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NBA Scores Well on Diversity Report Card

When it comes to hiring women and people of color, the NBA continues to do a much better job than any of its counterparts in professional sports, according to the latest diversity report card.

The study, issued Wednesday by Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, showed that 43 percent of the professional positions in NBA offices are held by women, a 2-percent increase over last year.

And while the NBA continues to outpace other pro sports when it comes to the number of Blacks in key positions, it still has fewer African Americans than in recent years.

The three Blacks in general manager-type positions are four fewer than last year and is the lowest percentage in more than 15 years, the study shows.

Last year, the NBA had the highest percentage of minority presidents and CEOs in men’s professional sports history. But when the 2008-09 season kicked off, there was one Asian and 11 Black head coaches.

Despite the dip, the 40 percent minority coach figure is still the highest in pro sports.

Race-wise, the NBA slipped slightly from its highest grade (96.2 to 94.9), although it again received men's pro sports' only "A" for a combined grade for race and gender.

The NBA has had a long commitment of hiring the best possible people available," league spokesman Brian McIntyre said.

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