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UCLA Basketball: The 25 Greatest Bruins of all time

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 21: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to fans as he arrive to attend the UCLA Bruins and Arizona Wildcats college basketball game at Pauley Pavilion on January 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Abdul-Jabbar was honored at half-time after recently receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Barack Obama. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 21: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to fans as he arrive to attend the UCLA Bruins and Arizona Wildcats college basketball game at Pauley Pavilion on January 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Abdul-Jabbar was honored at half-time after recently receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Barack Obama. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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16. Don Barksdale, C (1946-47)

Why Barksdale is on this list:

As one of the first UCLA basketball legends, Barksdale broke barriers throughout his playing career. Not only was he the first African-American to play on the US Olympic team (in 1948 when they won Gold) and the first to play in the NBA All-Star Game, but during his time at UCLA, he was the first African-American to be a consensus All-American.

After UCLA, Barksdale continued his basketball career, but it was not in the NBA as they did not allow African-Americans to play in the league at that time. Instead, he played In Oakland for four years before the NBA began to integrate.

UCLA Career Stats

  • FG%: —
  • FT% —
  • Rebs/gm: —
  • Total Rebs: —
  • Pts/gm: —
  • Total Pts: —

Key Accomplishments

  • PCC South Champs: 1947
  • All-American: 1947
  • All-PCC: 1947
  • UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame Member: 1987
  • #11 Jersey Retired: 2013

In 1951, he signed with the Baltimore Bullets as one of the first men of color to play in the NBA. After two seasons, he was traded to the Boston Celtics. After his playing days, he turned to broadcasting and radio disc-jockeying. Barksdale passed away in 1993.