NBA & NBPA Launch $750K Scholarship Honoring 75th Anniversary Of League’s First Black Players

The NBA is paying homage to the pioneers who broke the league’s color barrier. In honor of Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton—the first Black players in NBA history—the league and the NBPA just announced the creation of the NBA Pioneers Scholarship.

This year, the NBA celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the historic 1950 NBA Draft, commemorating the season that broke the color barrier when NBA Pioneers Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first Black players to enter the NBA.

Ahead of the 13th… pic.twitter.com/ewQ30ME6KP

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025

Over the next five years, the NBA Foundation and NBPA Foundation will put up $750,000 to fund scholarships supporting HBCU athletic and academic programs nationwide. The first recipients include West Virginia State University (Cooper’s alma mater) and Xavier University of Louisiana (Clifton’s alma mater). In the future, all HBCU athletic departments, along with past NBA HBCU Fellowship program participants, will be eligible.

Former NBPA president and HBCU grad Chris Paul spoke on the impact of this move:

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Black players playing in the NBA… To the NBA pioneers, thank you. Your courage gave us an opportunity, your game gave us hope, and your legacy will be a part of every pass, every shot, every moment in the NBA.”

The scholarship is part of a bigger Black History Month celebration, which will include:

• Community events & in-game tributes to the pioneers

• A digital NBA Black History virtual gallery across league platforms

• Players rocking special warm-up shirts honoring Cooper, Lloyd, and Clifton

• The 5th annual NBA HBCU Classic at All-Star Weekend 2026 in L.A., featuring Hampton vs. North Carolina A&T

The bag is big, but the legacy is bigger—this scholarship keeps the trailblazers’ names alive while giving back to the schools that continue to shape the culture.