Earl Lloyd (right) was the first African American to play in the NBA. Wataru Misaka debuted in 1947 as the first non-white and Asian-American player in the league. Blacks first appeared in the NBA in 1950.Chuck Cooper was the first black player drafted in the NBA.he first non-white player entered the league in 1947. According to racial equality activist Richard Lapchick, the NBA in 2011 was composed of 78 percent black players, 17 percent white players, four percent Latinos (of any race), and one percent Asian.