Whether or not a trend is here to stay, this summer has left the hiring of five black coaches who make their NBA debuts. In recent times, the decline in the number of black coaches had been the subject of debate in the league. If this was a problem, no doubt the newcomers help to fix it. Ime Udoka, one of them, has no problem admitting it. “Players demand workers around them who are like them.”
The coach’s words have all the logic given in the context of a league with a percentage of black players greater than 75%. In his case, it is well known that his previous relationship with Tatum, Brown and Smart was his main asset, but this relationship stems from his African-American condition. Before, personalities like Damian Lillard have admitted that players prefer coaches with a sociocultural background similar to theirs. “When it comes to training there is a very important part based on personal relationships. It is natural that there is chemistry between black players and coaches »clarifies Udoka in his talk con The New York Times.
The new Celtics coach sees no problem for white coaches or coaches of other races to build this type of bond. For this he points to Popovic as the main example, but says that “it would be innocent to deny that race has no weight in these preferences.” In the same text, Willie Green and Wes Unseld Jr. reviewed their arrivals, rejoicing at the new networks that the league opens to the arrival of black coaches. The first stated that “15 years ago we would not have had this opportunity.” For his part, the Washington technician said he did not know “if there were indications when it came to denying interviews or jobs. But perhaps before they did not have the search networks that they now take into account.
(Cover photo by Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
