For decades, Black athletes have been the face of the NBA. Their talent, charisma, and influence have transformed basketball into a multi-billion-dollar industry. But while Black players dominate the court, they don’t control the real power: ownership and economic decision-making. This isn’t just about having more Black owners in the NBA; it’s about understanding that the league—and the culture it capitalizes on—was built on our backs. It’s time to take ownership of what’s ours, not only in the NBA, but in every area where our contributions drive the world forward.

The Illusion of Success

When we see Black athletes signing multi-million-dollar contracts, it’s easy to think that we’re winning. But true success isn’t just about individual wealth—it’s about collective ownership and control. These players may earn millions, but the profits they generate for team owners, advertisers, and corporate sponsors are far greater. The real money, the real influence, is held by those who didn’t create the culture but have learned how to profit from it.

The NBA thrives because of Black talent, but that talent is still treated as a commodity, something to be bought and sold rather than respected and invested in. Black athletes are paid to entertain, while the power to shape the future of the league remains in the hands of those who didn’t build it.

Reclaiming What’s Ours

We don’t just need more Black faces at the ownership level of the NBA—we need to understand the larger game being played. The NBA is a microcosm of a bigger issue: Black culture is constantly commodified, yet rarely owned by us. From music to fashion to sports, Black creativity drives entire industries, but we rarely control the platforms that profit from them.

It’s time to take ownership of our contributions on a global scale. This means building our own systems, investing in our own communities, and ensuring that we benefit from the culture we create. We shouldn’t be content with merely participating in industries that exploit our talent—we need to own them, reshape them, and lead them.

Moving Beyond the NBA

This wake-up call extends far beyond basketball. The NBA is just one example of how Black labor and creativity are co-opted for the benefit of others. Whether it’s entertainment, tech, agriculture, or fashion, the story is the same: Black people provide the value, and others reap the rewards. If we want true empowerment, we must stop asking for permission to join systems that were never meant to serve us. We need to build our own systems.

This isn’t about excluding others. It’s about realizing that, for too long, we’ve been enriching the world while we’ve been left fighting for scraps. Ownership is about control, and control is about shaping the future. We have the power to create industries, businesses, and platforms that reflect our values and benefit our people, wherever we are. The NBA is just one symbol of the larger fight for economic independence and empowerment worldwide.

The Path Forward

So, what does taking ownership look like? It starts with changing the way we think about success. Instead of celebrating individual Black athletes or entertainers for reaching the top of systems not designed for them, we need to start celebrating collective victories—businesses, platforms, and organizations owned and controlled by Black people. We need to invest in our own communities, educate ourselves about economics, and demand more from the industries that thrive because of our contributions.

It’s not just about reclaiming basketball. It’s about reclaiming our place at the heart of every global system we help build. We need to support Black-owned businesses, develop Black-owned media outlets, and create institutions that reflect our collective identity. This isn’t a fight for inclusion—it’s a fight for liberation, economic justice, and self-determination.

The Time Is Now

The time for passive participation is over. The NBA, like many other industries, thrives on Black talent. But that talent has been commodified and controlled by those who didn’t create the culture. We must reclaim what’s ours—not by asking for a piece of the pie, but by baking our own. Whether it’s in sports, music, agriculture, or global trade, the message is clear: Black people deserve to control what they create.

Now is the time for us to rise, to take back the narrative, and to shape the future for ourselves and our communities—not just in basketball, but in every sphere of influence we’ve helped build.

The Future Is in Our Hands