The history of basketball is not one that begins and ends with the National Basketball Association. For about four decades, racial segregation was just as prevalent on the hardwood as it was on the streets. African Americans were forced to form their own basketball teams, nicknamed “Black Fives.”
The Black Fives era played a pivotal role in the sport’s development, exposing many people to the game of basketball and strengthening its popularity. Additionally, these teams played with unique skill as well as athleticism, incorporating new styles of play that revolutionized the standards of professional play.
This February, the Big East has partnered with the Black Fives Foundation, a nonprofit public charity that seeks to honor and preserve this history while educating people on the pre-NBA history of African American basketball.