Kevin Blackistone writes for the Dallas Morning News that the Dallas Mavericks are answering the charge that 'white men can't hoop.'

They were accused of just that by members of the Portland Trailblazers before a recent rematch that the Mavs won handily, according to Nick Van Exel.

And with so many white players to depend on, the slight suggested, Van Exel would ultimately wind up a loser in this league long dominated now by the predominant segment of its workforce, black players.

That is a strong, though rarely publicly acknowledged, perception about white players in the NBA, and basketball in general. Larry Bird was an exception. Jerry West was another generation. Those days are gone.

Wally Szczerbiak related a similar tale to Newsday about Vince Carter.  Shaquille O'Neal expressed a similar sentiment in Shaq Talks Back.

But, as Don Nelson argues, in the NBA today, skill -- not race -- is all that matters in getting to play in the league.  And Steve Nash, Raef LaFrentz, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Bradley, Evan Eschmeyer, Eduardo Najera and Wang Zhizhi are proving they have a place here.