The Lost White Guys
he said american, but sure there will be another white star someday. Dont know when. DOnt know if that next white superstar will be an mvp type or just a top 10 player. But its bound to happen sooner or later. I dont much care though personally.
Yes, its not that white players aren't athletic enough. Its more that as a kid most blacks think that there only way to be sucessful is through sports. So thats what they spend most of their time doing. Where as whites have had more oppurtunites meaning sports werent as heavily played. I think eventually we will have a star it might be 5 years it might be 15 but at some time there will be anohter great white player. I think Larry would be good but defensively he would prb struggle, but he would still score. If you disagree please let me know why?
I have to disagree with you. Black people spending their time playing sports and white people having other choices doesn't necessarily have an impact on not a lot of white americans being in the NBA. Hockey is dominated by whites and baseball is dominated by whites and latino-americans which most of them are white. It's just that a white person, while growing up in america, are discouraged from playing basketball because they are, indeed, told that they aren't athletic enough and can't jump high as a black guy. This mindset is instilled in a lot of young white americans directly and indirectly. Ever wonder why there are a lot of international white NBA players that are more successful than the american born white? It's because they aren't affected by this stigma or stereotye. Wondered why Spain played the USA so hard in the Olympics? It's because they aren't affected by that stigma.
I don't think there's a stigma at all, I just don't think most white guys can't perform at as high of a level as the rest. I mean really, the way the game is today, most players (black) are extremely athletic and very speedy guys. You just don't see that with most white guys, I really can't pinpoint why? There are a lot of decent white guys in the league, Steve Blake, Kevin Love, JJ Redick, Chris Kaman, but they all lack the explosiveness to be a superstar type guy.
I really don't care, just thought this topic would be good debate, because it's so true...
Im not aware of any white guys coming up through the ranks that could be an NBA all star, and the only young white american in the league currently that has the potential to become a very good player/all star would be chase budinger. But on the level of Bird or somebody similar..no.
True, Kevin Love is good, I just honestly don't think he is that great. He seems under sized, but he gets it done...
It's funny to watch the college game where a good amount of white guys are stars, Morrison, Reddick, Freddette, but they never translate well to the NBA game...I just don't know why?
Yeah, I believe there will be a white-american superstar one day. I'm sure there are a lot of talented white-american basketball players. It's just that it would be more likely for one to show up if more whites in america were encouraged to play the game.
The mindset of americans has to play a part because otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for there to be more international white players in the NBA than american bred ones.
Its just a matter of interest in my opinion.
To be honest, I dont care if youre Black, White, Green, Yellow, Or sky blue, as long as you can play ball your fine by me.
Im black and up where i live (here in Detroit), you'd rarely see any white guys hooping at The gyms.
Its just how it is though.
It can't be athleticsm. Im white i have a 38 inch vertical run a 4.61 40 which i know isnt all that fast problem is im only 5'9. I played national intramurals and im not that great a player but ill tell you what its not becasue of athletism. Now im not bragging im just saying that white people can be athletic there has to be another reason. And i do agree there is a stigma and i still believe it matters how much your playing. Its social not biological. Steriod you bring up a good point though think about hockey and how canadians dominate why? They play it all the time. Soccer? European and South American teams play all the time. Its not that Canadians skate better or that those soccer players have more feet cordination thats just dumb. Currentley there might not be a american born white player that has the potential to be a star but there will be.
there are a few reasons to come in to play i think. Athleticism is one big one. ANd where i grew up, white guys just didnt play ball very much or take it as seriously as black guys. On my varisty team my senior year, i was the only white guy on the 15 man squad. My teammates played all the time and we took it personal when we had bad games or someone showed us up. My white friends would just get pissed and walk off the court or joke around. It just wasnt as important to them. Having game was like a status quo for black guys like it was a badge of honor if you were respected for your game and your skills. I was the same way, but didnt know too many other white guys like that.
lets be honest here, overall white players are not as athletic. Just like a week ago the very first white person ever was recorded with a 100m under 10 seconds. There have been about 35 black sprinters recorded under 10 seconds. I think running is about as diverse a sport as there is so it cant be chalked up to cultural as to why white people dont sprint as fast.
Sprinting NO Running Yes. Most sprinters are black long distance alot more whites compete in those If it was the 400 or something like that you would have a point. Shoot the most athletic dude in my high school was white ran a 4.4 and had a 35 inch vertical
not anytime soon its just mentality. Larry Bird had the mentality that nobody was better black or white. Plus he loved comp loved playing against better players it just seems like a lot not all whites are afraid to go play in the hood Bird wasnt.I only know one white guy with that mentality and he isnt going to the NBA anytime soon lol
I agree llperez, Im a white guy, but I guess my drive is kind of in the minority for white guys. I hated losing, and I basically played with black guys all my life, and for the most part older black guys. I enjoyed playing with my friends who happened to be black more often because they took it more seriously, it was more competition to me.
This is a good read backing up my thoughts about this.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/18/AR200602...
"I see it at summer camps. The makeup and attitude of the white kids has changed so much. No question it's the parents and their peer groups talking them off of it. A black kid of average talent in elementary or middle school is much more likely to be encouraged. A white kid of equal talent is going to move to baseball or something non-sports. They totally get discouraged to travel that athletic path, and it's been happening for years.
"My father begged me to not play basketball. I was a really good baseball player, and he thought I had a better chance at playing in the major leagues. But I loved basketball. For a white player to succeed in basketball, he's got to have a backbone. He's got to have that competitive mentality and play with a chip on his shoulder."
White guys (I know) are conditioned to having a plans for the future (college degree/trade) as well as dreams of sport. They typically calculate the odds of success and decide their future based on that thinking. We don't live in the "hood" so were not trying to get out of the "hood". That in itself is plenty of incentive for minority youths to suceed at b-ball/football. This only my oppinion based on my own experiences and experiences of friends I grew up with and in no way is meant to offend anybody.
No offense at all from my experience blacks and whites both want the same thing to have a better life. I know plenty of white ppl in the hood it justs depends on the person their are different factors for each person. I also agree with you that some blacks are conditoned to think that the only way to get out of the hood is to hoop or play a sports not all but some. Its changing though because you have to have a backup plan. I use basketball as a tool to get where i need to go most of my friends that hoop do too,white and black
great article Steriod. IIperez im not disagreeing but of those times a couple were in the 60s some in the 80's most were in the 90's and 2000's. Look up the progression of sprinting times have gotten faster. A lot of runners in the 20's through 60s running 10.6 to 10.2 were white. Yeah times have gotten faster but whos doing the running. Its the same arguement what the american whites are being told with sprinting and basketball. What about White quarterbacks are they smarter? No, its what kids are being told.
lol..People seem to forget..That in the 70's the NBA was known as a drug infested,too black league.Attendence was poor,teams were losing money..And the Finals ''WERE ON TAPE DELAY'''..Did yall hear me?The Finals were shown after thelate local news on CBS..Back then...So the media needed a white superstar to become the face of the league.. Someone to draw the white fans..And that guy was Bird...Some people thought the Rookie of the Year Award should've been a tie..But Bird won the rookie of the year over Magic who lead his team to the title that year..
I think Kevin Love have the talent to be a top 15 player in the league..Not sure how much endorsements he'll get playing in Minnesota..But he has the charm & personality that draws fans..I will not be surprised if he leads the NBA in rebounding next season or made the All-Star team..
Josh McRoberts! I don't mean he SPECIFICALLY will be the next big star, but there are white american players out there that can be like him. McRoberts is 6'10, won a hs slam dunk contest, has a good looking form of his shot, and can pass the ball amazingly well. I have no idea why he has not put it together, but the next 6'10 skilled white american might....
Wow, this is a surprisingly well thought out and mature discussion. I'm what you would call an "international" white guy from Australia. We have a fairly small black population over here, and I've never had too much experience playing black dudes. However, the few times I have I've loved it. They are generally more athletic and quick, I remember being the fastest on my team and getting caught easily on a break by three of their black players.
However, I'm about as competitive as a person can be this side of Mike and I'd like nothing more than to play ball. The only problem is, I didn't develop this attitude until I was too old to really make something of myself on the court. I definitely agree that most white guys don't appreciate basketball at a young age.
But, there is one kid I'm coaching at the moment who has a chance to play at least college ball if he grows a little bit more. I'm trying to teach him to be competitive more than anything, because his skills are already pretty sharp.
Oh, and a note on Redick, I remember hearing during the first Magic game that JJ performed the best in the athleticism tests this year. You wouldn't know it from looking at him.
What do u mean?
the fact that i said Love could be a top 15 or 20 player in the league?
or do u mean the fact that gm's dont seem to be lookin at color these days.
most fans dont care if a team is all black as long as they're winning..even if the team is all black..white fans will find a favorite player on that team to cheer for..
i've been following the NBA for years.. and 3 teams always have at least 1 white player on their team almost every year..
those teams are Utah,Boston & Indiana..check their rosters for the past 20 years...
i'm not saying those teams are racists but i'm saying they have had a white player on their roster every year....
maybe they feel they have to for community reasons..
The white quarterback is a good analogy to what happens in the NBA with white players. It's the stereotypes and stigmas that affect the sports community more than anything else.
Education is important and that is the only way some black kids can afford to go to college is if they get a basketball or sports scholarship. Not everyone is smart enough or have the background to get college fully paid for. Whites get pushed into other things, but it is not because they are less athletic. Strictly talking sports, most white kids get pushed into baseball over basketball mainly because of the "less athletic" stereotype. I wouldn't say all blacks don't take education seriously. Like I said, sports is some people's only way out to be able to go to school, and black parents really push their kids to do something because sports can pay for school and it keeps their children out of trouble. In some cases it adds discipline too. Kids doing one-and-done is on a whole other subject, but honestly, if you have a shot a being a lottery pick and make more money in the next couple of years than what you would with a college degree for your entire life, why would you pass that down? That's asinine if you blame a kid that talented for doing that.
but if whites are just as athletic as blacks and the only difference is that whites are being pushed into other things, then howcome we dont see any amazing atheltic white euro players? I mean when you take into account all the white people who DO play basketball around the world, shouldnt the NBA have somebody more athletic representing white people then CHase Buddinger and josh McRoberts? Where i grew up, it didnt matter how long they played basketball or how seriously they took the sport. Black athletes were better ahtletes and picked up on basketball football track and field faster and easier. Isaw it growing up in my neghborhood. I see it in college. I see it in the pros. At what point do i stop calling it a coincidence and call it like i see it that black athletes are generally speaking more athletic?
OK, So here is a question that's been on my mind, would love to get some insight from the rest of you.
Will there ever be another superstar American White Guy. Another Larry Bird, or Tom Chambers? It seems like they never pan out nowadays. The league has seen a few over the past decade or so, but none have lived up to the hype. Adam Morrison anyone? LOL. Just a topic that I thought would draw some good conversation.
Is there a reason for this, or is it just the fact that white guys are not athletic enough to survive in the league today?
Also, does anybody think Larry Bird could be competitive in today's NBA? He was a legend, no doubt, but the game was different back then. Any opinions...?