1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show, where we 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 3 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Blaan, I'm Scarlett Pool, and I'm Mike Lynch. 4 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: Today we are speaking with the head of the NBA 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: Players Union, Tamika Tremalio, who took over as executive director 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: in January at an important time for the business of 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: professional basketball. To Mika, welcome to the show. Thank you 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: very much. Michael. Well, at first I have to start 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: because you're taking over for Michelle Roberts, who I have 10 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: known for for some several years now. And uh, one 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: great chief to another great chief. What what did Michelle 12 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: give you any advice taking over? Oh? Absolutely, so really 13 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: great question. You're right, Michelle is certainly a legend, and 14 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: it is obviously a privilege to be able to assume 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: this role after her. I will say I actually work 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: with Michelle for about fifteen years or so, so quite frankly, 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: there have been many lessons that I have learned from 18 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: Michelle over the years. She is really good at what 19 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: she does and has really left the union in a 20 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: great place. But I think the primary thing from her 21 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: perspective is sort of focusing on the business, and I 22 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: think that was part of the reason for hiring me 23 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: is so that I could really focus on sort of 24 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: this next stage for the players and focusing on the 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: business of basketball. So what is the next stage? What 26 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: do you see on your to do list the three 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: biggest challenges you need to tackle? Yeah, so there are 28 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,559 Speaker 1: three challenges. So thank you Scarlett very much for teeing 29 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: that up. I've really been focused on sort of what 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: are our business opportunities, looking at the future of basketball, 31 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: and then finally the development and protection of our players. 32 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: So when we talk about the business of basketball, that 33 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: involves c b A, that involves global, that involves our 34 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: licensing arm think for fifty all of those things will 35 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: make up what that looks like. And recognizing that the market, 36 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: of course is changing. And then as we look at 37 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,639 Speaker 1: the future of basketball, we see the role technology is playing, 38 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: We see how we have to engage fans Differently, we 39 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: now know the platform that our players have from a 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: social equity standpoint, so making sure that we're responding appropriately 41 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: to that and our corporate responsibility. Certainly as a union, 42 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: our men are very very generous. They are very focused 43 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 1: on making sure that they're giving back to the community. 44 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: So the things that we're doing there remain pivotal to 45 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: what we do as an overall union, and certainly what 46 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: our players are doing, all foreigner fifty of them. And 47 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: then finally, as we look at the developmental protection of 48 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: our players, and we're looking at not only physical health 49 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: but mental health, we recognize that during this time period 50 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: there are many individuals who have suffered from a mental 51 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: health perspective, and certainly our men are no different, and 52 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: they will play better as a result of being able 53 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: to sort of offload some of those things and then 54 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: making sure that they're developed for the next stage in 55 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,559 Speaker 1: their career so that we're giving them opportunities, we're exposing 56 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: them to business experts. And so even at All Star 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: this year, we have the opportunity to do a bus 58 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: as Titan dinner and we had Michael Rubin and Robert 59 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: Kraft and Magic Johnson and David Solomon from Goldman Sachs, 60 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: all of those individuals there to share some of their 61 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: wisdom and to be mentors to our executive committee and 62 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: to some of our players. So that's really where the 63 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: focus is. Ostensibly from the outside, the labor relationship between 64 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: the players association and the NBA and owners and the 65 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: commissioner seems to be the best far and above all 66 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: the other major sports. Why do you think that is now? 67 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: I think it is because we are all working towards 68 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: one collective goal. Right. We see the players certainly as 69 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: the biggest asset, and so clearly are the league and 70 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: the owners have recognized that, and there is a tendency 71 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: and thought that all boats can rise in this instance, right, 72 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: And so I think that's part of it. I also 73 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: think sort of living through COVID has taught us all 74 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: a lot, and we recognize that we can do so 75 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: much more together um and better if we're together as 76 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: opposed to sort of running at it apart. And so 77 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,119 Speaker 1: I am grateful to have inherited is such a great relationship. 78 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: But it's also a relationship that I think we are 79 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: really focused on the players and how they're going to 80 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: continue to grow, not only financially, but also from a 81 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: development standpoint as well. Jamica, I want to ask about 82 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: increased heckling um from fans towards players, something that that 83 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: happens here at home, and it's something that we've talked 84 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: about with Michelle Roberts in the past. What is what's 85 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: you're thinking in terms of how to address this besides 86 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:34,679 Speaker 1: asking some of the spectators to just leave the arenas. Yeah, 87 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: so you are right, Scarlett, and it is it really 88 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: sends me to think about the experiences that our players 89 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: have gone through, even as of late, as you know, Um, 90 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: I think that we really need to change that and 91 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: obviously do more than just you know, make it such 92 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: that they can't attend games. Obviously not just that game, 93 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: but certainly for games in the future. I don't know 94 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,799 Speaker 1: what has happened obviously in the US, I think people 95 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: are experiencing tremendous pain. I also think that people are 96 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: you know, getting out for the first time and being 97 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: amongst crowds for the first time and perhaps getting a 98 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: little carried away. Um. I also think we have to 99 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: recognize that our players are human and when things like 100 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,840 Speaker 1: that happen, it is very human to respond in such 101 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: a way, right, And so I think the increased penalties 102 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: and signs that we've seen for our players as a 103 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: result of responding to it, we have to be a 104 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: little bit more considerate about that because I think it 105 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: has gotten out of hand and to date, you know, 106 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: the people who are suffering, certainly from a financial standpoint, 107 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: are our players, while they also have been sort of 108 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: ridiculed and embarrassed and heckled and you know in public. Um, 109 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: those things are really really challenging for us to make 110 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: because there's, uh, the landscape is so different even in 111 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: what it was three years ago. Now we've got crypto 112 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: currency to deal with, we've got legalized gambling, and thirty 113 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: of fifty states so far. How do guide your players, 114 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: especially the young players that are coming into the league, 115 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: through all these mine fields. Yes, it is quite a bit, 116 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: and I will say, you know, we are we will 117 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: be guiding each other because as you can imagine, it 118 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: is very different than even sort of six months ago 119 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: I had anticipated. I will tell you ironically, during the 120 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: interview process, I remember Grant Williams asking me about the 121 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: tax treatment of cryptocurrency, and I thought, oh, my gosh, 122 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: look at what I'm going to be experiencing. They are 123 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: brilliant and they're already thinking about these things and the 124 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: impact that it will have some I know, can you imagine. 125 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: It was really really amazing, But it also cued me 126 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: that this was something that I was going to have 127 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: to be well versed in but recognizing that it is 128 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: different not only for our players but everyone. We host 129 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: a number of sessions courses throughout the year where we 130 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: are taking those opportunities to educate them. So when I 131 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: talked about you know, the three things that are priority, 132 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: development is one of them, and so that requires additional education, right, 133 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: I think you know, they all recognize that they want 134 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: to be learning. And that's the thing that excites me 135 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: the most is that they're looking for opportunities to learn. 136 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: So while our executive committee members and our border player 137 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: representatives are really our business titans, there are so many 138 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: that are within this the league that really want to 139 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: be focused on additional learning. So we offer those opportunities 140 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: in our summer meetings during our career planning process. So 141 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: there's been a lot around that. For certain, I want 142 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: to talk about women putting a what for and why 143 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: whipping on the sports business world because I have and 144 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: I'm very happy to see it. And where do you 145 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: see that going down the road and all those well 146 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: I can't say that word. All those stereotypes are just 147 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: getting shattered. Uh where do you see you going? Yeah? Well, 148 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: for certain, we all know that if you can see 149 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: it you can be it right, and I think for certain, 150 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: as we see more women in these roles, we recognize 151 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: that it also makes it such that other women, other girls, 152 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: believe it to be possible, and so I think that 153 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: that is phenomenal. I will also tell you, just like 154 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: I am not the first in this situation, I am 155 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: incredibly proud to be the second, and I hope there 156 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: will be a third and a fourth. And so you know, 157 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: one of the things that I think will be so 158 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: inspiring as we stopped saying the first right, and that 159 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: we are seeing this more often because we recognize that 160 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: other individuals can do this, and little girls can dream 161 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: about doing things differently than than perhaps I had the 162 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: opportunity to dream about. At some point there will be 163 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: a first woman head coach as well in the n 164 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: b A. What are what do you think the players? 165 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: How do you think they would contend with that or 166 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: is that something that they want? Has this come up 167 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: at all in any of your discussions with the players, 168 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: You know, it has not come up directly in my discussions. However, 169 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: you can see that they are very open to it 170 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: right based on what well, because they have hired Michelle 171 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: in this role they hired me in this role. So 172 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: think they're seeing that obviously, women can be in leadership roles. 173 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: They're seeing that women can be great coaches. We have 174 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: seen it already, you know, at the collegiate level, obviously, 175 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: women taking on head coach positions. Last night, I was 176 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: actually at the game and they were honoring HBCUs and 177 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: they showed um Tuskegee and the first female coach of 178 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: their football team. Like, those are things that you're gonna 179 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: you're seeing, and certainly our men are incredibly supportive of that. 180 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 1: They're supportive of seeing women in leadership roles for certain um, 181 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: but they also are supportive even of our w n 182 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: b A UM their colleagues. They do a lot to 183 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: make sure that they're engaged with them and that they're 184 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: lifting them up. So I think this is just going 185 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: to be one of those things that will happen as 186 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: a result of that. I just want to pick up 187 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: on the w n b A thing. It's on my 188 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: notes right here. Does the w n B A need 189 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: the NBA to be more proactive in order to thrive? Well, 190 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,079 Speaker 1: when you say more proactive, what do you mean by that? 191 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: And they be more supportive or no, I think the 192 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: league as a whole, not not not the players have 193 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: financial support, um public support of promos, partnerships, right, yes, 194 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: attending games, doing promos with with the members of the 195 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: NBA and the w n b A together to bring 196 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,599 Speaker 1: more awareness, to bring more people into the seats and 197 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: more eyeballs to the television sets. You are absolutely right 198 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: when we recognize that, Mike, that that is something that 199 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: we really need to do and to be focused on. 200 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: And our men are already doing it right. They are 201 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: attending the games, they're participating in joint marketing events. I 202 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: know you've probably seen commercials as of late that have 203 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: not only been with our men, but they've been with 204 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 1: the women as well, and so that is a significant 205 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: part of it. But even here in our office, we 206 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: share our services, we think about things together, we go 207 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 1: to market together, we look for opportunities that we can 208 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: do things jointly. So there is no question that not 209 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: only you know, I wouldn't say that they absolutely have 210 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: to have us, but I think with us being a 211 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: part of them, that is significant and I think has 212 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: made a huge difference in their success as well. Jamika, 213 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: thank you so much. That's Tamika Tremalio, the NBA Players 214 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: Union executive. On the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, I'm 215 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: Michael Barr, along with Scarlett Fu and Mike Lynch. Catch 216 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 1: us here each and every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday exploring 217 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: the world of money in sports, and catch me on 218 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: Twitter at Big Bar Sports. I'm on Twitter at Scarlett 219 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: Fou and I'm Mike Lynch at Lynch w CDP. You're 220 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around 221 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 1: the world.