Chuck Cooper, Jr. Will Discuss His Legendary Father And His Foundation

The Total Tutor Neil Haley and Coach Karen Hall will interview Chuck Cooper, Jr. Will Discuss His Legendary Father And His Foundation.

About the Foundation

The Chuck Cooper Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to honoring the legacy of Chuck Cooper by helping further the education of our young people. The mission of The Chuck Cooper Foundation is to continue the legacy of Charles “Chuck” Cooper, the first African-American drafted into the National Basketball Association, by awarding graduate-level scholarships and by providing comprehensive leadership development, professional skills, and opportunities to underserved students.

As he approached his graduation from Duquesne in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in education, Cooper signed on with the famed touring all-black Harlem Globetrotters team. On April 25, 1950, Cooper was selected in the second round of the NBA draft by Boston Celtics owner Walter Brown. When an associate pointed out that Cooper was black, Brown answered that he didn’t care whether Cooper was “striped, plaid, or polka dot.”

The 6-foot, 5-inch, 200-lb. Cooper made his debut with the Celtics on November 1, 1950, and he went on to produce a strong rookie season. He played in 66 games, averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and sparking a renaissance in the Celtics’ drooping fortunes. Cooper formed bonds with his teammates, including future Celtics great Bob Cousy, with whom he would sometimes go out in the evening to listen to jazz concerts. During his basketball career, in addition to playing with the Celtics, Cooper also played with the Milwaukee Hawks and the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Pistons. While with the Pistons, he played in the 1956 NBA Championship.