How Many White American Players Are in the NBA?

Why are there so few white American players in the NBA? We take a look at the numbers to find out.

The NBA is predominantly black

At 70 percent, the NBA is predominantly black. African Americans make up the majority of players in the league, followed by Caucasians at 23 percent. Hispanics are the third most represented group, accounting for just under four percent of NBA players. Asians and other groups make up the remaining three percent.

There are only a handful of white American players in the NBA

There are only a handful of white American players in the NBA. In fact, as of the 2019-2020 season, there are only six: Grayson Allen (Utah Jazz), Landry Shamet (Los Angeles Clippers), Frank Kaminsky (Phoenix Suns), Luke Kennard (Detroit Pistons), Bobby Portis (New York Knicks) and JJ Redick (New Orleans Pelicans). Compare that to the over 30 black American players in the league, and it’s clear that white American players are greatly outnumbered.

There are a variety of reasons for this discrepancy. For one, basketball is more popular in black communities than white ones. In addition, many of the top college basketball programs – which are often a feeder system for the NBA – are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Finally, some experts believe that white players are often overlooked or underestimated because of racial stereotypes surrounding athleticism and ability.

Whatever the reasons may be, it’s clear that white American players are in the minority in the NBA. But that doesn’t mean they can’t succeed – just look at Landry Shamet, who was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2019.

The NBA is becoming increasingly international

While the vast majority of NBA players are still American, the league is becoming increasingly international. In the 2019-20 season, 45% of players were born outside the United States.

Among American players, the percentage of white players has declined over time. In 1980, 78% of NBA players were white. In 2019-20, that number had dropped to 43%. Blacks now make up the plurality of NBA players, at 48%.

Hispanics and Asians are also represented in the league, though their numbers are relatively small. In 2019-20, Hispanics made up 6% of NBA players, while Asians made up 2%.

The trend of increasing internationalization isn’t likely to stop anytime soon. The number of foreign-born players in the NBA has been steadily rising for decades, and there’s no reason to believe that will change in the future.

There are a few factors that contribute to the lack of white American players in the NBA

There are a few factors that contribute to the lack of white American players in the NBA. One is the increasing popularity of basketball among African Americans. Basketball is now the most popular sport among black Americans, surpassing football. This means that more black Americans are playing basketball at a high level and have a better chance of being scouted and recruited by NBA teams.

Another factor is the declining popularity of basketball among white Americans. While basketball was once one of the most popular sports among white Americans, it has declined in recent years. This is likely due to a number of factors, including the rise of other sports like football and baseball, and the perception that basketball is a “black” sport. As a result, fewer white Americans are playing basketball at a high level, which decreases their chances of being recruited by NBA teams.

The third factor is the talent level of black American players. Simply put, there are more talented black American players than there are talented white American players. This is likely due to a combination of genetic factors and opportunities to play at a high level during their development. Whatever the reason, it means that NBA teams are more likely to recruit black American players than white American players.