Basketball is one of the most popular and well-known sports in the world. Many people, both men and women, enjoy it as a hobby. Throughout the years, NBA games have brought people and teams together and shaped character, thanks to the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and the late Kobe Bryant. In recent developments, a new way of playing the beloved game of basketball is gaining traction, and the Global Mixed Gender Basketball League (GMGB) lies at the center, attempting to champion a new initiative that allows men and women to play together.
James Scott, owner and CEO of the world’s first professional mixed gender basketball league, founded the GMGB in 2015. In the league, there is a total of seven teams, and a well-known celebrity owns each of them. Former NBA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotter players who strongly support the advocacy of GMGB are among the athletes on display. There is a lot of faith in GMGB’s mission and what it can accomplish in the years to come.
When asked to explain the initiative, James said, “In the first quarter, we have three ladies and two men on the court; in the second quarter, we have two women and three men on each squad. It rotates every quarter of the game. There will be some modest adjustments to the rules to make this a unique and entertaining model, which we feel will be the future of basketball.”
Many people have never heard of GMGB, but it can bring about positive change in areas where it is most needed. “Basketball teams and leagues with men and women on the court simultaneously are unheard of. In addition to the athletes, coaches and officials share the objective of equality. Men and women rule the world. To top it all off, we have some of the world’s most well-known celebrity team owners and some of the best halftime entertainment around,” James said.
GMGB’s ideology is based on the fact that a person does not have to be male or female to be talented or skilled. With time, the current generation has witnessed significant role reversals within their families’ homes, businesses, and even in the political arenas. It’s incredible to see the same thing occurring in sports, not just for athletes but also for the general public. For James, the gender gap in professional athletics is a benchmark that he hopes GMGB will one day close. GMGB is projected to be a catalyst for relevant change in how basketball is played, guided by the tagline “Equal Pay for Equal Play.” For James, basketball is about to take on a whole new meaning, and he hopes that people from all walks of life will be able to experience it.
GMGB may appear to be merely stirring the pot, but one can argue that it is doing so properly. For the first time, men and women will be able to play on the same court simultaneously. In addition to being daring, it’s also courageous and motivating.
