National Basketball Association (NBA)

Last week, the NBA Foundation tipped off its third annual NBA HBCU Fellowship, hosting 70 HBCU fellows from 22 schools for a three-day orientation. The orientation included professional development sessions, panels with Fellowship Alumni, an #NBAPlayoffs Watch Party, Business of Basketball Luncheon and more. The tip-off event consisted of a networking session with more than 50 current NBA employees from several departments sharing career insights. Fellows received professional advice in preparation for their 10-week internships with Teams and at the league office. To learn more about the NBA Foundation and the HBCU Fellowship visit https://lnkd.in/g-SBXBAj and follow @NBAFoundation on Instagram, Facebook, and X

Bill Walton, whose legacy extends far past his MVP, 2x NBA Championships and Hall of Fame career, passed at the age of 71 this week. His enthusiasm and passion made him one of basketball's great ambassadors: "Being a part of the NBA family is so special." A zest for life with an upbeat presence, always ready to share his wisdom and warmth - Walton was a giant figure on and off the court. That impact will undoubtedly live on forever.

The NBA is proud to further our commitment to mental health by partnering with the “Love, Your Mind” campaign from HMHI and The Advertising Council – together with leading sports leagues and organizations from across the country – to encourage fans everywhere to prioritize their mental health. For free mental health resources, visit https://lnkd.in/g5Vkhmqy #LoveYourMind #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

We're wrapping up our #AAPI Heritage Month spotlights with David Lee, Head of NBA Equity, sharing his personal experiences as an AAPI business leader. Check out the full interview below. Describe Your Role I lead NBA Equity, the NBA's corporate venture arm. This new initiative, now in its third year, is focused on making strategic investments into exciting companies that help innovate the league and augment fan experiences. What does being an AAPI employee at the #NBA mean to you? As someone who grew up as a huge NBA fan, I always yearned for AAPI representation in the league. While my basketball skills didn't pave the way for me to be that representation on the court, I am immensely proud to have emerged as an AAPI leader in the business realm. I hope I can inspire some young AAPI sports enthusiasts with my journey and make them see that you don’t have to be drafted in the first round to make an impact in the league! In what ways has your AAPI background influenced your approach and demeanor in the workplace? My AAPI heritage, with its emphasis on humility and modesty, has shaped my foundational approach to the workplace. However, I've learned throughout my career that this demeanor may not always be the most effective at work, so I've consciously tried to assert myself and advocate for what I believe is right; I think finding the right balance is key. What is your fondest AAPI memory? As a lifelong NBA fan living in New York, #Linsanity is my best AAPI-related memory - those two months were magical! Another one is when Parasite won Best Picture at the Oscars - I am a huge fan of the Director, Bong Joon-Ho and was so proud of the movie becoming the first non-English-language film to win such a big award.

"It's really all about them. They let us coach them. They allow us to push them. They listen to us and they set the temperature of the organization every single day." Coach Joe Mazzulla said this about his players after the Celtics received the Bob Cousy Trophy as the 2023-24 Eastern Conference Champions. 🏆 Mazzulla is now the youngest coach to lead a team to NBA Finals since Bill Russell won the title with the Celtics in 1969. Celtics now look ahead to the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, tipping off Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. #NBAPlayoffs #NBA (edited) 

The #NBA has had a jam-packed month full of celebrations for Asian American and Pacific Islander (#AAPI) Heritage Month. Check out what's been happening throughout the month of May! https://lnkd.in/ekHtYAwR We're hiring! Check out open roles and join the NBA family: https://careers.nba.com/

This week, our #AAPIMonth features Tiffany Lau AIA, sharing insightful perspectives as an AAPI employee in the sports and construction industries. Read the full interview below: Describe Your Role I am part of the #NBA Facilities/Venues team, and we work closely with all NBA arenas to facilitate the league’s compliance process and standards for new arenas, renovations, and building operations. I also lead the league’s arena sustainability program, where I help to develop resources for NBA venues to progress their sustainability goals. What does being an #AAPI employee at the NBA mean to you? AAPI women are generally underrepresented in both the sports and construction industries, so I don't often encounter people like me in my area of work. I am proud of the AAPI community at the NBA, who may also be underrepresented in their areas of work but have earned a seat at their table and inspired possibilities for the AAPI community by taking the road less traveled and following their passion into sports. In what ways has your AAPI background influenced your approach and demeanor in the workplace? My parents immigrated from Hong Kong and worked multiple jobs to not only support themselves in a new country, but as the eldest and second eldest children of large families, helped to take care of their siblings, long before my brother and me. Through their humble dedication to family, I learned about work ethic, teamwork and leadership. They saw the growth and achievements of their family and empowering and uplifting others as part of their own success. While adapting to a new country, they were also collaborative and empathetic to other people's perspectives. I value the same approach to teamwork and leadership and it is what I continue to strive for in the workplace. What is your fondest AAPI memory? I love all the large hot pot meals that I’ve had with my family and friends, especially the ones we prepare for each other. It’s usually so much food that we end up having hot pot for days! It always brings everyone together and I love that feeling of community. #aapimonth #aapi #nba #community

To the season that was and the champs to be. 🏆 Cheers to the #Marketing team on tipping off the NBA Finals with a memorable toast. The countdown has officially begun! The #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV begin Thursday, June 6 on ABC. #NBA #NBAPlayoffs

In celebration of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we asked some of our leaders how they prioritize their mental health while managing work-life balance. How do you manage work-life balance for well-being? Share your wisdom with us by commenting below! #mentalhealth #worklifebalance #mham #wellness #nba Leroy Sims, MD, MSc, CAQSM, Lesley Slaton Brown, David Weiss, Tammy Henault

As we continue celebrating #AAPIMonth, we're spotlighting Jonathan Hsu, Head of Operations in Marketing. Read the full interview below! Describe Your Role After spending 12 years at NBA China in various roles including Strategy & Operations, CEO Affairs and heading up Marketing and Player Marketing, I now lead the Marketing Business Operations team. This team supports business planning, goals and strategy alignment, budget management and forecasting and project management for the global Marketing department. What does being an #AAPI employee at the #NBA mean to you? It’s been an amazing privilege to be able to contribute to growing the game internationally, particularly in China. The NBA’s global appeal and unifying power – bringing vastly different audiences together around the love of the game – has become even more inspirational and real to me, as I witnessed the massive fandom in China up close, as well as in our other regional markets. Being able to help support the development of an #AAPIHeritageMonth PSA featuring Damian Lillard, a virtual roundtable with Jeremy Lin and this year’s Lunar New Year campaign spot featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton were recent initiatives that were particularly meaningful. In what ways has your AAPI background influenced your approach and demeanor in the workplace? Growing up as a Chinese American in Texas and working in the US and abroad has given me a multi-cultural perspective and a profound respect for the diverse backgrounds and experiences that have made the NBA such a vibrant, dynamic organization. What is your fondest AAPI memory? Launching our NBA Lunar New Year Celebration – now in its thirteenth year – was a dream come true, particularly seeing the first campaign spot (starring Stephen Curry, James Harden, Dwyane Wade and Jeremy Lin) broadcast both in China and the US, teams across the league celebrating Lunar New Year and my hometown Rockets sporting Chinese character jerseys.