officials of other teams who suggested he should not be drafted because he was black. Brown famously stated I don't give a damn if he's striped, plaid or polka dot. Boston takes Charles Cooper of Duquesne. Red Auerbach coached the team while Cooper played alongside great Bob Cousy. He made his NBA debut on the 1st of November 1950 against the Fort Wayne Pistons. Cooper joined Nat Sweetwater Clifton and Earl Lloyd as the first three African American players in the league during 1950. The selection process involved significant racial tension within the league at that time. Other teams tried to dissuade Boston from making their choice but failed. The draft marked a turning point for integration in professional sports.

• 3. Six Seasons Across Three Teams

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  Cooper played four years with the Celtics before being traded to the Milwaukee Hawks. His career ended as a member of the Ft. Wayne Pistons after playing for the St. Louis franchise. He spent one year playing for the Harlem Magicians following his NBA tenure. A car crash injured his back and forced him to leave basketball entirely. During his NBA career, Cooper played a total of 409 games across six seasons. He scored 2,725 points for an average of 6.66 points per game. Cooper grabbed 2,431 rebounds for an average of 5.9 per game. He recorded 733 assists for an average of 1.79 per game. Some statistics were not kept during that era so blocked shots, steals, or turnovers remain unknown. His regular season averages varied by team and year throughout the six-year span. Playoff appearances included nine games with the Fort Wayne Pistons where he averaged 1.3 points per game. The statistical record shows consistent contribution despite limited minutes on some nights. Career totals reflect steady performance over multiple franchises and coaching staffs.

• 4. A Life Beyond The Court

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  After retiring from professional play, Cooper graduated with a Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 1960. He married twice first in 1951 and then again in 1957 to Irva Lee. They had four children together before his death. Cooper worked to improve his hometown of Pittsburgh through various civic roles. He served on the Pittsburgh school board while appointed as director of parks and recreation for the city. This appointment made him the first Black department head in the city government. He also helped the Pittsburgh National Bank affirmative action program as an urban affairs officer until his passing. Charles Henry Cooper died at age 57 on the 5th of February 1984 of liver cancer. He passed away at Forbes Hospice in Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article published on the 6th of February 1984 reported his death. His community work continued long after his basketball career ended.

• 5. Hall Of Fame And Enduring Legacy

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  Cooper was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on the 9th of September 2019. This recognition came nearly three decades after his death in 1984. The honor celebrated his role as one of the pioneers who broke racial barriers in professional basketball. His induction joined other early African American players like Nat Sweetwater Clifton and Earl Lloyd. Duquesne University honored his legacy with a special event in December 2009 according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report by Phil Axelrod. The university recognized his record-setting point total and national ranking achievements from the late 1940s. Cooper remains the first African American drafted by an NBA team despite sharing that distinction with others who played earlier. His story connects college dominance to professional integration during a turbulent era. The Hall of Fame selection validated decades of advocacy for equality in sports.