Table of Biography
Earl Lloyd was a professional basketball player and coach from the United States. Earl Lloyd was the National Basketball Association’s first African-American player to appear in a game.
Early Life and Childhood
Earl Lloyd was born on April 3, 1928, in Alexandria, Virginia, United States and he died on February 26, 2015, in Crossville, Tennessee, United States. Lloyd was a naturalized American citizen and Christian by religion.
Similarly, his birth name was Earl Francis Lloyd and his birth sign was Aries. Lloyd was the son of Theodore Lloyd, Sr., and Daisy Lloyd.
His father worked in the coal industry, and his mother was a stay-at-home mother. Lloyd received a lot of family support to succeed in his career. Moreover, Lloyd’s family was there for him at every step.
Education
Talking about his educational background, Lloyd was a high school standout who was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference three times and the All-State Virginia Interscholastic Conference twice.
Lloyd did attend a segregated school, but he credits his success after school to his family and educators for guiding him through the difficult times. Lloyd graduated from Parker-Grey High School in 1946, where he played for Coach Louis Randolph Johnson.
Moreover, he received a basketball scholarship to West Virginia State University, home of the Yellow Jackets. Because of his size, he was nicknamed “Moon Fixer” in school and was known as a defensive specialist. Lloyd received his B.S. degree in physical education from West Virginia State University in 1950.
Career and Professional Life
Regarding his career, In 1948 and 1949, Lloyd led West Virginia State to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference and Tournament Championships. The Pittsburgh Courier named him All-Conference three times (1948-50) and All-American twice (1949–50).
Moreover, he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior, leading West Virginia State to second place in the CIAA Conference and the Tournament Championship. Lloyd was selected by the Washington Capitols in the ninth round with pick #100 in the 1950 NBA draft.
Similarly, Lloyd was the first to play in an NBA game because of the order in which the team’s season openers fell, scoring six points on Halloween night. Lloyd appeared in 560 games throughout nine seasons. Before the Washington Capitols folded on January 9, 1951, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward appeared in only seven games for them.
He was then drafted into the United States Army and stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Syracuse Nationals claimed him off waivers while he was serving in the military. Lloyd served in the Korean War before returning to basketball in 1952.
Lloyd led the NBA in both personal fouls and disqualifications during the 1953-54 season. In 1954-1955, Lloyd averaged 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds for Syracuse, which won the NBA Championship by defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons 4 games to 3.
Lloyd and Jim Tucker made history by becoming the first African-American players to play on an NBA championship team. According to Jerry Green of the Detroit News, Detroit Pistons General Manager Don Wattrick wanted to hire Lloyd as the team’s head coach in 1965.
Caption: Earl Lloyd playing basketball. Source: Getty Images
More about Earl Lloyd’s Career
Instead, Dave DeBusschere was named Pistons player-coach. Lloyd was the first African-American assistant coach, and he was named head coach for the 1971-72 season, becoming the third African-American head coach, following John McLendon and Bill Russell.
Following his basketball career, Lloyd worked as a job placement administrator for the Detroit public school system in the 1970s and 1980s. Lloyd also ran programs to teach job skills to underprivileged children during this time.
In the 1990s, Lloyd worked as the Community Relations Director for the Bing Group, a Detroit manufacturing firm.
Brand Endorsements
Lloyd has not endorsed any brand, nor has he promoted anything, nor has he been seen in any brand collaborations.
Awards and Nomination
Lloyd helped the team to become an NBA champion in 1955. Similarly, he was awarded CIAA “Player of the Decade” for the 1940s.
Caption: Earl Lloyd shaking hands with Army Chief. Source: Wikipedia
Earl Lloyd – Net Worth 2024
Earl Lloyd was a professional basketball player and coach from the United States who earned a considerable income from his work. Lloyd’s estimated net worth was around $600k.
He used to receive an annual salary of $50k per year and his source of income was mainly his basketball profession.
Relationship Status
Lloyd and Charlita, his wife, had three sons and four grandchildren. His one son’s name was Kevin Lloyd. Lloyd lived in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, near Crossville, until his death on February 26, 2015. Moreover, there is no information regarding Lloyd’s past affairs or girlfriends.
Scandal
Lloyd hasn’t been associated with any rumors or controversies. Also, Lloyd avoided the media and engaging in situations that could have damaged his professional basketball career.
Earl Lloyd – Body Measurements
Regarding his height, Lloyd was 6 Feet 6 inches tall and weighed 91kg. Similarly, Lloyd’s eyes and hair color are black. Also, Lloyd’s shoe size was 16(US).
Caption: Earl Lloyd giving a pose. Source: West Virginia
Social Media
Earl Lloyd was not active on social media. Lloyd likes to be present and keep his personal life private, hence he does not use social networking sites.