The Mavericks and Heat teams of 2005-06 had the same amount of white players, but a large difference in the prominence of those players. Both teams had three white fellas, but the Mavericks of 2006 were seen as a very white team. Led by ubermensch Dirk Nowitzki, clearly the highest profile player on the team, the Mavericks also frequently used Keith Van Horn, as well as “light-skinned” Devin Harris and Doug Christie. The Heat, led by Dwayne Wade, the unduly anointed future of the NBA, only used Jason Williams on a regular basis, and had Jason Kopono occasionally off the bench. Although the ball was more often in white hands for the Mavericks, they seemed to get far less calls from the referees, the most notable, in Game 5, came against Nowitzki, himself – though the foul, if it did happen, likely should have been called on the “light-skinned” Devin Harris. I think the real, and undeniable, bias in the NBA is for superstars, for sneaker promoters, and Gatorade hawkers, and salesmen. All “superstars,” regardless of race, get favorable calls, but, when it comes down to it, the bigger, more productive stars get the more beneficial calls. Let’s be honest, not many people will buy shoes worn by Dirk Nowitzki, but people may buy shoes, shirts, sports drinks, phones, hats, watches, and The NBA from Dwayne Wade, or Kobe, or KG. Race is a factor is everything in America, but profile, and prominence, marketability and notability, are the dirty little influences of the league and its officials. Nash and Nowitzki won MVPs, and the league lost money, so it could be awhile until Shaq or Kobe, Price or Wolfers have as much reason to decry the “blatant” Caucasian bias of the NBA.