Annointments of African Americans for Professional Sport Ownership Positions - by Moses

N.B.A

1. Julius Erving (DR. J) - Philadelphia 76ers

Qualifications - Julius Erving was one of the greats of the 70's, playing for the New Jersey Nets of the A.B.A and re-locating to the Philadelphia 76ers of the N.B.A in the mid-seventies. Many have called Erving the greatest transitional player of all-time as he could play the Small Forward and Point Guard positions at the highest level. He was duly named to the Basketball Hall of Fame during his first ballot.

2. Bill Russell - Boston Celtics

Qualifications - Russell played during the same time as Wilt Chamberlain, and their head to heads were infamous. Russell went head to head with Chamberlain in the finals in every year in the sixties neigh one year. Russell's Celtics won every battle except for one (1967). Russell holds the one game record for rebounds in a play-off game posting 41. He is second to Chamberlain for the all-time mark (again posting 41), of 42. Russell is also second on the all-time list (again to Chamberlain) in career rebounds per game and second in the single season rpg mark. Bill Russell became the first African-American to become Head Coach in the N.B.A, when he took over the reigns from the legendary Red Auerbach. Russell became the first African-American Head Coach (as player/coach) to win the N.B.A Championship. Was a first ballot Hall of Famer.

3. Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls

Qualifications - Nothing needs to be said of his qualifications as he is a current Owner in the N.B.A (Charlotte Bobcats).

4. Isiaah Thomas and Joe Dumars - Detroit Pistons

Qualifications - The two were the lifeline for the Pistons in the late eighties and early Nineties winning back-back championships. As the starting point guard and shooting guard, Thomas and Dumars were both inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on their first ballots. Both have worked in Front-Office positions, namely General Managers and Thomas almost became Owner of the Toronto Raptors.

5. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Elgin Baylor

Qualifications - All three were first ballot Hall of Famers. Although Baylor never realized the seventies dynasty Lakers, he was instrumental in building that franchise to that point, winning the Championship alongside Wilt Chamberlain in 1972. At the point of Abdul Jabbar and Johnson teaming together, they became the dynasty that won 5 Championships throughout the eighties. All three have been largely responsible into transforming the Lakers organization into New York Yankees' class. Prior to these three players, the last Laker' team to win the Championship was in the late forties when they were the Minneapolis Lakers.