The NBA has changed over the last 40 years drastically. The style of play, the speed of the game, the athleticism, even how players are recruited. Thinking about a lot of black athletes in the media for the wrong reasons Cough Ja Morant, how may a black commissioner connect with these athletes differently and who would that be? What former athlete would run the league the best? Just a random thought and please don’t dissect the question - just a hypothetical fun thought.
The players are simply contracted workers that play for the owners. The owners are (checks notes) compromised of mostly old white men. The owners choose their commissioner. He is not even the “boss” if the owners, he is more their mouthpiece.
Players frequently have POC in leadership positions for them, the NBAPA.