Skip to main content

NBA.com, Official site of the National Basketball Association

Main content
NBA history

Barrier Breakers: Pioneers of the game


Posted Jul 15, 2013 2:42 PM

Throughout Black History Month, NBA TV and NBA.com are highlighting Barrier Breakers -- important figures in African-American basketball history.

* * *

Barrier Breakers

Barrier Breakers: Al Attles
Al Attles' contributions as a player, coach and executive made a huge impact on the Warriors.

Barrier Breakers: Ken Hudson
Barrier Breakers talks to Ken Hudson about being one of the NBA's earliest African-American game officials.

Barrier Breakers: Peter Bynoe and Bertram Lee
Barrier Breakers talks about Peter Bynoe and Bertram Lee, the first African-Americans to hold a majority stake in a U.S. pro sports franchise.

Barrier Breakers: The impact of Bill Russell
GameTime looks into one of the NBA's greatest champions and highlights Bill Russell's pioneering impact on the game.

Barrier Breakers: Earl Lloyd | Roundtable on Earl Lloyd
Earl Lloyd talks about being the first African-American to play in the NBA.

Barrier Breakers: Alvin Attles
Barrier Breakers celebrates Alvin Attles, coach of the Warriors for 13 seasons.

Barrier Breakers: Legends roundtable
The crew digs deep into the TNT vault for an interview between John Thompson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell and Wayne Embry from 12 years ago.

Barrier Breakers: Red Auerbach
Barrier Breakers recognizes Red Auerbach as one of the first coaches to put five African American players in an NBA game.

Barrier Breakers: Lenny Wilkens
Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens sits down with Vince Cellini to talk about the challenges he faced growing up and during his NBA career. | Story

Barrier Breakers: Robertson and Russell
John Thompson sits down with Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell to talk about the challenges they faced as they entered professional basketball.

Barrier Breakers: Laurel Richie
WNBA President, Laurel Richie, talks about being the first African-American to head a national sports league.

Barrier Breakers: Violet Palmer
Violet Palmer served as a referee in the NBA and WNBA,and was the first woman to officiate a NBA game. | Story

Barrier Breakers: Don Barksdale
GameTime talks about Don Barksdale, the first African-American selected to the NBA All-Star Game in 1953.

Barrier Breaker: Wilt Chamberlain makes history
GameTime takes a look back at Wilt's 100 point game.

SEARCH NEWS
LATEST VIDEOS
photoTop Showdowns: Durant vs. LeBron
Kevin Durant scores 40 points, but LeBron James' 39 points help lift the Heat over the Thunder in OKC.
photoTop Showdowns: Durant vs. Paul
Kevin Durant scores 35 points in his showdown versus Chris Paul who scores 26 points and eight assist in the Thunder victory over the Clippers.
photoTop Showdowns: Durant vs. Smith
Kevin Durant and J.R. Smith battle it out in Madison Square Garden and the Thunder edge out the one point win over the Knicks.
photoTop Showdowns: Durant vs. Aldridge
Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge score 33 points apiece, but the Thunder come out on top of the Trail Blazers by four.
photoTop Showdowns: Durant vs. Irving
Kyrie Irving proved to be unstoppable scoring 35 points in a fourth quarter explosion for the Cavs in the win against Kevin Durant and the Thunder.