On this date in 1953, the Boston Celtics sold the rights to small forward Chuck Cooper to the (then) Milwaukee Hawks.
Cooper, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had been drafted by the Celtics out of Duquesne in the 1950 NBA Draft with the 14th overall pick. With that selection, the future Hall of Fame wing became the first African American drafted into the league, and one of the first to play in the NBA.
He would play four seasons with Boston under team president and coach Red Auerbach, averaging 6.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in his time with the franchise.