An Environmental Explanation for Race Differences in Basketball Performance

There is considerable evidence that black and white basketball players differ in their styles of play. Existing physiological, personality, and sociological explanations for these differences appear to be inadequate. An alternative environmental theory is proposed that links player styles and attitudes to environmental factors influencing inner city and on-city playground settings. Specifically, it is hypothesized that factors such as crowding foster the development of functional playing rules and norms, which in turn influence player development. This paper details possible causal relationships between different aspects of the playing environment and player skills, styles, and attitudes.