Zone1 The NBA is having its "Tiger Woods" moment

[odanny]

There were other successful black golfers before Woods crashed the party and ended up being one of the greatest ever, and there have been successful white players who have led their teams to championships (Larry Bird, and then it's slim pickings in the past three or so decades) but last year was a white guy who balled his team to an NBA championship, and now another white guy, Luka Doncic, is leading his team to the NBA Finals.

I can't remember this happening since I was damn near a teenager in a league that is 17.5% white and over 70% black. Those listed as "two or more races" (9.7%) more than likely identify as black, so if that is true, the NBA is going to be 80% black.

Are white people going to make a comeback?

NBA players by ethnicity 2023| Statista

What are the demographics of the NBA? In the 2022/23 season, the percentage of Black players exceeded that of all other ethnicities combined.

www.statista.com

 

[MarathonMike]

You could make a case that the TWO top players in the NBA currently are white. Doncic and Jokic. I'm not sure it means anything in terms of "rebalancing" the NBA in terms of race. There just appears to be an enormous genetic advantage to the black or mixed race player in the NBA. By population they should make up no more than 20 percent of the NBA yet it's closer to 80 percent.

 

[leftwinger]

Europeans dominate in the top ten in the NBA recently. Yannis, Embeed, Wymbinwama, (? SGA Canadian on OKC)? on and on. Brown & Tatum are beginning to bust up the party it looks like.

 

[odanny]

I forgot Dirk Nowitzski, a German. We have had a Serb, a Slovenian and a German step up, but the next barrier to break will be an American, like Larry Legend.

Who will be the next Great White Hope?

 

[MarathonMike]

TJ O'Connell (LOL). Hey the little guy played his ass off against the Celtics tho.

 

[martybegan]

There were other successful black golfers before Woods crashed the party and ended up being one of the greatest ever, and there have been successful white players who have led their teams to championships (Larry Bird, and then it's slim pickings in the past three or so decades) but last year was a white guy who balled his team to an NBA championship, and now another white guy, Luka Doncic, is leading his team to the NBA Finals.

I can't remember this happening since I was damn near a teenager in a league that is 17.5% white and over 70% black. Those listed as "two or more races" (9.7%) more than likely identify as black, so if that is true, the NBA is going to be 80% black.

Are white people going to make a comeback?

NBA players by ethnicity 2023| Statista

What are the demographics of the NBA? In the 2022/23 season, the percentage of Black players exceeded that of all other ethnicities combined.

www.statista.com

Who cares as long as 1) they play for my team and 2) they are good players.

I'm a men's league I'd take a trans purple unicorn furry if they can triple double every few days.

 

[odanny]

TJ O'Connell (LOL). Hey the little guy played his ass off against the Celtics tho.

Did you see the cheap shot he took from Jaylen Brown? Did you see the white guy from Boston get kcked in the face? Both were ruled "common fouls".... uh huh.

Looked clearly like a cheap shot to me. Both of them.

 

[DGS49]

The lesson here is lost on most Americans.

Why are Jokic and Doncic so good?

Because they were nurtured in an environment where Yoots compete on the basis of how good they are, rather than their age or grade in school (like we Americans do). When they were mere mid-teenagers they were competing against adults, playing professionally. This principle doesn't matter when you are talking about players who are merely good, but for the top talent, they MUST be allowed to compete on their own level.

Consider: The best 12-year-old soccer player in the U.S. is playing against other 12's and kicking ass. The best 12-year-old soccer player in Germany is playing against 16's, in a residential soccer school. That's why we suck at international soccer competition.

And also consider, Black American kids learn their BB craft IN THE PLAYGROUNDS, not in school sports. In playgrounds you compete according to how good you are, not how old you are. If you are 12 and can play ball, you play with the big kids, which accelerates your development.

 

[Manonthestreet]

Basketball is almost unwatchable it's so sloppy compared to it's glory days

 

[MarathonMike]

Did you see the cheap shot he took from Jaylen Brown? Did you see the white guy from Boston get kcked in the face? Both were ruled "common fouls".... uh huh.

Looked clearly like a cheap shot to me. Both of them.

The kick was weird and I don't think intentional. Jaylen Brown was clearly a flagrant foul he was flat footed and went right at his face.

 

[odanny]

The NBA is a microcosm of society, only the races are reversed. Whites make up the minority at 17.5%.

If we were to complete the comparison, should they commit 50% of all flagrant fouls?

 

[IM2]

Basketball is almost unwatchable it's so sloppy compared to it's glory days

The skill is basketball is better than ever befiore.

For the OP,

This is no Tiger woods moment. Whites have always been part of NBA champonships. Jokic doesn't win withut Murray. Doncic doesn't win without Irving. And Boston is probably going to win the championship in 6 games. I like Doncic. He goes out there, talks shit, taunts like everybody else and doesn't whine about it like some of these guys in this forum. He's a competitor and that's what it's all about.

 

[odanny]

I like Doncic. He goes out there, talks shit, taunts like everybody else and doesn't whine about it like some of these guys in this forum

Doncic is maybe the biggest crybaby in the NBA, it's one reason I don't root for him. He and Irving are working out better than anyone predicted, because they are both rare talents who also happen to compliment each other.

 

[IM2]

Doncic is maybe the biggest crybaby in the NBA, it's one reason I don't root for him. He and Irving are working out better than anyone predicted, because they are both rare talents who also happen to compliment each other.

He doesn't complain any more than any other player.

 

[Unkotare]

... That's why we suck at international soccer competition.
...

We "suck at international soccer competition" because the best athletes in America don't give a shit about soccer.

 

[Maga12]

Considering that black Americans are a very tiny percent of the western hemisphere, this isn't very notable.

 

[Billo_Really]

There were other successful black golfers before Woods crashed the party and ended up being one of the greatest ever, and there have been successful white players who have led their teams to championships (Larry Bird, and then it's slim pickings in the past three or so decades) but last year was a white guy who balled his team to an NBA championship, and now another white guy, Luka Doncic, is leading his team to the NBA Finals.

I can't remember this happening since I was damn near a teenager in a league that is 17.5% white and over 70% black. Those listed as "two or more races" (9.7%) more than likely identify as black, so if that is true, the NBA is going to be 80% black.

Are white people going to make a comeback?

NBA players by ethnicity 2023| Statista

What are the demographics of the NBA? In the 2022/23 season, the percentage of Black players exceeded that of all other ethnicities combined.

www.statista.com

Yeah, but a couple of black fellows are standing in Luca's way...Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum. However, Boston will get its big white boy back...Kristap Porzingus.

Luca is awesome! I'm rooting for Dallas. That's because I'm a Laker fan and I hate anything that has to do with Beantown.

As for the topic of the OP, we got a lot of white players that are really good. Luca, Joker, Austin Reeves, etc. And a lot of European players are dominating the NBA.

I love the NBA. it's my favorite sport.

 

[DGS49]

We "suck at international soccer competition" because the best athletes in America don't give a shit about soccer.

Yes, that too. I've seen several of the top local soccer players (Western PA) drop the sport and shift to a "real" sport when they had to make a choice.

Soccer is a stupid sport. It is unthinkable to have a sport where we humans may not use our hands and arms. It's like requiring artists to wear a blindfold. Moreover, you could show a comprehensive highlight reel of the World Cup - all games - in about five minutes. But if you are interested, you have to watch for 200 hours to see those precious five minutes.

 

[leftwinger]

Basketball is almost unwatchable it's so sloppy compared to it's glory days

I see a lot of variety of traveling, carrying the ball.

I used to think if you dribble around a loose ball fighting for control, then you gain control and pick it up two-handed your dribble was over? But they just start up again like they just caught a pass? Maybe I am wrong?

also, the offense seems to have unlimited rights to plow into the defense, pushing them away to clear space for a shot. But any little touch by defense becomes a probable foul? The offense can just run down the lane, if anyone comes near them trigger happy refs are blowing. Then sometimes not? It’s tough out there to figure out what’s what.

 

[leftwinger]

Yes, that too. I've seen several of the top local soccer players (Western PA) drop the sport and shift to a "real" sport when they had to make a choice.

Soccer is a stupid sport. It is unthinkable to have a sport where we humans may not use our hands and arms. It's like requiring artists to wear a blindfold. Moreover, you could show a comprehensive highlight reel of the World Cup - all games - in about five minutes. But if you are interested, you have to watch for 200 hours to see those precious five minutes.

I tried to play soccer and gained an entire new respect for that Sport. Passing, trapping, controlling, moving, avoiding losing the ball is an art. It is hard. Goalie is hard. All of it. Any shot on goal is an event. A shot “on frame” is an event.

World cup teams are often 1-2-3 passes from a thrilling chance. You can’t look away. The game unfolds As new action seems a result of an earlier altercation or event. Corner kicks can be a huge event. World Cup is 90 minutes edge of your seat fantastic entertainment.

From the way they enter the stadium led by Children (no pre game tunnel fights), the colors, the sounds, the great announcers all world class non-stop action. they sing both anthems with pride. I also like English Premier league before the kneeling BS began. African teams are fun to cheer for.

Flopping is a bit annoying like in NBA also. Penalty kicks can be a sad ending. But even those are becoming pagentry.