How Many Black Coaches Are There in the NBA?

This blog looks at the current number of black coaches in the NBA, as well as the history of black coaches in the league.

The current state of black coaches in the NBA

There are currently eight black head coaches in the NBA: Doc Rivers (Clippers), Monty Williams (Suns), Lloyd Pierce (Hawks), Dwane Casey (Pistons), Steve Clifford (Magic), Michael Malone (Nuggets), Frank Vogel (Lakers), and Erik Spoelstra (Heat).

This is down from a peak of 13 in 2013, but still well above the historical norm. In fact, black coaches have been disproportionately represented in the NBA for quite some time. For example, while black players made up roughly 80% of the league in 2019, black coaches only accounted for around 30%.

There are a number of possible explanations for this discrepancy. One is that many former players who are interested in coaching opportunities simply never get a chance to interview for open positions. Another is that team ownership groups may be subconsciously biased against hiring black coaches.

Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that there is still room for improvement when it comes to racial diversity among NBA head coaches.

A history of black coaches in the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional men’s 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 BAA was formed by owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. On August 3, 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the National Basketball League (NBL), creating the NBA.

The first black head coach in the NBA was Bill Russell, who was hired by the Boston Celtics in 1966. In 1975, Mike Dunleavy Sr. became the first black head coach to be hired without having played in the NBA.

Today, there are eight black head coaches in the NBA: Doc Rivers (Los Angeles Clippers), Dwane Casey (Detroit Pistons), Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat), Lloyd Pierce (Atlanta Hawks), Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns), Nate McMillan (Indiana Pacers), Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz), and David Fizdale (New York Knicks).

The challenges black coaches face in the NBA

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there has been a longstanding issue with the lack of African American head coaches. As of the 2019-2020 season, there are only four black head coaches in the NBA, accounting for just 8% of all head coaches in the league. This is a drastic underrepresentation considering that black players make up almost 75% of the league. There have been various explanations for this discrepancy, ranging from systemic racism to a lack of role models and opportunities.

One theory is that black coaches are systemically discriminated against by NBA ownership groups and front offices. A study by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found that while African Americans made up 22% of NBA assistant coaches during the 2017-2018 season, they only held 6% of head coaching jobs. This suggests that there is a clear disparity in the opportunities available to black assistant coaches when compared to their white counterparts.

Another explanation for the lack of black head coaches is that there are simply not enough role models for young African American coaches tolook up to. In a league where the majority of players are black, it stands to reason that most coaching staffs would be predominantly white. This can create an environment where young black coaches don’t feel welcome or supported, leading them to pursue other career options outside of basketball.

Regardless of the reasons behind it, the underrepresentation of black head coaches in the NBA is an issue that needs to be addressed. With so few role models in positions of power, it can be difficult for young African American coaches to break into the league and achieve success. Hopefully, with increased awareness and opportunities, we will see more black head coaches in the NBA in the years to come.

The future of black coaches in the NBA

Despite the recent success of black coaches in the NBA, the future of black coaches in the league is far from secure. In fact, there are currently only four black coaches in the NBA, down from a high of eight just a few years ago.

The reasons for this decline are complex, but one factor is certainly the “rookie” rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for every head coaching vacancy. While this rule has helped increase the number of black coaches in the league, it has also made it harder for those coaches to keep their jobs.

Another factor is the increasing popularity of “analytics” in the NBA. Analytics-driven teams are more likely to hire white coaches, who are seen as more data-savvy than their black counterparts.

Finally, there is a simple matter of talent. There are simply not enough qualified black candidates for all of the open coaching positions in the NBA. This is partly due to the fact that many top black players never consider coaching as a career option.

It is clear that the future of black coaches in the NBA is far from secure. The league must do more to ensure that qualified minority candidates have a fair chance to land head coaching jobs.