Ken
Dooley

   Courts of Justice: A life in basketball and activism is more than a story about African Americans joining and dominating the National Basketball Association, beginning in 1950. During this period, segregation in public schools ended, voting rights were enforced, and primary Civil Rights legislation was passed. It was also the time when Emmett Till, a 13-year-old African American, was murdered, Medgar Evers was assassinated, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus, and Dr. Martin Luther King conducted his march on Washington, D.C.

 

"It was an era when you were told you were inferior so much that you began to believe it," Earl Lloyd, the first African American to play in the NBA, said. "Back of the bus, upstairs at the theater, no restaurant service. I never sat next to a white person until I was twenty-two years old," Lloyd added. "Bill Russell and I used to laugh in those early days because we always ended up guarding each other. It's like the owners felt the fans would accept Blacks if they didn't get tough with white players," Lloyd said. 

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   Right after the league was integrated in 1950, Eddie Gottlieb, owner of the Philadelphia NBA team, warned that players would be 75% black in five years. You're going to do a disservice to the game," he warned. Gottlieb argued that since most ticket-buyers were white, they would not pay good money to watch Black players. Having too many Black players would be detrimental to business and harm the league's image, Gottlieb warned. He was not alone in his thinking, with one owner arguing that Blacks would also be hard to coach. Gottlieb's position may have been influenced by his close relationship with Abe Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters. Like the other owners, Gottlieb relied on doubleheaders with the Globetrotters to boost the low attendance for league games. Saperstein ensured his pick of the best Black players available by threatening to keep his Globetrotters out of any NBA arenas featuring Black players. The book details how Red Auerbach disregarded Saperstein's threat and, in 1950, selected Chuck Cooper, the first African American player drafted.

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   When a quota service was first suggested after the 1950 draft, Walter Brown and Red Auerbach spoke against it. Brown announced at an owners' meeting that he would sell the Boston Celtics if a quota system were established. Ned Irish, the owner of the New York Knicks, threatened to pull his team out of the league if it was not opened to Black players. Although there may not have been a written agreement, an understanding between the all-white owners prevented a team from having too many Black players on its roster. The number of Black starters was also controlled. Looking at the early rosters certainly supports the quota system, whether it was official or not. The highest number of Blacks on a team was four; some teams had one or two during that period. In 1950, Chuck Cooper of the Celtics, Sweetwater Clifton of the New York Knicks, Hank DeZonie of the Tri-Cities, and Earl Lloyd of the Washington Caps were the only Black players in the league, representing 3% of the 135 NBA players. 

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   Basketball has always been more than just a game. It has served as a mirror of our society, a battleground for justice, and a bridge between divided communities. Red Auerbach also appointed the first Black coach (Bill Russell), and started the first all-Black starting team (Willie Naulls, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Bill Russell, and Satch Sanders). Pete Babcock took Red Auerbach's groundbreaking approach to a new level. He was one of the first general managers to recognize the challenges faced by young Black players in managing sudden wealth. He brought in professionals to help them learn about money management and legitimate investment opportunities. Pete also addressed alcohol and drug abuse by some of his players and enrolled them in recovery programs. He was among the first general managers to recognize the potential of involving his players in community projects, fostering trust, resolving conflicts, and uplifting those often overlooked. Whether he was walking into gang territories in Denver to extend a hand of peace or organizing NBA players to visit Native American reservations and advocate for healthy living, his commitment to people and purpose consistently transcended the game.

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   In Atlanta, he forged a lasting partnership with Congressman John Lewis, rooted in shared values and a belief in the power of action. Together, they initiated efforts to combat gun violence, support those affected by AIDS, and open doors for those in need. Pete didn't just speak about justice; he created opportunities for others to engage with it. He facilitated conversations between athletes and civil rights icons, helping them grasp the struggles that paved their way and the responsibilities that come with their platform.   

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   This book is not just the story of a career; it is the story of a calling. Many of the stories in these pages were first shared during Black History Month or taught in Pete's civil rights and basketball courses at Emory University. They are more than memories; they are lessons and legacies. As you read, you will discover how basketball is a powerful tool for social change. You will encounter the people Pete has inspired, the communities he has uplifted, and the values he has upheld. His life reminds us that authentic leadership comes not only from titles or trophies but also from courage, conviction, and compassion. 

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   For those who understand the cost of breaking barriers, his example reminds us that the work is never finished, and the game continues to hold the power to move us forward. This book honors a man who has long believed that pursuing justice requires the same intensity as a full-court press. It reminds us that the scoreboard does not always measure the most meaningful victories but the lives we touch along the way.