Several NBA teams have conducted ‘high-level conversations’ on the use of the term ‘team owner.’ As of this writing, only two teams have stopped using the term but players and other high-profile celebrities have joined in on the discussion.
In LeBron James’ The Shop, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, who are in the NBA Finals, addressed the issue.
“You shouldn’t say owner,” Green said … noting the title should be changed to either CEO, Chairman or something like Majority Shareholder.”
Comedian Jon Stewart agreed, saying that:
“When your product is purely the labor of people then owner sounds like something that is of a feudal nature.”
Stewart’s explanation is the key argument among those who have entered into such ‘high-level conversations.’ The term ‘owner’ seems racially insensitive given that NBA players are mostly African-American.
So far, only the L.A. Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers have moved away from the use of ‘owner.’ Steve Ballmer is now listed as the Chairman on the team’s website. According to TMZ, they change may have been made in early 2018. Around the time the particular episode of The Shop aired, the 76ers changed organizational titles from “owners” to “managing partners” and “co-owners” to “limited partners.”
Rumor has it, however, that there is no pressure coming from the NBA for the teams to follow suit.
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