Why are white players only compared with white players?

[Joyner82reload]

That is when scouted prior to entering the league or during their first few years based on evaluation of potential. Even furthermore, a secondary standard applies when foreign white players are only compared with other foreign white players.

I.E. A white player from europe would always be compared to Peja over Reggie Miller, assuming he had a skillset similar to the two, even if his player was more similar to Miller on the court.

This doesn't happen in other sports

[CavaliersFTW]

Jerry West isn't compared to only other white players, neither is Bill Walton, Larry Bird, etc. So...

[Marchesk]

Detlef Shrempf is a poor man's Dirk Nowitzki.

[andremiller07]

Chris Webber just today called Dirk a 7 foot Reggie Miller

[Joyner82reload]

Jerry West isn't compared to only other white players, neither is Bill Walton, Larry Bird, etc. So...

Read the OP again. I'm talking about a developing player or a potential future player, not a HOFer. Therefore I'm talking about a player in high school, college, or in their first few years in the league.

[Marchesk]

Chris Webber just today called Dirk a 7 foot Reggie Miller

Dirk is several tiers above Reggie. He's going to be in conversation for top 10 when he's done. It's a very crowded top 10, though.

[goldcrow]

Chris Webber just today called Dirk a 7 foot Reggie Miller

7 foot Reggie Miller with a ring. Oh wait Webber also doesn't have a ring, while KG, Duncan, Dirk, Sheed all have. :lol

[CavaliersFTW]

Read the OP again. I'm talking about a developing player or a potential future player, not a HOFer. Therefore I'm talking about a player in high school, college, or in their first few years in the league.
Are you sure your OP is a valid observation, and not just an assumption based off a few isolated examples? I can't really comment on this because I have not read scouting reports on a wide variety of developing white players.

[Joyner82reload]

Are you sure your OP is a valid observation, and not just an assumption based off a few isolated examples? I can't really comment on this because I have not read scouting reports on a wide variety of developing white players.

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/race5-590x900.png

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/race6-590x900.png

The league is 81% black, 11% white, 6% latino, 2% other. 87% of the starters in the NBA are black, which are generally what upcoming prospects are compared to, that is starting players. The comparisons are flat out racist.

[Sarcastic]

Because they're white :confusedshrug:

[NZStreetBaller]

larry bird got compared to magic johnson all the time.......

[CavaliersFTW]

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/race5-590x900.png

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/race6-590x900.png
Maybe it's just because people tend to group similar things. Regardless of skill and abilities on the floor, at first glance, a white player probably always initially resembles some other white player a scout has seen before before he would resemble a black player. Could just be as simple as that.

[Joyner82reload]

Maybe it's just because people tend to group similar things. Regardless of skill and abilities on the floor, at first glance, a white player probably always initially resembles some other white player a scout has seen before before he would resemble a black player. Could just be as simple as that.

Then why does this principle only apply to the NBA? Less than 7% of NBA players are foreign born, yet almost every foreign prospect is compared to one of these players, while over 4/5's of the league are disregarded in these comparisons. These racially motivated comparisons do not apply in other professional sports.

[Prometheus]

Then why does this principle only apply to the NBA? Less than 7% of NBA players are foreign born, yet almost every foreign prospect is compared to one of these players, while over 4/5's of the league are disregarded in these comparisons. These racially motivated comparisons do not apply in other professional sports.

Compared with football and hockey, the difference is obviously the physical exposure of the individuals' faces and bodies. Football and hockey players are covered up, so you won't make the subconscious associations that end up being racist.

Baseball is a much, much simpler game, and so it's easier to compare players based on batting average, ERA, or whatever. Plus MLB has been integrated for longer, and has a much better balance of black/white.

[SpanishACB]

These racially motivated comparisons do not apply in other professional sports.

It happens everywhere, it's not a NBA thing. It's a society thing.

[JohnMax]

It happens with Black QBs too

[fpliii]

Then why does this principle only apply to the NBA? Less than 7% of NBA players are foreign born, yet almost every foreign prospect is compared to one of these players, while over 4/5's of the league are disregarded in these comparisons. These racially motivated comparisons do not apply in other professional sports.
Over 20% of players are foreign born...

[christian1923]

Then why does this principle only apply to the NBA? Less than 7% of NBA players are foreign born, yet almost every foreign prospect is compared to one of these players, while over 4/5's of the league are disregarded in these comparisons. These racially motivated comparisons do not apply in other professional sports.
Have you ever seen a black QB compared to a white QB.. Rarely.. It's not just basketball

[Rake2204]

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/race5-590x900.png

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/race6-590x900.png

The league is 81% black, 11% white, 6% latino, 2% other. 87% of the starters in the NBA are black, which are generally what upcoming prospects are compared to, that is starting players. The comparisons are flat out racist.Can I ask where these charts are from?

I've noticed the comparison thing and it's interesting to contemplate and think about. Even this past draft, some friends of mine were having fun plotting and waiting for the inevitable race-based comparison, even when such comparisons by ESPN brass make little sense in terms of how they play. Some of them end up being pretty ridiculous.

I don't know if I'm ready to say it's outwardly racist though (not that you did either). Perhaps it has something to do with what visual cues provide in terms of memory and attempting to convey information. Even if someone could logically admit that maybe (making this one up), "Doug McDermott plays like Chuck Person", perhaps there's something that makes that comparison feel off-base due to their physical appearance differences.

I was watching the '98 McDonald's All-American Game the other day and Tayshaun Prince got Reggie Miller comparisons. Sidenote, they also said when Prince puts on a lot of weight, he's going to be really good (haha).

[IncarceratedBob]

White players have white skillsets

Black players have black skillsets

Simple as that

[IncarceratedBob]

Can I ask where these charts are from?

I've noticed the comparison thing and it's interesting to contemplate and think about. Even this past draft, some friends of mine were having fun plotting and waiting for the inevitable race-based comparison, even when such comparisons by ESPN brass make little sense in terms of how they play. Some of them end up being pretty ridiculous.

I don't know if I'm ready to say it's outwardly racist though (not that you did either). Perhaps it has something to do with what visual cues provide in terms of memory and attempting to convey information. Even if someone could logically admit that maybe (making this one up), "Doug McDermott plays like Chuck Person", perhaps there's something that makes that comparison feel off-base due to their physical appearance differences.

I was watching the '98 McDonald's All-American Game the other day and Tayshaun Prince got Reggie Miller comparisons. Sidenote, they also said when Prince puts on a lot of weight, he's going to be really good (haha).

Quick reverse google search

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/09/02/black-white-racial-biases-nba-scouting-comparisons/

[Rake2204]

Quick reverse google search

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/09/02/black-white-racial-biases-nba-scouting-comparisons/Ah, thank you. I often forget I can do that.

[DCL]

White players have white skillsets

Black players have black skillsets

Simple as that


that is so f--king racist, but you are absolutely right. :oldlol:

[Real Men Wear Green]

Jerry West isn't compared to only other white players, neither is Bill Walton, Larry Bird, etc. So...
Every white player with a jumper 6'8 and taller is compared to Bird.

[mrpibb]

Hayward and Parsons are totally different players but they get compared all the time.

[dontgetchoked]

Hayward and Parsons are totally different players but they get compared all the time.
thats because they put up similar stats and no one really watches everyone play

[supercybergeek]

If you play Fantasy Ball it wouldn't matter at all

[ralph_i_el]

I noticed this. I usually try to think of a black player to compare to a white player before I do a white on white comparison

[SamuraiSWISH]

Reverse racism.

[stalkerforlife]

Because they have the same color skin.

/thread

[bdreason]

The human mind tries to categorize everything in an attempt to increase understanding and create order out of chaos.