The next two days are very special days in America; MLK Day today, and the inauguration of Barack Obama as president on Tuesday. To commemorate this, the Zone will do special profiles on significant pioneers in the NBA. Today, we'll start with a profile of the first black player to ever play in the NBA, Earl Lloyd.

Earl Lloyd was born April 3, 1928 in Alexandria, Virginia. Lloyd attended Parker-Gray High School in Alexandria, mainly because of racial segregation in the South at the time. He went on to star at West Virginia State University, leading the school to two CIAA Conference and Tournament titles, during which time he was a three-time All-Conference player and two-time All-American. In 1948, he led West Virginia State to the only undefeated season in the United States, before entering the NBA Draft.

Lloyd wasn't the most sought after player in the draft; although records are sketchy, reports have him listed as a ninth-round pick in the 1950 NBA Draft. Lloyd was one of three black players drafted in the preivously all-white NBA, joining Chuck Cooper (drafted by Boston), and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton (by New York). Though Cooper was the first drafted, and Clifton was the first one to sign, Lloyd became the first to actually play in a game when, on October 31, 1950, he took the court for the Washington Capitols (who drafted him) against the Rochester Royals. Unfortuantely for Lloyd, his Capitol career lasted just seven games before being drafted into the Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He then spent the next two years in the Army before returning to the NBA in 1952.

Lloyd was acquired by the Syracuse Nationals before the 1952-53 season, where he played solidly for six seasons. His best statistical year came in 1954-55, when he averaged 10.2 PPG and 7.7 RPG. That season was also historic for Lloyd and fellow black teammate Jim Tucker; they became the first black players to win an NBA title, as the Nationals beat the Fort Wayne Pistons 4 games to 3 to win their first ever NBA championship. Ironically, Lloyd finished his career with the transplanted Pistons, playing the 1958-59 and 1959-60 seasons with the Detroit Pistons before retiring after the season. According to legend, in 1965, the Pistons GM wanted to make Lloyd the first black head coach in NBA history, but Pistons management made Dave DeBusschere player/coach instead. Lloyd did briefly coach the Pistons in 1971-72 before settling into a quiet life. Still, the contributions of Lloyd, and the other early pioneers, should not be forgotten as they paved the way for the greats of today (like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James) to be the players they are today. And that early start has made the NBA the league that it is today; as racially diverse as any league in the world.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1950-51: 7 GP, 6.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 45.7 FG%, 84.6 FT%
1951-52: did not play (military service)
1952-53: 64 GP, 7.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 34.4 FG%, 69.3 FT%
1953-54: 72 GP, 9.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.4 FG%, 74.6 FT%
1954-55: 72 GP, 10.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.1 APG, 36.5 FG%, 75.0 FT%
1955-56: 72 GP, 8.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 33.5 FG%, 77.2 FT%
1956-57: 72 GP, 9.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.3 FG%, 74.9 FT%
1957-58: 61 GP, 5.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 33.1 FG%, 74.5 FT%
1958-59: 72 GP, 8.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 34.9 FG%, 75.3 FT%
1959-60: 68 GP, 8.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 35.6 FG%, 80.0 FT%