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Boston Celtics: Legend Chuck Cooper headed to hall of fame

By Sam Minton

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: A general view before a game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on October 16, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: A general view before a game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on October 16, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics fans might not remember Chuck Cooper but he played a very important role in NBA history.

A lot of Boston Celtics fans are excited about the future, but let’s head back to the past as we talk about one of the more important players to ever play for the organization.

The NBA didn’t take as long as professional sports organizations such as MLB, but a color barrier did exist. The first NBA player to get drafted played on the Boston Celtics and his name was Chuck Cooper.

Cooper was drafted in 1950 and became the first African American to do so. The Celtics drafted him in the 2nd round of the NBA draft.

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Most of Cooper’s career was spent in Boston. He played 4 seasons with the team with his best season coming in his rookie year. Cooper averaged 9.3 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.

Now it is pretty stunning that it has taken this long for Cooper to get inducted into the hall of fame. This was the same case as Willie O’Ree in the NHL. These guys should have been inducted into their respective hall of fames a long time ago.

It was also stunning to learn that Cooper’s number wasn’t retired by the Celtics. This is the same case with O’Ree and the Boston Bruins.

These players went through a lot of abuse and defied the odds at the time by breaking the color barrier. Even after these players made this historic feat they still suffered.

It would have been amazing for Cooper to have been honored while he was still alive. He passed away due to liver cancer at the age of 57.

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So it is good to see that the NBA is taking a step in the right direction by inducting Cooper into the hall of fame, but it should have been done a long time ago.

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