Celtics, Bucks Celebrate 75 Years Since NBA Color Barrier Broken

Inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic honors pioneering Black players Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel 'Sweetwater' Clifton and Earl Lloyd.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:39pm

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The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks faced off in the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the breaking of the NBA's color barrier. Players wore special jerseys honoring the first Black players drafted, signed, and to appear in an NBA game - Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel 'Sweetwater' Clifton, and Earl Lloyd. Relatives of the three pioneers joined Celtics player Jaylen Brown for a pregame address, and the court and stanchions featured their names and jersey numbers.

Why it matters

The game spotlighted the historic contributions of Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd, who paved the way for greater diversity and inclusion in the NBA. It also highlighted the important role of Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who drafted Cooper in 1950 and later hired Bill Russell as the league's first Black head coach.

The details

The Celtics defeated the Bucks 107-79, with Jaylen Brown scoring 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Bucks coach Doc Rivers both emphasized the importance of honoring the league's pioneers and continuing to move the sport forward. Rivers praised Auerbach's leadership in breaking down racial barriers in the NBA.

  • The inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic took place on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
  • The game celebrated the 75th anniversary of the breaking of the NBA's color barrier.

The players

Chuck Cooper

The first Black player drafted by an NBA team, he played four seasons for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1954.

Nathaniel 'Sweetwater' Clifton

One of the first Black players to sign an NBA contract, he played for the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons in the 1950s.

Earl Lloyd

The first Black player to appear in an NBA game, he played for the Washington Capitols, Syracuse Nationals, and Detroit Pistons from 1950 to 1960.

Red Auerbach

The legendary Boston Celtics coach who drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950, fielded the NBA's first all-Black starting five in 1955, and hired Bill Russell as the league's first Black head coach in 1966.

Bill Russell

The Celtics' legendary center who became the NBA's first Black head coach when Auerbach hired him in 1966.

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What they’re saying

“Today is the NBA's first Pioneer Classic, and it's an honor to speak on the behalf of some of our legends — Nat Clifton, Earl Lloyd and (the) Boston Celtics' Chuck Cooper. … A pioneer, by definition, if a leader, is an innovator and a forward thinker. Who will be the pioneers of this generation? On the behalf of the NBA, I want to say thank you — thank you, Boston. Let's have a good game.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Player (Boston Herald)

“When you coach the Celtics, we've had just high-character people and have history and have had a tradition in many different forms. And when you're helping move that forward, you just have a responsibility to the people who came before you to move it forward. One, to be appreciative of what those before you have done on and off the court, and then the second piece to that is doing your part and moving that forward and kind of leaving it better.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach (Boston Herald)

“What I think Pioneers Day represents, to me, is America. Red Auerbach is responsible for our achievements as much as anyone else. He didn't see color. He wanted to make the league a better league, and he kept doing it — hiring Bill Russell as coach. I mean, you think about this city that's had its ups and downs race-wise, but you have this one guy. And I got it a little bit, but when you come here and you coach here, boy, you really get it with Red. You really get what he was about. And so Pioneers Day, first game being here, for me, obviously, being a coach here for nine years, means a lot.”

— Doc Rivers, Bucks Head Coach (Boston Herald)

What’s next

The Celtics and Bucks are expected to make the Pioneers Classic an annual event, continuing to honor the league's pioneering Black players and coaches.

The takeaway

The inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic served as a powerful reminder of the league's history of breaking down racial barriers and the ongoing importance of recognizing the contributions of trailblazers like Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel Clifton, Earl Lloyd, and Red Auerbach. It underscores the NBA's role in promoting diversity, inclusion, and social progress.