Chandler Parsons says he’s the best white American NBA player

Chandler Parsons says he’s the best white American NBA player

The white American basketball player is something of a rarity in the NBA.

A study by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found that 81.7 percent of the league was composed of people of color, which meant whites made up just 18.3 percent of the NBA. That figure also includes a significant number of international players from outside the United States.

To that end, Marc Spears of The Undefeated caught up with six white American players for an insightful and honest conversation about their experiences in a league that is predominately black.

Naturally, the question of “best white American player” was asked, and Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons didn’t mess around.

“Me, of course,” Parsons said.

The others four interviewees, however, didn’t agree.

Ryan Anderson of the Houston Rockets pointed to Kevin Love as the best, although he gave J.J. Redick his due as the hardest-working white American player. Redick also gave Love his vote.

Jason Smith of the Washington Wizards pointed to Anderson, his former teammate from New Orleans, as his pick. He also threw Gordon Hayward’s hat into the ring.

The clear conclusion from this discussion is that there is no consensus on who the best white American player is. But perhaps that’s because no white American player today – save for perhaps Love and Hayward – ranks anywhere close to being among the best in the league, regardless of race. Contrast that to the 80s and 90s when names like Larry Bird, John Stockton, Kevin McHale, and other Hall-of-Famers dominated the scene.

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