Is it just me or does the NBA seem to be getting Whiter lately?

[MF Doom]

I hope more white players join. Maybe the NBA can lose its "thug" image.

And it was proclaimed by the Lord (of Mikawa) that all people of color are thugs.... and you wonder why top free agents don't wan't to play here. In my opinion, it's boston's culture. it's not diverse at all, and the residing ethnic groups aren't exposed to each other as much which leads to ignorance. Take LA for example, which throughout history exemplified black backlash to authority such as the Watts riots, the hip hop culture in the 90's etc. It also has a "hollywood" culture with many famous wealthy white celebrities residing there. Then you have New York, which was the birthplace of hip hop, street ball, and has a gritty urban vibe to it's five boroughs. It is also home to corporate America . . . i.e Wall Street, Time Square, and a heavy Italian influence.

Boston, on the other hand, has a very limited culture. When an outsider thinks of this city, they think "Irish."


Note: i am not attacking an posters. I am simply stating my opinion and posing an idea

[TheTruthFot18]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7424646/los-angeles-lakers-new-look

Isn't Kidd mixed?

Ahh was about to post this. They say in the picture: Mcroberts, Kapono, Blake, Murphy and walton. I guess I feel better that Gasol is not white 

[Eja117]

Is it just me or is it amazing how long this thread has gone?

[thenotoriousjts]

Honestly, I'm a pretty fan of the "thug"-ness of the NBA if you want to call it that. I loved the Fab 5 story, love Allen Iverson, Rafer Alston, all those guys. They play with unmatched confidence and do crazy things on the court. It's players like that who got me into basketball and it's not like I'm blind to appreciating the more fundamental players like Nash, Kidd, maybe CP3.

Oh and did I mention Pierce, Allen, and Garnett? Love them, too.

[Celtics18]

Honestly, I'm a pretty fan of the "thug"-ness of the NBA if you want to call it that. I loved the Fab 5 story, love Allen Iverson, Rafer Alston, all those guys. They play with unmatched confidence and do crazy things on the court. It's players like that who got me into basketball and it's not like I'm blind to appreciating the more fundamental players like Nash, Kidd, maybe CP3.

Oh and did I mention Pierce, Allen, and Garnett? Love them, too.

There was a thread about this term "thug" a little while ago, and I must be using a different definition of the word, but I don't find very many NBA players to be thuggish. 

[nickagneta]

I have to wonder.....

Why does it matter?

Thank you!!!! Nuff said.

[guava_wrench]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7424646/los-angeles-lakers-new-look

Isn't Kidd mixed?

This is part of what makes the whole analysis a bit stupid on the margins. As if there is some sort of purity needed to be "white".

Nevertheless, there are a lot of unambiguous cases.

[guava_wrench]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7424646/los-angeles-lakers-new-look

Isn't Kidd mixed?

That article is pretty entertaining. Adande did a good job.

[Kane3387]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7424646/los-angeles-lakers-new-look

Isn't Kidd mixed?

This is part of what makes the whole analysis a bit stupid on the margins. As if there is some sort of purity needed to be "white".

Nevertheless, there are a lot of unambiguous cases.

Is obama white?

[Lord of Mikawa]

I hope more white players join. Maybe the NBA can lose its "thug" image.

And it was proclaimed by the Lord (of Mikawa) that all people of color are thugs.... and you wonder why top free agents don't wan't to play here.

I did not say that. As a man of color, I have to live with the fact that most people assume we are violent based on the actions of others and media portrayal. That is not the case. But for a long time people have viewed the black players in the NBA as over-paid thugs. Troll any Yahoo sports article about basketball and you will see that. Having a balance of players from around the world will help to change the league's image and expand it's influence. Don't mince my words.

[BASS_THUMPER]

i am a man of color?

no

im not colored...reminds of the the water fountains  back in the the day ya know?

              im a man first

            not a crayola

 and if all u see is color and judge me by my skin..?

your world is boring...no flava


i became a celtics fan watching bird..most people i knew loved la...ac green with the jeri curl...



this was cool..growin up in detroit..isaiah, mahorn ,sally...lakers was the team..bird didnt have the flash and flare but he got the job done...looking back i never judge him  by his color..i like how people underated him then watch bird shock n awe em..the man

bad apples in every basket

[nickagneta]

I agree with Bass...what's it matter. NBA players are men playing ball. Who cares if they are black, white, yellow, brown, purple or blue. I love players for what they do on the court, how they play the game and of course, who they play for.

I'm white.

My favorite Celtic growing up was Jo Jo White. Second favorite was Hondo. Later my faves became Max, Tiny, Bird, DJ, McHale Reggie, Pierce, and then Rondo. I've always respected and loved the games of Pistol Pete, Bernard King, Doctor J, Magic, Stockton, MJ, and others.

Who cares what ethnicity, color or creed they are? Do you like them? Do you like their game? Do they play for a team you like? That's what matters.

[Greenbean]

I hope more white players join. Maybe the NBA can lose its "thug" image.

And it was proclaimed by the Lord (of Mikawa) that all people of color are thugs.... and you wonder why top free agents don't wan't to play here. In my opinion, it's boston's culture. it's not diverse at all, and the residing ethnic groups aren't exposed to each other as much which leads to ignorance. Take LA for example, which throughout history exemplified black backlash to authority such as the Watts riots, the hip hop culture in the 90's etc. It also has a "hollywood" culture with many famous wealthy white celebrities residing there. Then you have New York, which was the birthplace of hip hop, street ball, and has a gritty urban vibe to it's five boroughs. It is also home to corporate America . . . i.e Wall Street, Time Square, and a heavy Italian influence.

Boston, on the other hand, has a very limited culture. When an outsider thinks of this city, they think "Irish."


Note: i am not attacking an posters. I am simply stating my opinion and posing an idea

Man for some reason this keeps coming up. In the CITY of Boston, there is plenty of diversity. Most of the surrounding suburbs are primarily white.

Hollywood's portrayal of Boston is far off from what it looks like now. Way off and players that travel here can tell you that. Players that play here can tell you that. Have you heard one single indication from players that they have issues with Boston's diversity?

KG mentioned he had inquired before accepting the trade but he got a pretty quick answer...it's not an issue.

I would say that race has absolutely zero influence on a player's decision to play here in Boston in 2012.

[OsirusCeltics]

I don't think the number of White players are increasing. I think its the number of talented white players are increasing.. like said before, Kevin Love is now a Top 10 player. Chase Budinger, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Chris Birdman Anderson, Spencer Hawes, JJ Reddick, have become key contributers for their teams, which translates into more TV time (visibility) to see them in action

And even though they are not American born, there are more than plenty white European players who are all stars and Superstars for their respective teams

[MF Doom]

I hope more white players join. Maybe the NBA can lose its "thug" image.

And it was proclaimed by the Lord (of Mikawa) that all people of color are thugs.... and you wonder why top free agents don't wan't to play here. In my opinion, it's boston's culture. it's not diverse at all, and the residing ethnic groups aren't exposed to each other as much which leads to ignorance. Take LA for example, which throughout history exemplified black backlash to authority such as the Watts riots, the hip hop culture in the 90's etc. It also has a "hollywood" culture with many famous wealthy white celebrities residing there. Then you have New York, which was the birthplace of hip hop, street ball, and has a gritty urban vibe to it's five boroughs. It is also home to corporate America . . . i.e Wall Street, Time Square, and a heavy Italian influence.

Boston, on the other hand, has a very limited culture. When an outsider thinks of this city, they think "Irish."


Note: i am not attacking an posters. I am simply stating my opinion and posing an idea

Man for some reason this keeps coming up. In the CITY of Boston, there is plenty of diversity. Most of the surrounding suburbs are primarily white.

Hollywood's portrayal of Boston is far off from what it looks like now. Way off and players that travel here can tell you that. Players that play here can tell you that. Have you heard one single indication from players that they have issues with Boston's diversity?

KG mentioned he had inquired before accepting the trade but he got a pretty quick answer...it's not an issue.

I would say that race has absolutely zero influence on a player's decision to play here in Boston in 2012.

In a way, I agree with you. Roxbury is like a mini Harlem, and Dorchester is extremely diverse now. But the point is that outsiders do not see that and I personally believe that it does influence a player's decision to play here, sadly. As a black life long Celtics fan, i've been asked by my peers how I could be a Celtic fan being black. . . I can see both sides of the argument. Many of us want to believe that race should not matter at all in this day in age. But realistically, it does. This country was built on racism if you objectively look at it