CONVERSE X BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Celebrate the first three African American players to break the NBA color barrier. To those who created their
own stories so you can create yours. A collection rooted in sports history.

The Breaking Down Barriers collection honors the legacy of the three African American players that broke the
NBA color barrier. We’re introducing limited colorways of the Converse Pro Leather and Chuck 70, the first
performance hoops shoes, in tribute to the teams that helped move the game forward: The New York Knicks,
Boston Celtics, Washington Capitols, and Detroit Pistons.
CONVERSE X BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

The Breaking Down Barriers collection honors the legacy of the three African American players that broke the
NBA color barrier. We’re introducing limited colorways of the Converse Pro Leather and Chuck 70, the first
performance hoops shoes, in tribute to the teams that helped move the game forward: The New York Knicks,
Boston Celtics, Washington Capitols, and Detroit Pistons.

CHUCK COOPER

First African American drafted by an NBA team

when the Celtics selected him in the 1950 NBA
Draft on April 25, 1950.

The Boston Celtics made Cooper the first African

American basketball player selected in the NBA
Draft. He played four years in Boston and finished
his professional career in 1956 with the Fort
Wayne Pistons.

Celebrate the first three iconic African American

players to smash the 1950 color barrier with
Converse’s Breaking Down Barriers collection.
Chosen by the Boston Celtics in 1950 at the age
of 24, Chuck Cooper was the first African
American player to ever be drafted into the NBA.
The 6-foot-5 forward went on to play for Boston
for four years before moving to the Milwaukee
Hawks.
CONVERSE X BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

The Breaking Down Barriers collection honors the legacy of the three African American players that broke the
NBA color barrier. We’re introducing limited colorways of the Converse Pro Leather and Chuck 70, the first
performance hoops shoes, in tribute to the teams that helped move the game forward: The New York Knicks,
Boston Celtics, Washington Capitols, and Detroit Pistons.

NAT CLIFTON
First African American to sign an NBA contract
when he signed with the New York Knicks in the
summer of 1950.

Clifton was drafted by the New York Knicks and

was the first African American player to sign an
NBA contract. He helped the Knicks reach the
NBA finals during his rookie year, and in 1957, at
age 34, was named an NBA All Star.

Celebrate the first three iconic African American

players to smash the 1950 color barrier with
Converse’s Breaking Down Barriers collection. Nat
“Sweetwater” Clifton was the first African
American player to ever sign an NBA contract in
1950 with the New York Knicks, who went on to
play for the Knicks for seven seasons.
CONVERSE X BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

The Breaking Down Barriers collection honors the legacy of the three African American players that broke the
NBA color barrier. We’re introducing limited colorways of the Converse Pro Leather and Chuck 70, the first
performance hoops shoes, in tribute to the teams that helped move the game forward: The New York Knicks,
Boston Celtics, Washington Capitols, and Detroit Pistons.

EARL LLOYD
First African American to play in an NBA game
when he played for the Washington Capitols on
October 31, 1950.

Earl Lloyd became the first African American to

play in the NBA, suiting up for the short-lived
Washington Capitols. His career spanned three
franchises, highlighted by an NBA title run with the
Syracuse Nationals in 1955, and finished off with
the Detroit Pistons.

Celebrate the first three iconic African American

players to smash the 1950 color barrier with
Converse’s Breaking Down Barriers collection.
Earl “Big Cat” Lloyd became the first African
American player to ever play in an NBA regular-
season game with the Washington Capitols on
October 31, 1950. He went on to become the first
African American to win an NBA championship, as
well as the first African American to be named an
NBA assistant coach.