The Great White Hope

In 1966, the world watched in awe as Texas Western coach Donald Haskins decided to make a social statement and start five black players in the NCAA Championship game, sending the basketball world on a downward spiral for years to come. Since then, the NCAA and NBA has seen white basketball players slowly crowded out of the basketball playing population. There was a point in time when the NBA was all-white. Today, only 20% of the basketball players in the NBA are good old American Caucasians.

This is a problem. Where is the space for good, fundamental white basketball players? Where is the court for them to shine? Pete Maravich is turning over in his grave at the fact that if he played today, he might not be known as the great player he’s known to be now. What is a white basketball player to do? There’s the All-American Basketball Alliance, which is an all-white basketball league that stresses fundamental play. But they don’t even have television coverage! It is a serious problem.

But lo and behold! White basketball players have hope after all! This year’s NCAA Championship Game featured 20 good white basketball players between Duke and Butler! Duke has always prided itself as a school on finding the best and the whitest (and perhaps ugliest) basketball players of all time. And now Butler has decided to walk in the same path. I’m happy for the Duke Basketball program, which has taught America the same lesson time and time again: White people CAN play basketball. Maybe this year’s championship game signals a return to a time when a white basketball player can get his own shoe deal. I’m hopeful for the future. You should be too. And maybe Pistol Pete can finally rest in peace.