Diversity has improved NBA

I don’t play basketball.

In fact, I didn’t start watching the game until my son became a Miami Heat lifer in 2006. Since then, I’ve been to three NBA Finals, witnessed the “Big 3” era, experienced the entire career of Dwyane Wade and watched him hoist three Larry O’Brien trophies as an NBA champion. In that blink of an eye, there has been a tectonic shift in NBA demographics; from a 4 on the Richter scale to a full-on earthquake.

This week I attended the NBA Finals in Toronto, another country. Not L.A., not Texas … Toronto. I’ve seen playoff series dominated by the likes of Antetokounmpo, Jokic, Siakam, Embiid and Gobert. And let’s not forget the first possible Asian-American NBA champion in Jeremy Lin. Where there was once only Spike Lee and Jack Nicholson, now we have Drake.

I don’t play basketball; I am an immigration lawyer. As the debate concerning immigration rages to an inferno, perhaps an analogy…

Has the league become less competitive?

Have salaries gone down?

Has the purported Americanness of the sport been diluted?

I would say a resounding “no” to all. The sport has become more inclusive, more competitive, more international — more American. Diversity has always been America’s most unique strength; truly representative of the global community.

I love the dominance of Golden State, and marvel at their revolutionary excellence. But I am hoping to see the trophy in Canada, with a Spaniard and Cameroonian front and center. A reward of universality and equity; a symbol of the inspiring dynamic of athletics.

Joshua Bratter Miami

The letter was co-signed by Connor D. Jetta, Robert Hajir and Maximo Bratter.