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The Celtics promoted Brad Stevens (who is white) from head coach to team president, then hired Ime Udoka (who is black) as head coach.
Celtics winger Jaylen Brown – outspoken on racial issues, especially in Boston – has made his voice heard in the search for coaches.
Marc J. Spears from The Undefeated:
Brown told The Undefeated he told Celtics property and front office last offseason that it was important to hire a black head coach after Brad Stevens was promoted to president of basketball operations. ball.
“They were on board with it. They talked about it. It wasn’t like it was just being African American. [Udoka is] more than qualified, ”said Brown.
“Whether it’s because they were just trying to shut us up, or because they really thought it was the right thing to do, I don’t care. This portrayal is important, ”Brown, a 24-year-old African American, told The Undefeated. “And that gives people the access and the resources they need and deserve, especially the former players. They also deserve to have a seat at the table, especially in coaching positions, as well as in leadership positions, owner positions. These are also important, especially if they are qualified.
“This is my point. People may disagree, for example, “They are not qualified. They just get the job because they’re African American. You’ve seen people say that in the media. And things like that. It’s so me [expletive]. There are a lot of skilled African Americans and blacks who can do their jobs. And they deserve to have a seat at the table.
First of all, the headline part of what Brown says has been paraphrased. It is possible that his actual message to the Celtics was misinterpreted when conveyed to the public by him at Spears. There are similar, albeit very different, views that could be offered in the ongoing discussion of NBA coaching demographics.
Making race an essential part of a person’s candidacy is sure to generate controversy.
This is especially true when it occurs through overt statements of racial preference. This should also be true when it happens in a more subtle way by not confronting prejudice, considering only a small pool of applicants, and favoring applicants with certain connections – all factors that have led white men to be. disproportionately hired as coaches.
The Celtics should have done their best to hire the best person for the job. Period.
As the race should have been taken into account, it should have been with a view to finding the best person for the job. Race can affect the opportunities people have to grow and advance in the profession.
Someone with fewer coaching accomplishments may have a stronger coaching aptitude than someone with more coaching accomplishments. The person with the most training success may appear more advanced because of the opportunities they have had.
Hires should not focus on who has done the most before, although this may inform an appropriate decision. Hiring must be prospective, on whom will do the best in the job. The best way to do this is to conduct research that purposely examines a wide range of applicants and assesses them on the merits. Again, merit shouldn’t be as simple as evaluating what someone has already done, but determining what he or she will do more difficult.
Udoka looks like a worthy hire. A former NBA player, he rose through the ranks of Gregg Popovich’s staff in seven seasons as a Spurs assistant. Udoka then spread his wings in one season each with the 76ers and the Nets. He focused last season on the defense of Brooklyn, which topped playoff expectations. A head coach position was the next logical step in his advancement.
It’s unclear how seriously the Celtics took Brown’s advice. A search including candidates of all races could easily have landed on Udoka.
But, like the Timberwolves with Chris Finch, there are now more questions about the process that led to this result.
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