Latest news with #SamPresti
Forbes
3 days 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
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Adam Silver reflects on the fading presence of NBA dynasties: "I'm sure Sam Presti isn't ready to hear that"
Adam Silver reflects on the fading presence of NBA dynasties: "I'm sure Sam Presti isn't ready to hear that" originally appeared on Basketball Network. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently addressed the state of the league. After Tuesday's Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas, he discussed one key topic: NBA team dynasties — or rather, their absence in recent years. While the prevailing circumstances pointed in a clear direction, Silver took a measured approach on the matter. The double-edged nature of NBA dynasties When NBA fans reflect on the league's rich history, the word 'dynasty' inevitably comes to mind. Think of the Boston Celtics' relentless dominance in the 1960s, the flashy Showtime Lakers of the 1980s, or the Chicago Bulls' unforgettable three-peats in the 1990s. But dynasties are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they represent legendary dominance — teams that didn't just win but defined entire eras by repeatedly crushing the competition and standing strong when everyone was gunning for them. That dynamic created countless legends and icons — including Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan — now celebrated in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. On the other hand, dynasties reveal a more troubling side. When one team racks up multiple titles over a short span, it suggests an unbalanced league lacking true parity and fair talent distribution. This hurts competition, lowers TV ratings, damages the NBA's overall image, and makes tanking even more tempting. To address this, the NBA introduced its collective bargaining agreement (CBA)—a negotiated contract, most recently ratified in April 2023, between the league and the players' union that sets the rules for salary caps, player movement, drafts, and revenue sharing. What's next for the NBA? The CBA can be summed up simply: it aims to level the playing field, giving any well-run franchise a real shot at success. That mission seems to be working better than ever. After all, the Oklahoma City Thunder's recent victory in the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers marked a remarkable milestone: the league's seventh different champion in as many seasons, dating back to 2019. Meanwhile, if we go back just a handful of years, the NBA landscape was dominated by a few teams, mainly the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. These two historic franchises combined to win eight of the first 11 championships of the 2000s. The trend is hard to ignore, raising the question of whether NBA fans have seen the end of dominant dynasties. The commissioner isn't so sure. Silver said he would be 'perfectly comfortable' if the league returned to one team dominating repeatedly, while also appreciating the current era's competitive parity. 'I like what we're seeing right now,' he remarked. Ultimately, no one — not even Silver himself — can settle the dynasty debate for good. 'I'm not ready to declare that we won't have dynasties,' the 63-year-old said, before delivering a lighthearted quip. The Thunder, led by stellar General Manager Sam Presti, are tipped to become the league's next dynasty if any team can break the mold. With that in mind, Silver added, 'I'm sure Sam Presti isn't ready to hear that.'This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alex Rodriguez Aims to Model Timberwolves After West Powerhouse
Alex Rodriguez Aims to Model Timberwolves After West Powerhouse originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NBA is a major copycat league as owners around the league look at others to see how they ae running their organizations, especially if they are able to build championship contenders. This has been a mainstay in the NBA for a while, and in other sports as well, as owners and front offices look at how others are building their teams to try and do the same with their franchise. Now it appears that one of the newest owners in the NBA looks to model his team around the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Of course, that person is former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, who is now part of the ownership group of the Minnesota Timberwolves. 'We want to be very, very disciplined and patient, but with a sense of urgency. We paid the second-highest tax last year. This year we're going to be in the tax again. When we played against Oklahoma City, we had a play-in game three years ago. Shai and all those guys were still young and we beat them at home. It was a very good game,' Rodriguez said. 'If Sam Presti turned around and was like, 'You know what? Let's break it up. Let's change directions.' They wouldn't have been world champs this year. Then when they got close, they brought in Caruso and a few others. And boom. We look at that as a good model for us. And hey, it pays to be patient.' With this statement, it appears as though Rodriguez is ready to do whatever is needed money wise to build the Timberwolves into a title contender no matter what it takes. He mentioned how Presti continued with his squad instead of breaking it up, which led Oklahoma City to a championship last season, and Rodriguez is looking to do the same thing in Minnesota with Anthony Edwards leading the way. Of course, the Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference Finals the past two seasons and Rodgriguez will now look to help them get over the hump and make an appearance in the Finals in the coming seasons. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Rodriguez hopes to model Timberwolves ownership after Thunder
Anybody who follows the NBA long enough knows how much of a copycat sport it can be. When you see a team crowned as champions, the rest of the league soon follows their blueprint and sees how replicable it can be for their situation. After the Oklahoma City Thunder captured the Larry O'Brien trophy, the biggest lesson learned was about homegrown talent and patient decisions. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ascended into an MVP after an unorthodox developmental path. He headlined one of the greatest teams ever. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were the crown jewels of the Thunder's rebuild. Both were added from the 2022 NBA draft and have established themselves as long-term staples. Williams was an All-NBA talent and Holmgren has already received DPOY buzz. Then you look at the rest of the roster, and it's Sam Presti hitting on the margins. Lu Dort was an undrafted player. Cason Wallace was worth his spot in the lottery. Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso were two home-run swings in last year's offseason. As the Minnesota Timberwolves are fresh off two straight Western Conference Finals appearances, the power dynamic has dramatically shifted. Glen Taylor no longer calls the shots. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore were finally approved as new NBA owners a couple of days after the NBA Finals ended. It's been quite the adventure, but the ownership group has finally changed. The former MLB player and Wonder Group CEO agreed with Taylor in 2021 to enter the Timberwolves' ownership group. Four years later, they've won over more power. Now, the duo has the NBA's stamp of approval to make changes. As Rodriguez and Lore put their fingerprints all over the roster, one of the first steps in molding their ball of clay is by seeing what the Thunder did. Both are small-market franchises with a superstar guard. While Anthony Edwards isn't at Gilgeous-Alexander's level, many expect him to be soon. Rodriguez and Lore appeared on ESPN's "The Hoop Collective" podcast in Las Vegas during the 2025 Summer League. The former talked about how they want to model the Timberwolves like the Thunder. OKC provided every small-market franchise the blueprint to have similar success with draft and development. "We want to be very, very disciplined and patient, but with a sense of urgency. We paid the second-highest tax last year. This year we're going to be in the tax again. When we played against Oklahoma City, we had a play-in game three years ago. Shai and all those guys were still young and we beat them at home. It was a very good game," Rodriguez said. "If Sam Presti turned around and was like, 'You know what? Let's break it up. Let's change directions.' They wouldn't have been world champs this year. Then when they got close, they brought in Caruso and a few others. And boom. We look at that as a good model for us. And hey, it pays to be patient." You always hear about new NBA owner syndrome. Whenever new bosses come to town, they always want to make drastic changes to shake things up. In most cases, they hold zero ties to the current regime and structure. Fanbases are usually anxious about that, as it mostly means splashy decisions that could destabilize a franchise. But at least in the infancy stage of their ownership tenure, Rodriguez and Lore have said all of the right things. Easier said than done, though, to copy what the Thunder. The 2025 NBA championship was a culmination of two decades' work.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The move Oklahoma City Thunder still must make in 2025 NBA free agency
The post The move Oklahoma City Thunder still must make in 2025 NBA free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. As the Thunder ride the momentum of a historic championship, General Manager Sam Presti faces one last decision in this 2025 offseason: should the team add a complementary veteran piece? They've already locked in their core through massive extensions for Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, Jaylin Williams, and Ajay Mitchell, and bolstered the roster with talented rookies from the 2025 draft. Their bench is youthful, energetic, and defensively versatile. Advertisement However, to fully lock in their backcourt, they could still benefit from an experienced off‑ball guard or wing defender, someone who can step in when Luguentz Dort sits and sustain intensity. With cap space available, OKC has the flexibility to chase the right veteran, but any misstep could tip the balance of their salary structure. Presti's hallmark patience suggests they'll only act in the free agency if the target is undeniable; otherwise, the decision is likely to 'run it back' with their familiar, battle-tested squad. The final piece: Which free agent can elevate the Thunder? Despite their robust core, the Thunder are not without question marks. While their starting lineup is solid and their bench deep, there remains room for one more tactical addition. OKC could benefit from adding a veteran 3-and-D wing or a secondary ball-handler who can help take pressure off Shai in crunch time and ensure offensive consistency when lineups shift. Someone in the mold of Malik Beasley, Joe Ingles, or even a buy-low candidate like Gary Trent Jr. could thrive in this system. With the mid-level exception still available and their cap sheet flexible, the Thunder are in a rare position: they can improve without compromising their long-term financial outlook. Advertisement With their young core locked in and an NBA title already under their belts, the Thunder are no longer just a 'team of the future'; they're a team of the now. The only thing standing between them and a potential dynasty is a final, precise move to reinforce their depth and versatility. Whether Presti makes that move or chooses to 'run it back' with the current group, one thing is clear: Oklahoma City is primed to dominate the NBA landscape for years to come. Locking in the core: Thunder's big extensions The Thunder's offseason began with a powerful statement of intent. Star point guard and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a historic 4-year, $285 million supermax extension, the richest annual salary in NBA history. This deal ensures that one of the league's most dominant two-way guards remains the face of the franchise through the 2030–31 season. Next, OKC moved swiftly to lock in key supporting players. Energetic big man Jaylin Williams was rewarded with a 3-year, $24 million extension, bypassing his team option. In a similar move, the Thunder declined Ajay Mitchell's rookie-scale option but signed the promising guard to a multi-year deal worth around $9 million, showing trust in his future potential. Advertisement These moves weren't just cap calculations. They were investments in continuity, a core philosophy for a franchise that believes in chemistry, development, and internal growth. Draft and development: Reloading through youth Never one to rest on his laurels, Sam Presti once again used the draft to inject new energy and depth into the roster. The Thunder selected Thomas Sorber, a strong, defensive-minded big with rebounding instincts. 'He's got a good make-up, and you hear that, not only from him, but the people around him that we've talked to. He roots for his teammates' success,' Daigneault said. 'That's something that continues to come up when you hear about him, and I think that's one of the best qualities of our team. It's in an NBA environment, with everybody having an individual career and individual ambitions; these guys root for one another and pull for each other. And hearing that we got somebody coming in that naturally aligns with that is exciting.' During the 2024-25 season at Northwestern, Brooks Barnhizer appeared in 17 games and averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 36.9 minutes per game. The Indiana native became the first Big Ten player since Michael Redd to reach 1,000-plus career points, 500-plus rebounds, and 200-plus assists within his first 96 games. These rookies join the recent classes of Nikola Topić, Ajay Mitchell, Ousmane Dieng, Branden Carlson, and Cason Wallace, giving OKC arguably the best under-24 core in the league. It's a masterclass in blending patience with high-ceiling scouting. Advertisement Related: NBA news: Thunder totally dominate early 2025-26 win total over/unders Related: Thunder's Sam Presti confesses to recently discovered rap career
