Black History Month: Celebrating 5 most influential Black personalities in NBA history

Considering the storied history of the NBA, the league has seen a plethora of influential Black personalities make a mark both on and off the court.

From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to LeBron James, the league has seen some top athletes who not only managed to transform the game, but also transformed the league in many ways. Considering the civil rights movement, a number of these personalities had to deal with difficult situations and were outspoken personalities for their community.

A few of them played an important role in the civil rights movement apart from registering historic NBA careers.

Five influential black personalities in NBA history

#5, LeBron James

To say that LeBron James has not revolutionized the game would be unfair on the “King.” At the age of 38, LeBron is performing at an extraordinary level and will soon displace another name on this list as the highest NBA scorer of all time.

Throughout his career, James has spoken out on social issues. He is a huge philanthropist and businessman, has a net worth of around $1.2 billion and is a truly global icon who will be remembered long after he retires.

#4, Magic Johnson

One of the most dynamic point guards of all time, the LA Lakers legend had to retire in 1991 after finding out that he was HIV-positive. Of course, that propelled him into a social role where he became an outspoken personality intent on dispelling the various myths associated with the disease.

Despite making less than $40 million during his playing career, Magic Johnson's net worth has grown significantly and is now estimated to be $600 million. He was also part of an ownership group that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. Throughout his career, Magic Johnson has had a profound impact on the sport and remains one of the most beloved and respected figures in the history of the game.

#3, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Another Black player who revolutionized the game, Kareem Abdul Jabbar had to face his fair share of racism throughout his life. Kareem regularly used his platform to fight against racial inequality and lack of job opportunities for people of color.

In April 1974, as the Bucks were preparing for another run at the NBA Finals, Abdul-Jabbar stated that being Black in America meant being treated as a second-class citizen and called for changes to be made. This was one of the innumerable times that Abdul-Jabbar spoke about the civil rights movement.

#2, Michael Jordan

By the time Michael Jordan arrived on the NBA scene, the civil rights movement was in full flow. Although he had to suffer sometimes in his initial playing days, the bulk of the job had been done by those who came before. What Jordan did was different.

He made the NBA a truly global league, became the biggest superstar of all time and began accumulating a personal wealth that has taken his net worth to $1.7 billion. Of course, this is in addition to his numerous philanthropic initiatives.

#1, Bill Russell

Bill Russell was enigmatic and outspoken, and one of the most vocal black athletes of the 1960s. He was the leader of a scary Boston Celtics team that dominated the NBA, and he combined his on-court dominance with off-court activism.

Russell was heavily influential on the court, averaging more than 20 rebounds per game throughout his career. He was also an advocate of the civil rights movement and is one of the Black NBA players who played during a difficult time, as far as the overall community is concerned.