NBA alumni react to Elgin Baylor’s lawsuit against Clippers
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In a league where well over 70% of the players are African American, the idea that racism might be prevalent in the Clippers organization is hard to swallow. Elgin Baylor has dropped some serious allegations against the team he guided for 22 years.
LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke may have said it best, ‘Only the Clippers, it seems, could be involved in a fight in which a fair outcome is unattainable, and a rooting interest is impossible.’ That’s a perspective echoed by one of the players attending NBA All-Star festivities in Phoenix.
‘He was the Clippers, in my mind,’ said Rick Fox. The Laker-turned-actor gave his analysis on a very different type of court battle. ‘In terms of general manager, I thought that relationship was as solid as could be. None of us -- I guess I don’t, at least, I’ve only been in town for 10 years -- none of us know what set that off or if this is just an emotional response to him feeling under-appreciated, or if this is something that needs to be addressed and talked about. I think we’ll find out more as it goes along in the lawsuit. From what I can get, he feels as if there’s a lot that he had to suppress, that he may have wanted to talk about and didn’t for whatever reason.’
Retired San Antonio star David Robinson couldn’t recall any experiences with racism in his 14 years in the league. ‘I haven’t faced it. I haven’t seen where it’s obvious. I think that the NBA has been a great place to work. Not to say that everyone feels the same way as I do, but I haven’t seen it.’
Fox also reflected on his positive experiences as a pro. ‘I think that the NBA, in terms of opportunities for black men ... maybe the numbers don’t match in the area of general managers as they do in coaches, but we know the number in players. I think if we were to compare them, other leagues would say, ‘What are you guys [complaining] about?’
‘Still, it doesn’t take away the fact that for 22 years [Elgin Baylor] had a relationship and experience which he felt was racism. He’s sharing it now, or maybe sharing it in greater depth, but it’s always two sides to a story. I can’t take a side without knowing more and hearing more, but racism at any level, in any sports team or any work environment, is intolerable. I don’t condone it.’
Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, who broke into the NBA in 1982, indicated that he may have ‘experienced different things’ in his pro career, but that it was ‘the nature of the beast.’ He quickly added, ‘Those times have come and gone, so I try and concentrate on the positive instead of the negative.’
-- Adam Rose