Former ‘Fab Five’ Member Jalen Rose Says There’s ‘A Residue of Slavery’ in the NBA [VIDEO]

Former member of the ‘Fab Five’ and NBA standout Jalen Rose recently sparked conversation across the basketball world after breaking down the NBA structure as a “residue of slavery,” a comment that has reignited discussion about player movement and power dynamics in professional sports.

During a recent episode of the Joe and Jada Unfiltered podcast,  Jalen Rose argued that the financial and structural systems surrounding some leagues leave athletes with limited control over their careers, saying that salary restrictions and entry rules have historically shaped how athletes generate value for organizations, also discussing the broader economics of sports.

“The only sports that have salary caps are black-led. First off,  that’s basketball and football,” ….“Those are the only sports with salary caps. Baseball, golf, NASCAR, tennis, you can keep naming. They do not have a salary. That’s the first thing. It’s correct.” 

“That’s a residue of slavery because we’re going to get money off of you for multiple years for free,” 

See video below

Jalen Rose Called NFL Salary Caps A “Residue Of Slavery”

With Rookies Making $750K?

Do You Agree Or Is This A Reach? 👇@SeanUnfiltered @AdamGSager @rumblevideo pic.twitter.com/xYh4HMyqgz

— UnpavedSeanSalisbury (@SSalisburyShow) March 10, 2026