NBA Expands HBCU Platform, Including WNBA, G League, All-Star Game Support
Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 03:59PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
October 21, 2021: As part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the NBA today unveiled a major expansion of its ongoing commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including new programs “designed to create greater opportunity for students and alumni, encourage economic advancement and further celebrate their rich traditions.”
As part of the enhanced partnership, the NBA said the programs and events would be "focused on the HBCU community — specifically around professional development, career advancement and increased support and awareness for HBCU athletics and institutions.”
Beginning in 2022 the NBA, WNBA and their teams will offer a paid fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students.
The program, which will be led by the NBA Foundation, will offer HBCU students the “opportunity to gain real-life insights and professional experience around the business and operations of basketball.
“The students will work in positions at the league office and NBA and WNBA teams, and be matched with a league or team employee mentor as part of their experience."
The enhanced platform also encompasses highlighting the HBCU community during NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland; NBA 2K League hosting events with HBCU; and the NBA, G League and Basketball Africa League leveraging their pre-Draft combines and showcase events for HBCU players, coaches and athletic trainers.
In addition, HBCU alumni and Black entrepreneurs will partner with the league “as part of the NBA’s commitment to onboarding more minority-owned businesses as league licensees.”
The NBA said it is “committed to supporting the growth of the next generation of leaders from the Black community. HBCUs — which produce 20% of the country’s Black college graduates but only account for 3% of all colleges in the United States — have historically been under-resourced, averaging one-eighth the size of endowments of historically white colleges and universities."
“The NBA family recognizes the storied and prominent role that HBCUs have played in our society for decades,” Mark Tatum, NBA deputy commissioner and COO, said via the league.
“We also recognize that within our commitments to increase Black representation across the league and grow the game, we can create educational, athletic and career opportunities through engagement with these institutions.”
The NBA said the new paid fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students, led by the NBA Foundation, will see HBCU students work in positions at the league office and NBA and WNBA teams, and be matched with a league or team employee mentor as part of their experience.
At the All-Star Game in Cleveland, via the NBA and NBA Players Assn., more than $1 million will be contributed in support to the HBCU community through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, UNCF and academic institutions.
HBCUs will be showcased during All-Star Weekend "through unique content, storytelling and special performances." That includes a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game between Howard University and Morgan State University men’s basketball teams in the Wolstein Center on Feb. 19, 2022, to be broadcast live.
The NBA, G League and Basketball Africa League will leverage their pre-Draft combines and showcase events for HBCU players, coaches and athletic trainers. The NBA 2K League will host events with HBCU networks to introduce students to careers in gaming and esports, creating pathways for students to pursue careers in the growing industry.
These engagements will increase exposure and opportunities to pursue professional basketball careers.
According to Tatum, “Through continued collaboration with partners like TMCF and UNCF, our teams and members of the HBCU community, we look forward to expanding support of students and alumni in meaningful ways.”
Back to Home Page