When basketball fans watch the NBA All-Star this Sunday, there will be a lot of HBCU influence and culture on display.
That also includes the court itself.
Per longtime ESPN basketball reporter Marc J. Spears, the court design has been created in collaboration with HBCU alums from various schools.
Also read: The NBA doesn’t need to endanger Black people to honor HBCUs at All-Star weekend
The NBA All-Star 2021 court design – created in collaboration with HBCU alumni from various schools – incorporates icons representing HBCU academics, music and campus life while connecting back to the celebration of the game at center court. @TheUndefeated pic.twitter.com/qrBX3Yd70g
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) March 4, 2021
The NBA, along with the National Basketball Players Association is also expected to allocate more than $2.5 million to historically Black colleges and universities as part of holding the event, as well as to support awareness around equity and access to COVID-19 care, relief and vaccines as part of the event.
NBPA president Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns has been a proponent of the idea, which would include the showcasing and benefiting of historically Black colleges and universities.
