NBA Scores an 'A' in College Diversity Study

May 29 - The NBA had seven black top executives among its teams during the 2007-'08 season, the highest percentage of minority presidents and CEOs in men's professional sports history, according to a University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport study released today.

The high number of minority team executives, along with large ratios of women and black vice-presidents and an NBA record 42 per cent of assistant coaches who were minorities, helped pro basketball receive the first overall "A" for men's sports in the nearly two decades the study has issued diversity report cards.

The only other sport to receive an overall "A" has been the WNBA.

The seven black presidents/CEOs were: Terdema Ussery, Dallas Mavericks; Fred Whitfield, Charlotte Bobcats; Steve Mills, New York Knicks; Billy King, Philadelphia 76ers; Larry Miller, Portland Trail Blazers; Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons; and Isiah Thomas, New York Knicks.

King was fired in December, Thomas in April. The Washington Wizards' Susan O'Malley, the first and only female president of an NBA franchise, stepped down last summer.

The NBA had 12 black head coaches this past season -- at 40 per cent of the league total the highest in all pro sports, and the same as the past two seasons. However, three of the coaches -- Charlotte's Sam Vincent, Dallas' Avery Johnson and Thomas - were fired.

There have been 54 black head coaches in NBA history, more than twice as many as any other sport. Baseball is second with 26 minority managers.

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