How Many Black Coaches Are There in the NBA?

In a league where the majority of the players are black, only four head coaches are black. That’s only 11%. How many black coaches are there in the NBA?

The current number of black coaches in the NBA

Presently, there are 7 black coaches in the NBA. They are:

-Doc Rivers (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Ettore Messina (Los Angeles Lakers)
-Ime Udoka (San Antonio Spurs)
-Jacque Vaughn (Orlando Magic)
-Lloyd Pierce (Atlanta Hawks)
-Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns)
-Steve Clifford (Charlotte Hornets)

A brief history of black coaches in the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men’s professional basketball league in North America, composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). It is widely considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world.

The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).

Blacks have been playing professional basketball since the inception of both the NBL and BAA. In 1950, Chuck Cooper became the first black player to be drafted by an NBA team. He was followed by Sweetwater Clifton a year later. Nathaniel Clifton, claimed by the Knicks in the 1949 displacement draft, became the third black player in NBA history when he debuted on opening night 1950. The signing of Earl Lloyd, Harry Lloyd and Don Barksdale in 1950 made them respectively the fourth, fifth and sixth black players in league history.

However, it would be another two decades before an African American coached an NBA game. On October 31, 1979, Bill Russell became head coach of the Sacramento Kings, thus becoming the first black head coach in NBA history. He was replaced midway through the next season by assistant Paul Westphal.

Lenny Wilkens, who at one time was both a player and head coach for Seattle SuperSonics, is currently ranked as both second all-time in games coached and wins. He is also a Hall of Famer as a player. Wilkens’ first year as head coach was 1968–69; his only losing season came during his rookie year as a head coach with Seattle posting a 30-52 record.

Doc Rivers is currently ranked sixth all-time in games coached for one franchise. He has been coaching since 1999

Why the number of black coaches in the NBA is important

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a predominantly black league. In recent years, however, the number of black coaches has been in decline. In 2014, there were only six black head coaches in the NBA, down from 13 in 2009. This trend is alarming to many people because it suggests that black athletes are not being given the same opportunities as their white counterparts to become head coaches.

There are a number of possible explanations for this trend. One is that black coaches are not being hired because of their skin color. Another possibility is that they are not being hired because they lack the necessary experience or qualifications. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the number of black coaches in the NBA is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

The future of black coaches in the NBA

In recent years, the number of black coaches in the NBA has decreased significantly. In 2014, out of 30 teams, there were only 7 black head coaches. This number dropped to 6 in 2015, and then to 3 in 2016. At the start of the 2017 season, there are only 2 black head coaches remaining in the NBA.

This trend is concerning for many reasons. First and foremost, it represents a significant loss of opportunity for black coaches in the NBA. Secondly, it raises questions about whether or not the NBA is doing enough to support and develop black coaches within the league.

The future of black coaches in the NBA is uncertain at best. However, it is important to continue to support and create opportunities for black coaches within the league. Otherwise, the number of black coaches in the NBA will continue to decline, and the league will become increasingly white-dominated.