Pop Gates

Pop Gates
Gates circa 1952
Personal information
Born(1917-08-30)August 30, 1917
Decatur, Alabama, U.S.
DiedDecember 1, 1999(1999-12-01) (aged 82)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolBenjamin Franklin
(Harlem, New York)
PositionGuard
Career history
As player:
1937–1938New York Harlem Yankees
1938–1941,
1942–1946
New York Renaissance
1941–1946Washington Licthman Bears
1941–1944Grumman Flyers
1944–1945Rochester
1944–1946Long Island Grumman Hellcats
1945–1946Chicago Monarchs
1946–1947Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1947–1949New York Rens
1949Dayton Rens
1949–1950Scranton Miners
1950–1957Harlem Globetrotters
1951–1952New York Celtics
As coach:
1949Dayton Rens
1950–1955Harlem Globetrotters
Career highlights and awards
  • NBL All-Time Team
  • 3× All-WPBT Team (1940, 1942, 1943)
  • ABL champion (1950)
Basketball Hall of Fame as player

William Penn "Pop" Gates (August 30, 1917 – December 1, 1999) was an American professional basketball player. Considered one of the top players of his day, he was the first African American player signed to the National Basketball League, the precursor to today's National Basketball Association.