Hall of Famer and NBA pioneer Earl Lloyd passed away on Feb. 26. The cause of death was not disclosed.
On October 31, 1950, Lloyd became the first African-American player in the NBA playing for the Washington Capitals. Lloyd’s career spanned 10 years, finishing with 4,682 points and 3,609 rebounds.
Lloyd later became the league’s first non-playing black head coach.
Lloyd has been called the Jackie Robinson of basketball, but he doesn’t like the comparison.
“Don’t compare me to Jackie Robinson,” Mr. Lloyd told the Tennessee Tribune in 2012. “It’s an honor, but I don’t deserve that comparison. Jackie was unique. What he went through, no one should have to go through.”
In 2003 Lloyd was inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.
