The Uneven Court Floors in the NBA: Race and Employment Stability

Research examining racial disparities in the labor market has recognized Black-White gaps in earnings and various career outcomes. However, relatively little attention has been given to the potential discrepancy in employment stability across races. Prior studies also lacked proper controls for individual productivity and occupational classification, leaving the observed differences between races open to question. Leveraging the National Basketball Association’s comprehensive individual performance records and team data, the author examines whether Black players experience less stable employment experience compared with their White counterparts. The findings reveal that Black players tend to sign shorter non-entry-level contracts and have lower probabilities of signing new contracts with their current teams, even when individual productivity is held constant. Additional analyses suggest that these disparities in contract length and renewal rates are unlikely to be a consequence of strategic choices made by players. Employment stability is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of workplace inequality. By highlighting these disparities, this study underscores the need to consider stability alongside more traditional markers of inequality such as earnings and reflects the broader systemic inequalities that can shape career outcomes.