2016 NBA champion and Clippers head coach Ty Lue points out the fact that out of all 4 remaining head coaches left in the Playoffs, 3 are black.
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Much has been said about the lack of opportunities given to black men and women in positions of power within the NBA this past year or so.
Stephen A Smith has been a catalyst for this movement of sorts, by going on national television and voicing his disapproval for the various executive positions that have been occupied by white men instead of black men or women.
Back at the start of the 2020-21 NBA season, Steve Nash was named as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets with 0 coaching experience prior.
After having been booted from the first round of the postseason, the Boston Celtics gave Brad Stevens the job that Danny Ainge had. Instances like these are what urged the conversation on black men in power within the league to emerge.
Ty Lue, recently, came out to marvel at a fact that is most certainly as impressive as it gets when it comes to this matter.
Ty Lue is glad that black head coaches have led their teams far into the Playoffs
The Clippers’ head coach was first named an NBA head coach in his time at Cleveland. Ty Lue is amazed by the number of black head coaches remaining within the Playoff as the Conference Finals begin to commence.
Ty Lue: “Three out of four coaches left standing are Black coaches, that says a lot.”
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) June 20, 2021
Monty Williams has led the Phoenix Suns to a Game 1 victory over the Clippers, a team that has Ty Lue as their bench boss. Nate McMillan, meanwhile will be going up against former Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer in the Eastern Conference Finals.
These are good signs for a league which is viewed as the most progressive of the Big 4 American leagues. What’s even more heartening is the fact that all of these coaches are there on pure merit – just like all white coaches. This is the inclusive growth that teams should aspire to produce.
