Why are there so few white American players in the NBA?

[KungPoweChicken]

From the quick research I have gathered, The United States is about 80% white and 13% black. Yet, in the NBA, I cannot imagine the league being more than 8% white American. (That percentage was not backed by statistical data, but an estimation on my part, although I would love to hear the actual number of white Americans in the NBA.) So why is there so few white American players in the NBA? And why have we not seen a great white American player in a long time?

[KG Living Legend]

Its' 73% of the population. And they make up 6% of the NBA. From isteve.blogspot.com

[SquishPCfriar]

its simple, us white guys are slow

[Scribbles]

There are a combination of things to why there are so few white American players in the NBA, and this is strictly my opinion.  First, a large majority of blacks grow up in urban areas and have little financial support.  This breaks down into two categories.  One its way more expensive to play a sport like baseball, hockey, even football to a certain extent, compared to basketball where you just need sneakers and a ball.  All the other sports require a lot more items to buy in order to play.  The second reason is that if you have little money you're outside doing other activities instead of sitting at home in the house watching tv, on the computer, or playing video games. 

The second reason why their are so few white players in the NBA is because of the way Stern decieded to market the NBA.  They highlight the one on one, superstar player, instead of the team player.  They banned all zone defenses to help achieve the one on one game.  We all know a player like Wally Szczerbiak (yes I know he was born in Spain but just follow my point) can't guard a superior athlete like a Dwayne Wade or Paul Pierce.  Stick Wally in a zone defense and hey that would help a ton.  I know its a stereotype that white people are slow and black people are more athletic, but it is true for the most part.  Yes defense is about effort, but athletically I'm willing to bet 9 out of every 10 black males are superior athletes compared to white males.  So not only would that help them on defense, but also players like Redick and Wally would be much more useful and spotting up against a zone defense. 

Again I realize its another stereotype that whites are better shooters, and this isn't really an argument because when you get to the NBA you should be able to shoot from distance, but its one you could make. Its more so a case for the defense of white players than the offense, but it goes both ways. 


Those are really the main arguments.  The money one is the better of the two arguments but that's just my thoughts.  I don't really care much for NBA basketball outside of the Celtics because its a one on one league instead of a team game like high school and college is.  In the end I don't care if you're black, white, yellow, green, purple, whatever, if you can play ball and  you put the time and dedication into it odds are you'll get far. 

[celticmaestro]

If you're good enough you'll make it no matter what color you are.

[ManUp]

There are a combination of things to why there are so few white American players in the NBA, and this is strictly my opinion.  First, a large majority of blacks grow up in urban areas and have little financial support.  This breaks down into two categories.  One its way more expensive to play a sport like baseball, hockey, even football to a certain extent, compared to basketball where you just need sneakers and a ball.  All the other sports require a lot more items to buy in order to play.  The second reason is that if you have little money you're outside doing other activities instead of sitting at home in the house watching tv, on the computer, or playing video games. 

The second reason why their are so few white players in the NBA is because of the way Stern decieded to market the NBA.  They highlight the one on one, superstar player, instead of the team player.  They banned all zone defenses to help achieve the one on one game.  We all know a player like Wally Szczerbiak (yes I know he was born in Spain but just follow my point) can't guard a superior athlete like a Dwayne Wade or Paul Pierce.  Stick Wally in a zone defense and hey that would help a ton.  I know its a stereotype that white people are slow and black people are more athletic, but it is true for the most part.  Yes defense is about effort, but athletically I'm willing to bet 9 out of every 10 black males are superior athletes compared to white males.  So not only would that help them on defense, but also players like Redick and Wally would be much more useful and spotting up against a zone defense. 

Again I realize its another stereotype that whites are better shooters, and this isn't really an argument because when you get to the NBA you should be able to shoot from distance, but its one you could make. Its more so a case for the defense of white players than the offense, but it goes both ways. 


Those are really the main arguments.  The money one is the better of the two arguments but that's just my thoughts.  I don't really care much for NBA basketball outside of the Celtics because its a one on one league instead of a team game like high school and college is.  In the end I don't care if you're black, white, yellow, green, purple, whatever, if you can play ball and  you put the time and dedication into it odds are you'll get far. 

Because White Americans have bought into beliefs like this?

I think it's because the sport has been labeled a black sport. Less White Americans might try to take it to the highest level where as a higher percentage of Black Americans take it very seriously. Look at a guys like Paul Pierce, Micheal Redd, Joe johnson, Steve Nash,  not amazing atheletes, but hard workers with extremely high skill levels became stars in this league.

Plus the fact that America is probably 80 percent white just kind of proves it. If the U.S is something like 70 or 80 percent white, and 13-15% black that means that their is a deeper talent pool of white American Atheletes. There have got to be some freak athletes in their somewhere.

[nickagneta]

My two cents on the subject....this thread is destined for a lock as it has way to many racial stereotyping and idealogy involved in it.

[coco]

It's probably a combination of things, but I agree. The way the sport is marketed sometimes makes me wonder.  A small example,  take the PlayStation NBA game....I don't relate to hip-hop or rap and yet I couldn't find a music setting that wasn't hip-hop or rap related in the entire game library.  Just a small example, but I in a round-about way, it feels like a large portion of the population isn't welcome.

[Andy Jick]

if you're white, american, played 4 years of college basketball under a great coach, you're 23 years old, and your name is John Smith...you don't get drafted.

if you're white, foreign, played 1 year of basketball under a coach who was taught by american coaches, you're 19 years old, and your name is Jonas Smithisvilli...you're the 3rd pick in the draft.

[nickagneta]

It's probably a combination of things, but I agree. The way the sport is marketed sometimes makes me wonder.  A small example,  take the PlayStation NBA game....I don't relate to hip-hop or rap and yet I couldn't find a music setting that wasn't hip-hop or rap related in the entire game library.  Just a small example, but I in a round-about way, it feels like a large portion of the population isn't welcome.

So what exactly are you saying? That white people don't listen to rap? That only black people are being targeted as the target for the NBA because Sony manufactured a game that has primarily rap music?

Apparently you are unaware that video game are played and marketed to mostly males under the age of 25 who also just so happen to be the largest listening audience of hip-hop and rap music. That's males of all colors and creeds not just blacks.

I happen to love hip-hop and rap and am a 43 year old white guy.

[Andy Jick]

why did i just have that guy (Kip?) from Napoleon Dynamite flash through my mind...

[coco]

No, what I am saying is that I don't relate to hip-hop or rap and I'd wouldn't mind having the option of listening to something else while playing the game I love.

I am a 44yr-old Puerto Rican.  I love rock-n-roll and basketball....and yes I wouldn't mind some Salsa/Merengue/Reggaeton as well  

[nickagneta]

The answers that the OP wants lies not in stereotypical beliefs but in the socio-economic realities of American society. Young, white males live primarily in lower middle class to middle class to upper class areas. Young black males live in primarily lower middle class to poverty stricken areas. Young white males have more options available to them and the means to pursue them. Young black males tend not to have those options or advantages.

This has nothing to do with percieved scouting bias against white, American players, marketing to blcks only, or anything else. It has to do with the players options and financial ability to persue those options and nothing else.

[Redz]

The answers that the OP wants lies not in stereotypical beliefs but in the socio-economic realities of American society. Young, white males live primarily in lower middle class to middle class to upper class areas. Young black males live in primarily lower middle class to poverty stricken areas. Young white males have more options available to them and the means to pursue them. Young black males tend not to have those options or advantages.

This has nothing to do with percieved scouting bias against white, American players, marketing to blcks only, or anything else. It has to do with the players options and financial ability to persue those options and nothing else.

In the rawest sense basketball is about the cheapest of the major pro sports to play.  All you need is a ball and some people (the court is generally provided).

[Mencius]

I've yet to see the most obvious answer.

Basketball is a sport where explosive athleticism is a major advantage.  Sure, developed skills are extremely important too, but I believe (and it seems patently obvious, just look at Olympic sprinting and jumping events too) that when it comes to explosive athleticism, blacks are at the top of the food chain.

If all other skills are equally developed, but the black athlete is more powerfully explosive, he's got the edge, hence greater representation in the league.  It's a league about winning, so they'll take whoever gives them the best chance to win.

No sense tap dancing around it, looking for every convoluted answer but the obvious one.  Occam's Razor applies here.  Blacks have greater explosive athleticism.