© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

All For One: Cavs Leadership On Racial Justice And Professional Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers discuss racial equity with Dan Moulthrop at the City Club.
Cleveland Cavaliers discuss racial equity with Dan Moulthrop at the City Club.

After the death of George Floyd, coaches and athletes across the NBA, NFL, college football, and other American sports released statements on social media condemning police violence and brutality against Black people. Many NBA players across the country – who play in a league that is 85 percent Black – joined the protests, actions in line with their decades-long commitment to fighting injustice.

Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman and Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff released a  joint statementexpressing their "sadness, disgust, and overall frustration" over the death of George Floyd. A statement from the Cavaliers organization followed that said, in part: "We believe All for One really does mean ALL. Thus, ALL of us, both individually and as organizations and communities, have a responsibility to speak up and try to influence and help end horrible situations and outcomes like this. Let’s all respond with a sense of urgency and deeper determination to make life better and work towards a world where everyone feels safe.”

The Cavaliers, one of only two NBA teams with both a Black head coach and general manager, have a long-standing respect and appreciation for diversity and inclusion. The team has one of the highest minority full staff percentages across all major league sports, as well as ranking in the NBA’s top five franchises for women and women of color at the Vice President level and above. In 2017, the team was awarded the  “Best-in-Class Award” for Senior Management Diversity by the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Koby Altman
General Manager, Cleveland Cavaliers

J.B. Bickerstaff
Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Clayton
Vice President Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement, Cleveland Cavaliers

Dan Moulthrop
CEO, The City Club of Cleveland

Natalia Garcia is a digital producer for the education team at Ideastream Public Media.