On the heels of Black History Month and in the depths of COVID-19, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has partnered with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to dedicate more than $3 million in funds and resources to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
As the official kickoff to their commitment, Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta will celebrate HBCU traditions and culture by sharing their stories with the league’s global audience throughout the televised game.
“Everything’s about exposure,” said Mo Williams, who played 13 NBA seasons and is now a first-year coach at HBCU, Alabama State University.
“Being that the All-Star Game is putting an emphasis on HBCUs, it gives us exposure, and it helps in a lot of different areas, a lot of different ways, [at] a lot of different schools.”
Once a traditionally weekend-long event – due to COVID-19 and the CDC’s recommended safety measures – no attendees will be allowed inside and the professional basketball league will now host a virtual one-night, six-hour event for the first time ever at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
However, the timing and location of Atlanta as the home to four HBCUs – Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and the Morehouse School of Medicine – comes as no coincidence as also the birthplace to civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“It was part of the reason why we’re here in Atlanta, this was an opportunity to focus on the HBCUs.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
This bold statement comes at a pivotal time within the black community as racial injustices and historical black movements make national news and headlines worldwide with Kamala Harris — a graduate of Howard — becoming not only the first black woman to be elected vice president but the first HBCU graduate in the White House.
At the center of the Black Lives Matter movement, NBA players often used their platform to speak out against inequality in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more.
“You can’t talk about Black Lives Matter and not talk about the Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said Charles McClelland, the commissioner of the SWAC and a member of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee.
“A lot of these student-athletes have been talking. A lot of these professional athletes have been talking. But the platform really wasn’t that great for them to be able to extend that message. This is just in a unique time, and I think we’re at the right time, and I’m ecstatic that it’s happening at this point in time — because it’s so long overdue.”
What to expect from HBCUs on All-Star Game Night
“We are here representing HBCUs and trying to shed light on their ability to dream and one day has the opportunity to follow in our footsteps,” said Clark Atlanta alumnus and NBA referee Tony Brown. “So, this game is mainly about giving people hope and allowing them an opportunity to dream.”
Tune in to show your support to all HBCUs during the NBA All Star Game in one night on TNT for the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and MTN DEW 3-Point Contest at 6:30 p.m. (ET), the All-Star Game at 8:00 p.m. (ET), and the AT&T Slam Dunk showcase at halftime.
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