NBA hall of famers’ college basketball program pulled due to controversial law

An NBA hall of famer nicknamed “The Glove” has lost hold of his college basketball program.

College of Alameda coach Gary Payton will no longer lead the men’s basketball team after the school pulled it due to Title IX regulations and financial reasons, ESPN reported.

“The College of Alameda failed to maintain a women’s sports team for the last two seasons, and can not legally continue as a program without matching its one men’s sports team.

“College of Alameda had a women’s volleyball team that the school was “unable to maintain,” they told The Post while confirming they were shuttering their athletics program.

“Title IX requires equal access to sports for women and men,” Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for Peralta Community College District, told The Post in a statement.

“Over the past few years, we’ve been unable to maintain a women’s sports team at COA. Without women’s sports, we cannot continue to offer men’s sports.

“Opportunities for student-athletes remain available at our sister colleges in Oakland: Laney College and Merritt College,” he added.

Title IX, a landmark 1972 civil rights law, “require schools to provide equal opportunity, regardless of sex,” in sports.

The Trump administration has recently cited the law in several complaints against colleges with transgender athletes.

College of Alameda basketball players with playing eligibility are now looking for new schools, the outlet reported.

Payton, who is also the coach of the Boston Ball Hogs in the Big Three 3-on-3 professional basketball league, will coach one more season for Boston, ESPN reported. It’s unclear if he will find another college basketball coaching the home.

The famed basketball player won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, the twilight of his 17-season career with stops also including the former Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

The point guard was known for his defensive capabilities, and led the league in steals during the 1995–96 season. He made nine All-Star teams and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Payton’s son Gary Payton II plays guard for the Golden State Warriors. He won an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022.

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