If you walk into an NBA front office in 2022, you'll be able to find a book on management theory. Organizational culture and asset management are new concepts. Basketball operations shops are an area where league executives spend a lot of time.
The NBA is still an exceptional business but it has never been more like other billion dollar businesses. Squint hard enough, and the cubicle farm in that NBA front office could be just as easily found in Silicon Valley.
The NBA's front offices are similar to the teams on the court. Some lead execs prefer to run set plays in a structured offense while others prefer to read and react.
The Boston Celtics think in terms of decades, but the front office of the Oklahoma City Thunder will keep a close eye on small details. The Los Angeles Lakers are fond of tradition while the Phoenix Suns don't like it. In Golden State, consensus is built in a more collaborative process than in Miami, though owner Joe Lacob is still the boss.
The job of general manager of a favorite team is something most fans imagine at one point or another. They start with whom they would've drafted in the first round last week, or which deal they'd execute in the Trade Machine.
High-profile transactions are just a small part of the portfolio. Basketball CEO is not a swashbuckler or dealmaker. What kind of people do you want to work with? Where would you like to spend your budget? What amount of disagreement can you tolerate? How do you manage an unhappy owner? What do you think about the risk? How do you get the information to make a decision when the stakes are high? Is information more important when you trust your gut instincts.
You come in! Take our quiz while you wait for the next sign or trade to happen. The Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors have managerial styles and principles that are different from one another.
Which office should you work in? To find out, take our quiz.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
