<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
Why are most basketball players black?
<|assistant|>
In the early years of basketball, it was predominantly black athletes who participated in the sport due to the racial dynamics of American society at the time. This is due to the historically high rate of basketball players coming from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as the limited number of opportunities available to black athletes during this period. Many universities had quotas in place that restricted them from recruiting black athletes and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) did not allow them to play in championship-level games until the late 1950s. This, coupled with the fact that professional basketball leagues did not emerge until the mid-20th century, resulted in basketball being primarily a black sport.

In recent years, the NBA has taken initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in basketball. Several affirmative actions, such as increased recruitment of high school players from diverse backgrounds, financial aid, outreach initiatives and the reorganization of the NCAA have encouraged more white and female athletes to participate in the game. 

While white athletes still account for only around a third of NBA players, their proportion in the league has grown in recent years, making the NBA one of the most diverse American sports league. It is now more common for the top players in the league to come from diverse backgrounds, which in turn makes basketball a sport enjoyed by a wide range of audiences.