Behind The Scenes In The NBA - National Basketball Association

Ebony, Nov, 2000

Off the court, talented African-Americans are making major contributions to the game

SOME of the best athletes in the world display their amazing talents in the National Basketball Association, and with so much focus on players like Shaquille O'Neal, Scottie Pippen and Kobe Bryant, it's easy to overlook the fact that there are other "players" on the NBA's team who are making valuable contributions behind the scenes.

Working in a variety of areas--from finance to player development to international security--they are among a skilled group who play a significant role in helping the NBA to sustain the national and international status that it enjoys. Further, each one is a perfect role model, showing youngsters who dream of a career on the court that being a player isn't the only opportunity in the NBA. As Hall of Famer and NBA TeamUp Program Chairman Bob Lanier says: "I tell young people to dream their dream, but be sure to have a secondary plan. The odds are against them playing in the NBA, so they should make sure that they get their education so that they can pursue other options in case they don't achieve their dream--whether that dream is to play in the NBA or to work in some other profession."

On the following pages are members of the NBA's team you should know.

STU JACKSON Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations

DURING Stu Jackson's climb up the NBA's ladder, he has exhibited his talents in a variety of top-notch positions, and made history along the way, including becoming the second-youngest head coach in NBA history when, at 33, he led the New York Knicks to the semifinals of the 1990 conference playoffs. Now the former University of Oregon player has moved up another notch as head of basketball operations, making him the highest-ranking African-American in the NBA.

In the position that Jackson assumed in July, his responsibilities include chairing the league's competition and rules committee, overseeing officiating and acting as a disciplinarian when there is misconduct by players and coaches. "This position is unique from the standpoint that I have some responsibilities that are very broad-ranged in terms of the entire league, be it the rules and competition committee, player and team discipline, handling the officiating staff, the responsibility for our international relationships and also being part of USAB, which is the national governing basketball body," says Jackson, who was the first person hired by the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in 1994 and, as general manager, helped to shape all aspects of the Grizzlies' organization. "This [position] gives me a chance to really have an impact on the game from a variety of different areas."

Discipline is one area that Jackson believes he won't have to address too often. Contrary to popular thought, he is not one who believes that today's players are less disciplined, less appreciative and less respectful of the game. "The overwhelming majority of our players do respect the game and those who they work for, and they have a connection with our fans," he says. "Not unlike any other organization today, you will have a few who will go astray." When that happens, he says he has only one consideration as a disciplinarian--being fair.

If there is one thing that Jackson hopes his appointment to this high-profile job does is to send a signal to young African-Americans and people of color that they can hold substantial positions that help determine the direction of professional sports, without actually playing the games. If they get that message, then the league's former director of basketball operations can focus on another of his top goals. "I'd like to leave a mark that the game is played the right way," he says, "that it continues to be a game that our fans enjoy."

MIKE BANTOM Senior Vice President, Player and Basketball Development

WHEN Mike Bantom (right, with Shareef Abdur-Rahim) finished his 16-year playing career, he was still a young man and he had to figure out what he was going to do with the rest of his life. "When I finished playing, I had a degree in marketing and was trying to decide what I wanted to do," he says. "Since I had played overseas, I was familiar with international basketball and international markets, so I decided the best use of my experiences and talents would be to try, and work in the marketing of basketball."

Since 1989, that's exactly what he has done, rising through the NBA ranks to become senior vice president, player and basketball development. In that position, he provides support and services to the players to help them continue to develop, on and off the court. That includes a rookie transition program, which is four to five days of intensive classes that touch on everything from finances to agents to all of the challenges and issues new players will face in the NBA. There's also a continuing education program in which the NBA tries to help players Finish college, or in the case of those who come directly out of high school, to begin to seek their college education. "The challenging part is to get guys to understand how important it is to continue to challenge themselves and pay attention to their personal development," says Bantom, who in 1973 was selected by the Phoenix Suns and later played for Seattle, New York, Indiana and Philadelphia before ending his career in the Italian professional league.