Black Fives is a trademarked term, federally registered in the United States Patent & Trademark Office, that refers to the all-Black basketball teams that existed in the United States between 1904, when the game was first introduced to African Americans on a wide-scale organized basis, and 1950, when the NBA signed its first Black players. The Black Fives Era produced notable NBA players who contributed to African American history. The term "Black Fives" represents the historic significance of these pioneering teams, which played a crucial role in breaking down racial barriers in American sports during the early 20th century.