By Gary Norris Gray, Staff Reporter

OAKLAND, CA – African Americans have come a very long way in the National Basketball Association. In 1950, the first wave, Charles “Chuck” Cooper (Boston Celtics), Nat “Sweetwater Clifton (New York Knicks), and Earl Lloyd (Washington Capitols) arrived. Lloyd became the first African American player to win an NBA Championship and the first to be an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons in 1968 and the second Black head coach in the league.

CHUCK COOPER

The past three years the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors have dominated the NBA landscape with Golden State beating the Cavs two of the last three championship series. Head Coach Tyronn Lue won the NBA title two years ago breaking the Black coaching drought of seven years.

 African Americans were banned from the game until 1950.

BILL RUSSELL

Hall of Famer Bill Russell became the first African American head coach to win a championship. He took over the Boston Celtics in November of 1966, as a player-coach. Russell guided them to another championship in 1968-1969.  Russell retired in Seattle with the SuperSonics in 1988.

These fine gentlemen have won championships as head coaches: Bill Russell-Boston Celtics (1968, 1969), Al Attles-Golden State Warriors (1975), Lenny Wilkens-Seattle SuperSonics (1979), and K.C. Jones-Boston Celtics (1984, 1986), Doc Rivers-Boston Celtics (2008), now we can add Tyronn Lue- Cleveland Cavaliers (2016) to the list.

Tyronn Lue

Note there are currently NINE Black head coaches as we begin the 2017 season in a league that is dominated by Black players.This year two young coaches will also direct their teams into their second season. DAVID FIZDALE- Memphis Grizzlies and EARL WATSON- Phoenix Suns will try to get their struggling teams to the playoffs. One veteran coach Nate McMillan will travel from the west coast to the east, from the Portland Trailblazers to the Indiana Pacers trying to mold the blue and gold into the flyboys on the court of Indiana.

Mike Brown

Questions still remain with Mike Brown assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors guiding the team to an undefeated playoff record while head coach Steve Kerr rested in Oakland with his back injury in 2017. Mark Jackson is currently working in the broadcast booth in 2017, and Mike Woodson is currently an assistant coach with the struggling Los Angeles Clippers. Will these three men get another chance to take a team to the playoffs and an NBA Championship?

 HERE IS THE LIST OF THE 71 BLACK HEAD COACHES

* Coached part of that season

CAPS- New Coaches

Head Coaches Coach   Team    Years

Al Attles

1. Al Attles-S.F./Golden State Warriors 1969-70* to 1982-83
2. Randy Ayers-Philadelphia 76ers 2003-04*
3. Elgin Baylor-New Orleans Jazz 1974-75; 1976-77 to 1978-79
4. Butch Beard-New Jersey Nets 1994-1996
5. Bernie Bickerstaff-Seattle SuperSonics 1985-1990, Denver Nuggets 1994-1997, Washington Wizards 1996-97, to 1998-99, Charlotte Bobcats 2004-2010 Los Angeles Lakers  2012*
6. Mike Brown-Cleveland Cavaliers 2005-2010 Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2012* Cleveland Cavaliers 2013-2014
7. Quinn Buckner-Dallas Mavericks 1993-94
8. Mack Calvin-Los Angeles Clippers 1991-92*
9. M. L. Carr-Boston Celtics 1995-1997
10. Butch Carter-Toronto Raptors 1997-98* to 1999-2000

Dwayne Casey

11. Fred Carter-Philadelphia 76ers-1992-93* to 1993-94
12. Bill Cartwright-Chicago Bulls 2001-02* to 2003-04*
13. Dwayne Casey-Minnesota Timberwolves 2005-06 to 2006-07*, Toronto Raptors 2011- PRESENT
14. Don Chaney-Los Angeles Clippers 1984-85* to 1986-87, Houston Rockets 1988-89 to 1991-92, Detroit Pistons 1993-94 to 1994-95, New York Knicks 2001-02* to *2003-04

15. Maurice Cheeks-Portland Trail Blazers 2001-02 to *2004-05, Philadelphia 76ers 2005-2008, Detroit Pistons 2013-2014
16. Jim Cleamons-Dallas Mavericks 1996-97 to 1997-98
17. Michael Cooper-Denver Nuggets 2004-05*
18. Tyron Corbin-Utah Jazz- 2011- 2014, Sacramento Kings 2015,
19. Mel Daniels-Indiana Pacers 1988-89*
20. Johnny Davis-Philadelphia 76ers 1996-97, Orlando Magic 2003-04* to 2004-05*

David Fizdale

21. Larry Drew-Atlanta Hawks 2010- 2013, Milwaukee Bucks 2013
22. Mike Evans-Denver Nuggets 2001-02*
23.  Derrick Fisher– New York Knicks 2014-2016
24. Alvin Gentry-Miami Heat 1994-95* Detroit Pistons 1997-98 to 1999-2000* Los Angeles Clippers 2000-01 to 2002-03* Phoenix Suns 2008- 2013, New Orleans Pelicans 2015-PRESENT
25. DAVID FIZDALE- Memphis Grizzlies-2016-PRESENT
26. Leonard Hamilton-Washington Wizards 2000-01
27. Gar Heard-Dallas Mavericks 1992-93* Washington Wizards 1999-2000*
28. Lionel Hollins-Vancouver Grizzlies 1999-2000*, Memphis Grizzlies 2009-2013, Brooklyn Nets 2014-2016
29. Bob Hopkins-Seattle SuperSonics 1977-78
30. Melvin Hunt– Denver Nuggets- 2015*

Mark Jackson

31. Mark Jackson – Golden State Warriors 2011-2014
32. Stu Jackson-New York Knicks 1989-90 to 1990-91 Vancouver Grizzlies 1996-97*
33. Avery Johnson-Dallas Mavericks 2004-05*-2008 New Jersey-Brooklyn Nets 2010-2013
34. Dennis Johnson-Los Angeles Clippers 2002-03*
35. Frank Johnson-Phoenix Suns 2001-02* to 2003-04*
36. Magic Johnson-Los Angeles Lakers 1993-94*
37. K. C. Jones-Capital/Washington Bullets 1973-74, to 1975-76, Boston Celtics 1983-84 to 1987-88, Seattle SuperSonics 1990-91 to 1991-92
38. Eddie Jordan-Sacramento Kings 1996-97* to 1997-98, Washington Wizards 2003-2008, Philadelphia 76ers 2009-2010
39. Jason Kidd-Brooklyn Nets 2013-2014, Milwaukee Bucks 2014-PRESENT
40. Bob Lanier-Golden State Warriors 1994-95*

Jason Kidd

41. Gene Littles-Cleveland Cavaliers 1985-86*, Charlotte Hornets 1989-90* to 1990-91, Denver Nuggets 1994-95*
42. Earl Lloyd-Detroit Pistons 1971-72* to 1972-73
43. Sidney Lowe-Minnesota Timberwolves 1992-93* to 1993-94, Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies 2000-01 to 2002-03
44. Tyronn Lue- Cleveland Cavaliers 2014-PRESENT
45. John Lucas-San Antonio Spurs 1992-93* to 1993-94, Philadelphia 76ers 1994-95 to 1995-96, Cleveland Cavaliers 2001-02 to 2002-03*
46. Nate McMillan-Seattle SuperSonics 2000-01* to 2004-05, Portland Trailblazers 2005-2012, Indiana Pacers 2016-PRESENT
47. Sam Mitchell-Toronto Raptors 2004-2008,
48. Pete Myers-Chicago Bulls 2003-04*
49. Kenny Nat-Sacramento Kings 2008-2009
50. Terry Porter-Milwaukee Bucks 2003-04

Willis Reed

51. Willis Reed-New York Knicks 1977-78 to 1978-79, New Jersey Nets 1987-88* to 1988-89
52. Doc Rivers-Orlando Magic 1999-2000 to 2003-04*, Boston Celtics 2004-05 – 2013, Los Angeles Clippers 2013-PRESENT
53. Bill Russell-Boston Celtics 1966-67 to 1968-69, Seattle SuperSonics 1973-74 to 1976-77, Sacramento Kings 1987-88
54. Tom Sanders-Boston Celtics 1977-78* to 1978-79
55. Byron Scott-New Jersey Nets 2000-2004*, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets2004-2009, Cleveland Cavaliers 2009- 2013, Los Angeles Lakers 2014-2015
56. Ray Scott-Detroit Pistons 1972-73* to 1975-76
57. Brian Shaw-Denver Nuggets- 2013- 2015
58. Paul Silas-San Diego Clippers 1980-81 to 1982-83, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets 1998-99* to 2002-03, Cleveland Cavaliers 2003-04 to 2004-05*, Charlotte Bobcats 2010-2012
59. Keith Smart-Cleveland Cavaliers 2002-03*, Golden State Warriors 2010-2011, Sacramento Kings 2012- 2013
60. Isiah Thomas-Indiana Pacers 2000-01 to 2002-03, New York Knicks 2006-2008

Earl Watson

61. Reggie Theus-Sacramento Kings 2007-2008
62. Wes Unseld-Washington Bullets 1987-88* to 1993-94
63. Jacques Vaughan-Orlando Magic 2012- 2015
64. Sam Vincent-Charlotte Bobcats 2007-2008
65. Darrell Walker-Toronto Raptors 1996-97 to 1997-98, Washington Wizards 1999-2000*
66. EARL WATSON- Phoenix Suns 2016- PRESENT

67. Lenny Wilkens-Seattle SuperSonics 1969-70 to 1971-72, Portland Trail Blazers 1974-75 to 1975-76, Seattle SuperSonics 1977-78* to 1984-85, Cleveland Cavaliers 1986-87 to 1992-93, Atlanta Hawks 1993-94 to 1999-2000, Toronto Raptors 2000-01 to 2002-03
68. Monty Williams-New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans 2010- 2015
69. Herb Williams-New York Knicks 2003-04*; 2004-05*
70. Mike Woodson-Atlanta Hawks 2004-2010, New York Knicks 2010-2014
71. Draff Young-Kansas City/Omaha Kings 1973-74*

Gary Norris Gray – Writer, Author, Historian, Gibbs Magazine-Oakland, California and New England Informer- Boston, Mass. THE GRAYLINE:- The Analects of A Black Disabled Man, The Gray Leopard Cove, Soul Tree Radio In The Raw, and The Batchelor Pad Network, Disabled Community Activist. Email at garyngray@blackathlete.com

Garynorrisgray@Wordpress.com

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