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ATLANTA -- Earl Lloyd remembers wondering when he suited up for the Washington Capitols more than 60 years ago as the first black to play in an NBA game if hed make a good enough impression to stick around. Lloyd and the Capitols lost the game. But he played well enough to earn a roster spot and break the colour barrier in a league that had only three black players in 1950 and now features the highest percentage of African-American athletes in any of the major professional leagues. "Before the game, I was terrified," recalled Lloyd, who scored six points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Capitols in a 78-70 loss to the Rochester Royals on Oct. 31, 1950. "I had a fear of disappointing the people who depended on me. Luckily, letting people down was not a part of my DNA. "Im glad I was part of something that helped pave the way for others." Now, as part of Black History Month, the 83-year-old Hall of Famer will be honoured for his breakthrough at halftime of the Atlanta Hawks-Miami Heat game on Sunday. The former West Virginia State standout along with six others African-Americans will be recognized at all Hawks home games this month. "Im blessed to still have my health," said Lloyd, who also became the Detroit Pistons first black coach in 1971. "I know that there are a lot of people who didnt make it to 61 years of age. So for me to be around this long and still get some recognition." Since Lloyd made history, the NBA has increased its number of black players to 78 per cent, according to the leagues racial and gender report last year. About 83 per cent of the players in the league are people of colour. These days, Lloyd said some of his favourite players to watch are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Heat. He personally met James a couple years ago, but has yet to meet Wade. "They might be too busy with the game to come and see me," he said with a chuckle. "Ive met LeBron before but hopefully if Dwyane slows down for a moment and decides to give me a high five, Ill be sure to return the favour." Lloyd, who was drafted in the seventh round, was one of three blacks to play in the NBA in 1950. His debut was a couple of days before two other African-Americans who helped integrate the NBA -- Chuck Cooper of the Boston Celtics, the first black draftee; and Nat Clifton of the New York Knicks, the first black to sign a league contract. The six-foot-five Lloyd had his best season in 1955, averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 per game for Syracuse, which beat Fort Wayne for the NBA title. He and Jim Tucker became the first blacks to play on an NBA championship team. Lloyd played in more than 560 NBA games in the league and became known for his defensive prowess. In eight seasons, he averaged 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. When Lloyd first appeared in an NBA game, he said he couldnt have imagined the league as it is today. He gives credit not only to himself, but also to Cooper and Clifton for breaking the colour barrier. "The league has come a long way," he said. "Im happy that Chuck, Nat and myself helped pave the way for others." Wholesale Jerseys USA . was released from a Las Vegas jail early Friday after serving two months of a three-month sentence in a misdemeanour domestic battery case. Wholesale Jerseys . Lots to chat about. Lets get to it.   1. Harrison Barnes (Warriors): How about that dunk on Saturday night! Wow-Forceful. http://pavansukhdev.org/wholesalejerseys.html . Two-time former winner Ana Ivanovic also advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Monica Niculescu of Romania. Coming off her win in Beijing, Azarenka dominated the match from the start as Rus looked overwhelmed. The Dutch player double-faulted eight times and won only two points on her serve in the opening set. HOUSTON -- John Isner defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Saturday to advance to the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club. With the victory, the big-serving Isner became the top-ranked American, moving to No. 9 in the world. He leapfrogged previous No. 9 Mardy Fish, who lost in the second round here on Thursday. "Coming out of college, I never wouldve imagined (it)," said Isner, a former star at Georgia. "As I continued to improve, I knew that this was potentially attainable for me. Very thrilled to be the top-ranked American. Now, I have a my highest ranking ever, too." The 26-year-old Isner is 20-6 this year, including victories over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Hell play Juan Monaco in Sundays final. Monaco defeated qualifier Michael Russell 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 earlier in the day. Isner is 7-0 on clay this year, while Monaco is 10-2 on the surface, including a victory in Vina del Mar in February. The second-seeded Isner will play in his first career final on clay. Hes playing on tired legs after coming to Houston straight from Monte Carlo, when he won two matches to help the U.S. defeat France in the Davis Cup. "Ive just played a lot of tennis," Isner said. "Ive been kind of going a lot, but I know that win or lose (Sunday), Ill sort of be able to rest and recover." The 6-foot-9 Isner has won 44 consecutive service games in Houston and used 13 aces to beat Lopez, a Spaniard ranked 15th in the world. Isner seemed sluggish in the first set on Saturday, though his powerful serves led to quick points. Isner made the first critical mistake, missing a return on his serve at 4-4 in the tiebreak. He badly mis-hit another return and then netted a forehand to hand Lopez the set. "I certainly wasnt feeling my best, at times, out there," Isner said. "Its fortunate for me that I can get through matches, not playing my best, feeling my best, because of my serve. Very lucky to have that on my side." Lopez fired an ace to take a 6-5 lead in the second set, but Isner overpowered him with his serve in the next game, forcing another tiebreak. Isner won all of his service points in the tiebreak to even the match. Isner led 3-2 in the third when he wwhipped a backhand passed Lopez for the first break point of the match.ddddddddddddLopez got only one more point on Isners final two service games to lose for the first time in three clay matches this year. "In the third set, I made a few mistakes with my serve, and that was it," Lopez said. In the earlier match, Monaco blew a 3-1 lead in the first set, and couldnt hold his serve with Russell leading 6-5. He broke Russells serve in the first game of the second set, and went up 3-1 again. Russell started the next game with a double fault, and netted a return at love-40 to trail 4-1. Monaco lost only two points the rest of the set to draw even. Each player got an early break in the third set, and Monaco missed a backhand return to make it 3-3. Monaco won the next game with a forehand winner, but Russell held his serve at love to tie the match again. Monaco closed it out from there, another important step as he prepares for the rest of the clay-court season and the French Open. "It could be my best moment of my career," Monaco said. "This is important for me. For sure, my tennis is getting better." Russell won only two points the rest of the way, finally ending his exhausting week. He had to win two qualifying matches just to get into the main singles draw, then upset the ninth-ranked Fish on Thursday. He also advanced to the quarterfinals in the doubles draw with partner Bobby Reynolds. "I did my best two results in one week -- semifinals and beating a top-10 guy, and in Houston," Russell said. "It doesnt get much better than that. I feel like Im playing really well here now, for the first time in about a year and a half." Monaco, meanwhile, is close to earning his highest-ever ranking. He reached No. 14 early in 2008 before injuries to his left ankle and wrist stalled his progress. "Its important," Monaco said, "but Im not thinking all day about the ranking. Im thinking about improving my tennis level. This is why I work every day, to improve my tennis a little bit. Then if I play good tennis, and win matches, the ranking will come along." In the doubles final Saturday night, James Blake and Sam Querrey defeated Treat Huey and Dominic Inglot 7-6, 6-4. ' ' '