Latest news with #BobbyMarks
Forbes
2 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
Front Office Blueprint: How Build A Career In The NBA
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 22: The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate after defeating the Indiana ... More Pacers 103-91 in Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) When most people picture a career in the NBA, they think about draft picks, locker rooms, or perfecting your jump shot. But in today's league, many of the key power players are also off the court. The business of the league is often intricate, relationship-built, and nuanced. Advancement in this career often requires an understanding of the language of budgets, collective bargaining agreements, and the roles of all those involved to keep the league running and growing. During NBA Summer League, two programs paved this career path for those aspiring to be among the next generation of NBA leadership. The first was the Sports Business Classroom, a front office training program held during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The second was Sports Management Worldwide, a global mentorship and training platform for aspiring sports professionals. Both speak to the growing desire for young people to learn the ins and outs of league operation and leadership. Learn to Think Like a Front Office Bobby Marks At Sports Business Classroom, students get exposure to the spectrum of front office scenarios. They get a glimpse of how to negotiate trades, analyze salary cap constraints, and respond to live roster challenges. This peels back the curtain on the intricate world of business in sports and how to navigate it successfully from veterans in the field. 'This is year two for me as the lead instructor at Sports Business Classroom,' said Bobby Marks, ESPN analyst and former Assistant GM of the Brooklyn Nets. 'Prior to this year, we had three majors students could choose from: Salary Cap, Scouting and Video Analytics, and Media and Broadcast.' 'This year, we added a fourth major, Athlete Representation and NIL, based on industry trends. We maxed out at 140 students. We started on Monday with speakers like Sam Presti, Kenny Atkinson, and Austin Reaves sharing how they broke into sports.' Marks described a surprise moment that raised the bar for the entire week. 'The Commissioner himself showed up. Adam Silver dropped by our Sunday reception, which was unexpected. We weren't banking on that. But it really sets the tone. Summer League is like Disneyland for NBA people.'Mena Mirhom & Bobby Marks He specializes in breaking down the intricacies of the salary cap and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), from how the second apron restricts team spending to the nuances of player extensions and other complex financial structures within the league. 'I love teaching what's right about the CBA and bringing it to life with real-world examples,'He also hosts early-morning office hours for students to allow for engaging question and answer sessions that go beyond the didactic content of the conference. When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Marks said, The younger me would tell me to learn how to write. I didn't really learn until I was 42, and now I'm ten years into working in media. But bigger than that, I'd say take advantage of opportunity. There are so many people willing to help. If you go through this week without asking questions, networking, or talking to people, it'll be a wasted week. The Right Mentor Can Make All The Difference While SBC focuses on immersive application, Sports Management Worldwide is designed to help understand all aspects of sports management through education and mentorship. I met with their leadership to understand that in order to fully develop the tools for career advancement as a sports agent or sports executive, there are a few key principles that carry you along the way. The language of the leagues, relationships with key influencers, and proper mentorship are all essential skills to develop. But above all, as is noted in the Harvard Business Review, a great mentor will focus on helping develop you as a person not just developing your career. Lynn LashbrookLynn and Liz Lashbrook Founded by Lynn Lashbrook, EdD, in 2002, it offers more than 40 specialized eight-week courses ranging from basketball front office to sports analytics and agent certification with over 30,000 alumni across 164 countries. All programs feature live interactive mentorship via Zoom and provide ongoing networking opportunities through an established global ambassador network. Graduates hold roles in every major professional league from the NBA and NFL to MLS and NHL, demonstrating the organization's global reach and practical impact. Lynn and Liz have been able to create a global community that is focused, specialized and effective in empowering the next generation of agents and executives in sports leagues around the world. Lynn discussed with me the passion of taking this work nationally and globally to fill a critical gap that currently exists in higher education. A key demographic they intend to uplift are veterans who seek to obtain the skills to work in the sports world. The business of sports is seeing a revolution of opportunity. For example, we're working closely to get military veterans to work with us through the GI bill. You can feel the ethical electricity in our courses. We want to democratize opportunities to work in sports. For us, transparency is the vaccine for corruption. So many people can be great mentors, but you just don't have the keys to get into the locker room. Speaker Spotlight Khalia Collier During SMWW, I sat down with Khalia Collier, Vice President and Chief of Staff of Basketball Operations for the Dallas Mavericks. As a seasoned executive and entrepreneur, she spoke candidly to the conference audience about the essential tools for career growth in professional sports. 'I'd tell myself to trust my gut more, but more importantly, to cultivate discernment,' she said. Trusting your gut is critical, but discernment is what helps you filter through who really has your best interest at heart. At 23, I didn't have as much of that as I do now. Better discernment could've saved me from a lot of trial and error, helped me invest my time more wisely, and surround myself with the right people.'When asked whether discernment can be taught, she replied, 'You can't teach failure or struggle, and I don't think you can directly teach discernment either. But you can teach people how to navigate tough moments. How to build resilience, consistency, and determination. Discernment comes from observing, from listening more and talking less. When people show you who they are, believe them.' Emotional Intelligence Is Not Optional Khalia also spoke about what she listens for when evaluating potential partnerships. 'I listen for genuineness. I try to ask questions that uncover the other person's motives. What are they trying to get out of the relationship? Is this a transactional situation or is there potential for long-term mutual benefit?' Sustainable partnerships come from shared interests. You both need to understand what the other is trying to accomplish. That's when real win-win scenarios both programs, this kind of emotional intelligence is treated as essential. It is not a bonus skill. It is a hiring filter. In a league where relationships are everything, understanding motive and energy is just as critical as understanding data. Why This Matters Now The NBA is evolving. Teams are investing in even more analytics, performance science, player mental health, and global talent pipelines. Technical fluency is the starting point. What sets professionals apart is clarity, poise, and mindset under pressure. Programs like SBC and SMWW are more than career accelerators. They are readiness platforms. They do not just open doors. They prepare people to walk through them with confidence, clarity, and leadership presence. The Bottom Line You do not need to have played in the NBA to work in it. But you do need preparation to understand the language of the league. Understanding the system and structure can be the difference maker when pursuing a career in professional sports.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Are the Knicks still a move away?
Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor is joined by ESPN's Bobby Marks to discuss if New York still needs to make another addition to its roster to help new head coach Mike Brown get his team over the hump this season. Hear the full conversation on 'The Kevin O'Connor Show' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript You mentioned the Knicks earlier. They're one of the teams that's trying to take that next step. They add Gerhaw Yelle, they add Jordan Clarkson. And other than that, pretty much the same roster just with a new head coach. Are they still one move away or are they already there as a contender? I think they're still another move away with their bench. When you bring your starting five and your two best reserves in, um, in Robinson and Deuce, like, you've already, you already have a head start compared to some of these other teams. It is such a rarity when you go to an Eastern Conference Finals and you fire your head coach and you had a little bit, you kind of knew who they were. And now you have Mike Brown coming in and no offense in Sacramento, and this isn't even like Cleveland back in 2008 or 2009. Uh, and I think he's a really good coach, but basically trying to instill, you know, who, what are they gonna be? Are they going to be the Sacramento team from three years ago, or they're going to be that Cleveland team, that was really good defensively when LeBron was around? Like, who are you going to, who are you gonna be? And I think that's gonna be probably the biggest unknown as far as, you know, maybe not outside of the roster. Close
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN insider reveals honest projection for Thunder guard Nikola Topić
Bobby Marks relays a scout told him Nikola Topic would've been a top 5 pick in the 2025 Knueppel was drafted #4, Ace Bailey at #5 and Tre Johnson at # After missing all of last season with a knee injury, guard Nikola Topić has impressed in a limited sample size in summer league with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Topić debuted in the Salt Lake City Summer League earlier this month, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, three rebounds and two steals in three appearances. He is posting a similar average through three games in Las Vegas, Nevada: 11 points, 7.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals. The 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft was highly touted out of Crvena zvezda in the ABA League. He may have been projected to be selected even higher had he come out this year, a scout recently told ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks. "This was after the Utah Summer League ... I had a scout tell me (Topić) would have been a top-five pick in this year's draft," Marks recalled Tuesday on ESPN. Topić was sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left ACL suffered while playing in the ABA League Finals on May 13, 2024. He made steady progress throughout the year with the team medical staff and was cleared to debut with the Thunder in Utah. The 19-year-old was the 2024 ABA League Top Prospect, averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50.5% shooting from the field. He joined the likes of Nikola Jokić, Goga Bitadze and Nikola Jović as past award recipients. The Thunder appear to have identified another player who can contribute in the rotation for coach Mark Daigneault. The organization has been successful in the draft and seems to have secured its core long-term after claiming its first championship.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
One move away teams + Flagg, Curry and the flawed two-timeline plan with Bobby Marks, Sam Esfandiari & Kirk Henderson
Kevin O'Connor is joined by ESPN's Bobby Marks to break down the Eastern Conference landscape after major injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. They analyze which teams have taken the biggest leaps and which others still have a move or two to make to be considered contenders. Advertisement Later, Sam Esfandiari (Light Years Ahead) and Kirk Henderson (Mavs Moneyball) join to discuss Cooper Flagg's summer league breakout for the Mavericks, Jonathan Kuminga's future with the Warriors, and if either franchise should consider trading for LeBron James?!! Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks runs down the court in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) (Photo by) (0:45) Bobby Marks joins (1:37) Magic: contenders or one move away? (5:15) Hawks: contenders or one move away? (9:44) Knicks: contenders or one move away? (11:39) Cavs: contenders or one move away? (14:18) Pistons: contenders or one move away? (16:05) Bucks: contenders or one move away? (23:14) Sam Esfandiari & Kirk Henderson join (23:35) Flagg's impact on Mavericks already Advertisement (30:58) What's up with Warriors & Kuminga? (42:38) Should Mavs or Warriors trade for LeBron? 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nuggets rumors: Insider warns fans about luxury tax
The post Nuggets rumors: Insider warns fans about luxury tax appeared first on ClutchPoints. Denver Nuggets ownership has been criticized heavily, particularly over the past few seasons, for a perceived lack of interest in spending money. But one team insider is saying that it might be in the team's best interest, not just the owners', to avoid dipping into the luxury tax this season. Advertisement Although the Nuggets controversially let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in free agency a year ago, the Nuggets paid a little more than $200 million total for their roster this past season, according to Spotrac. The players' deals themselves cost about $182 million, but Denver paid around $20 million in luxury tax, which ranked seventh in the NBA. Following the trade for Cam Johnson, though, ALLCITY's Adam Mares said it could behoove the Nuggets to avoid paying the tax this year. 'Nuggets fans won't love this but it may be wise for the Nuggets to stay below the tax this season and avoid the repeater,' Mares posted on X, formerly Twitter. 'Doesn't mean they are done making moves. But they were almost certainly going to try to get below the tax this year or next.' In subsequent posts, Mares suggested that they could use other 'maneuvers' to keep adding talent while not adding to their payroll, which ESPN's Bobby Marks projected to be less than $2 million below the luxury tax line of $187.8 million. Potential options to stay under the tax this season are waiving and stretching Dario Saric's $5.4 million salary over three seasons, trading the likes of Peyton Watson for a slightly cheaper option, like the Houston Rockets' Cam Whitmore, or, in a perfect world, trading Zeke Nnaji, who will make $8.2 million this year. Advertisement Marks, in response to Mares' initial post, said, 'You have the $5.7M tax ML if needed. But I would be surprised if Denver pays the tax.' While the Kroenke family is always able to pay it if it wants, avoiding the tax this year at least would help in driving down costs in subsequent years as well. Being a 'repeater' in the luxury tax brings with it not only the upfront cost of paying more than most teams, but it also carries even steeper financial penalties for every dollar spent over the tax threshold. This offseason, the Nuggets have already added Johnson (via a trade for Michael Porter Jr.) and the returning Bruce Brown. Related: Why Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr.-Cam Johnson trade makes them 2026 NBA title favorite Advertisement Related: Brian Windhorst ponders Nuggets' Nikola Jokic contract extension risk
