1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 2: Hi everyone, welcome to the deal. I'm Jason Kelly alongside 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 2: my partner Alex Rodriguez. All right, Ar, you are headed 4 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: to the Olympics. I'm very excited for you, a little 5 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: bit jealous. Tell me your mindset sort of going into this. 6 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 2: I mean, you're an excellent athlete yourself. I mean this 7 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: is literally the pinnacle of athletic achievement. 8 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. 9 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 3: I'm very, very excited, Jason, because look, I've only been 10 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 3: retired eight or nine years, and my mindset is I'm 11 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:44,639 Speaker 3: going to go back to being a ten year old 12 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 3: and I'm a novice here. Yeah, and we're talking about swimming, 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 3: track and field. Obviously basketball. We have a lot of 14 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 3: our guys there from the timber Wolves. I'm going to 15 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 3: go there just as a fan. 16 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: And that's it. 17 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 4: Yeah. 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 2: Historically, just speaking of basketball pacifically, some of the most 19 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: iconic moments, especially for American athletes, have been around basketball, 20 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: men's and women's. You know, you think about the Dream Team, 21 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: you think about the ninety six women's team. It's a 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 2: big deal for basketball because EDBA is a pretty big stage. 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,919 Speaker 2: But the Olympics, there's something different to play for, especially 24 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: because oftentimes you could be playing against a teammate or 25 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: certainly playing against a rival in an entirely different context totally. 26 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 3: And what I'm really excited about is, at least thinking 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 3: from being part of the Timberwles family, is I remember 28 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,199 Speaker 3: Jason nineteen ninety six was my first All Star Game. 29 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 3: And there's one thing about being one of seven hundred 30 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 3: and fifty players in the big leagues. The other one 31 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 3: is being one of fifty that made it to the 32 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 3: All Star Game and being in that platform where the 33 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 3: whole baseball communities watching. And I remember when Kyle Ripken 34 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 3: came to me for the very first time. Oh my god, 35 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 3: I felt like I met Messiah. And I was so 36 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 3: excited and I was just so giddy. But what it 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 3: did for my confidence it was like a four or 38 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 3: five X. Leaving that place, I felt like, Wow, now 39 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 3: I belong. I saw that a little bit with Anthony 40 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 3: Edwards last year, coming up the Olympics, playing with great coaches, 41 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 3: great players, a great atmosphere, very competitive. I saw his 42 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 3: growth and I'm really excited to see how well he 43 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 3: plays there, how he contributes, and even more importantly, how 44 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 3: he comes back and keeps developing his great young career. 45 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and as you said, I mean basketball is only 46 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 2: a piece of what you're going to see. I mean, 47 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: you know, I did this piece last year about Alison 48 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 2: Felix and hearing her talk about, you know, running a 49 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: race and then having to wait essentially four years to 50 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: prove yourself again. 51 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a crazy amount of pressure. 52 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 2: You played in this for where it's like, well, there's 53 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: gonna be another at that, you know, probably in twenty minutes. 54 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 4: You know. 55 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: Can you imagine having to wait four years before you 56 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: prove yourself again. 57 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: It's just crazy. 58 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 4: Yeah. 59 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 3: You know, I've talked to a lot of the stars 60 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: that run track and I thought it kind of hit 61 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 3: home when one of the stars that I spoke to said, look, 62 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 3: I trained four years for ten seconds, and that really 63 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 3: brought it to perspective. You can't trip false start, you 64 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 3: hurt yourself and it happens all the time, and the 65 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 3: amount of pressure is just like none other in any 66 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 3: other sport than going to the Olympics every four years. 67 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: And then I think about what a game changer either 68 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 2: being successful in the Olympics, you know, winning a gold 69 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: medal obviously changes the entire trajectory of your life and 70 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: certainly in the in the short and midterm, but also 71 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 2: just like having a memorable performance can put you at 72 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: a level you weren't before in terms of making deals, 73 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: in terms of, you know, the rest of your career. 74 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 2: If you are a gold medalist or a medalist, probably 75 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: you have a different path. There's a moment for athletic excellence, 76 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: but there's also a moment too, I mean, not to 77 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: be so crass about it, to grow your brand, you know, 78 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 2: to sort of put your yourself out on this global stage. 79 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: You know, hundreds of millions, billions of people watching you perform, 80 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: not just in your home country but around the world. 81 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: That could really change the trajectory of your business career, 82 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: in your life. 83 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I can just think about as you're speaking, 84 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 3: I'm thinking about being a kid and looking at Mary 85 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 3: lu Gymnastics, and then you know, for the next four 86 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 3: years she was in every cover. We were eating her cereal, 87 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 3: we were drinking her milk. It was just incredible. Whether 88 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 3: it's Carl Lewis, whether it's Jackie Joyner, Kersey. I can 89 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: just think about all these icons that were really born 90 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 3: out of these Olympic games, and not only that, Jason, 91 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 3: but something for athletes to watch. 92 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: A lot of them are. 93 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 3: Known for what they've done on the course or on 94 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 3: the track, or on the field or on the court. 95 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 3: But also you've got to be careful off the court 96 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 3: or off the field because there's been some controversial stuff 97 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 3: that you have to be able to represent the United States. 98 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 3: And never forget that while your name is in the back, 99 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 3: you're also representing those three letters across your chest, and 100 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 3: is really important to be dissip and your best behavior 101 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 3: and focus on the sport at hand, because there's a 102 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,239 Speaker 3: lot of eyeballs to your point. 103 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, here's hoping that the Paris goes okay. 104 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 4: All right. 105 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: So when we talk about the world and we talk 106 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: about basketball, a guy who you and I both know 107 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: very well, I just spent a bunch of time with 108 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 2: over the past year. He's the subject of a new 109 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: episode of our power Player series here at Bloomberg Originals. 110 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: The stuff that I do when I'm not talking to you, 111 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: Messiah Jerry so Massa's name is synonymous with excellence and 112 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 2: really pioneering in the world of basketball. So he was 113 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: named general manager of the Denver Nuggets back in twenty eleven, 114 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: becoming the first African GM in pro sports, and then 115 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 2: in twenty thirteen, Massai became the executive vice president and 116 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 2: GM of the Toronto Raptors and now he's the president 117 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: of that organization. His impact there has been profound. He 118 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 2: revamped the team, brought in key players, and his most 119 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 2: notable achievement, of course, came in twenty nineteen when the Raptors, 120 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: under his leadership, when their first ever NBA championship. But 121 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: he's actually using basketball to extend his influence. He's also 122 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 2: a dedicated philanthropist and through his Giants of Africa organization, 123 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 2: he's empowering African youth through sports and education. He is 124 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 2: well known to you, but I'm more interested in your 125 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: view of Massai because you've seen him do his thing. 126 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 3: I have, and that's why I thought your piece was extraordinary. Congrats. 127 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 3: It felt like you were there for a month. I'm like, Jason, 128 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 3: when did you spend a month there? It was really 129 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 3: well done. I'm sure you had great partners help you 130 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 3: to produce that as well. But that's why it's so 131 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: important to show and not just tell. And I think 132 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 3: you and your producers did a fantastic job of showing 133 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 3: us all the promise how bullish. 134 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: People are about it. 135 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 3: I recently had a conversation with Michael Milkin actually in Atlanta. 136 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 3: We were doing a philanthropic event, and he told me 137 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 3: that he is most bullish in the continent of Africa 138 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 3: that is growing at a pace that reminds him of 139 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 3: Asia and China a little bit ago and some of 140 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 3: the limitations that they have in China, as he said, 141 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 3: has really made Africa like the top growing in population. 142 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 3: And if you're an investor, whether it's basketball or baseball, 143 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 3: sports or infrastructure or real estate, Africa is the right 144 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 3: place to be because one of the most growing places 145 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 3: in the world. 146 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, one of the things that Massi is 147 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: clearly working on is how do you use basketball for 148 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: economic good on the continent of Africa. It's building courts, 149 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 2: but it's also being very embedded in the community. And 150 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: one of the things that Massi says in this piece, 151 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: there are very few people who ultimately can be professional athletes. 152 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: It's like a percent of a percent of a percent, 153 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: and yet there are more people who can be in. 154 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: Jobs like Massi's job. 155 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 2: You know, he's the first to say he wanted to 156 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: be a basketball player, he ended up being a scout, 157 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: and then he ended up being an executive and now 158 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: he's running a team. 159 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: And so this notion of, you know. 160 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: A career path built around sports. You and I see 161 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: it all the time in these massive ecosystems are building up, 162 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: and so it's interesting to see that ecosystem applied to 163 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,679 Speaker 2: a massive economic project, as you say, like Africa. 164 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think what Massia is really kind of going 165 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 3: to school on is he's seeing what the Lakers have 166 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 3: done with La Live, you know, basically building an entire 167 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 3: infrastructure around the Laker brand and the King's brand. In hockey, 168 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 3: You're seeing what West Sedens and Mark Laswy have done 169 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 3: with the Milwaukee Bucks and building that great stadium. You 170 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 3: see what's going on in your hometown with the Atlanta Braves, 171 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 3: I mean, is an absolute juggernaut what they've built around 172 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 3: that stadium, selling out every day. Obviously they brought a 173 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 3: world title. But I also think that what he's doing 174 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 3: that is really smart Jason, is he's bringing greatness to 175 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 3: these young people out there. It gave me truendous hope. 176 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,439 Speaker 3: And Messiah is doing that exact same thing in Africa, 177 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 3: by bringing the Obamas, by bringing some of his players, 178 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 3: some retired players. That's even as important as building. As 179 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: he said on that piece, the goal he's got twenty 180 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 3: nine courts. The goal is to build one hundred. My 181 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 3: prediction is who build a thousand in the next decade. 182 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 183 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And I think that this notion of using sports 184 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,239 Speaker 2: for economic development but also for diplomacy. 185 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: You know, this is a guy you alluded to it. 186 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 2: He's tight with Obama, and Obama been together on the 187 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 2: continent unveiling courts. He is friendly with Prime Minister Trudeau 188 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 2: in Canada. He's obviously tight with Paul Kagame, the president 189 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: of Rwanda, has done a lot there, and his relationships 190 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 2: across the continent and candidly at the United Nations and 191 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 2: elsewhere are unparalleled. 192 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: So Power Players, Messiah Jerry, check. 193 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 2: It out and I'm glad you enjoyed it, Alex, Welcome 194 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: back to the deal. Well, as I was just telling Alex, 195 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: I was really excited to do this episode of Power 196 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 2: Players about Messiu Jerry. This is a legendary figure in 197 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: the the NBA, and he's legendary not just for what 198 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: he's done with the Raptors. He won a championship in 199 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, the only international franchise in the NBA. But 200 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: along the way over the past twenty years, Massai has 201 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 2: set up this organization called Giants of Africa. I wanted 202 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 2: to know what it was all about, so I actually 203 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: went to Kagali, Rwanda, and in part because he was 204 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: putting on a twentieth anniversary festival, he brought together players 205 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 2: from all across the continent. There was a massive concert, 206 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 2: there was a big community service element, and we went 207 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: to all of it. So here's my conversation with Messiah Jerry. 208 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 2: You're gonna hear some traffic and people passing back and 209 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 2: forth in the background. I started off by asking him 210 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 2: how it all came to be. 211 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 4: We started this thing, you know, doing basketball camps, and 212 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 4: that was it. We did basketball camp. We tried to 213 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 4: come and affect kids in Nigeria. This thought for me 214 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 4: came from being a director in the Basketball Without Borders 215 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 4: program and that program brought one hundred kids from all 216 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 4: over Africa to Johannesburg for basketball fundamentals camps and then 217 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 4: community work. And I started to think, okay for doing 218 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 4: this whole big thing, let me take it to my country, 219 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 4: which was Nigeria. It really started Giants of Africa then, 220 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 4: and my eyes began to open a little bit. You know, 221 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 4: you do basketball camps and clinics, but there's so much 222 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 4: around it, and you come and you start to teach 223 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 4: the kids life skills, you know, beyond time, all the 224 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 4: things respect women and respect women and all the things 225 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 4: that we want to really like embrace and teach this youth. 226 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 4: But how are you teaching this youth? These boys, You're 227 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 4: telling them to go do something when there's no girls. 228 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 4: So we started now incorporating girls into the camp, and 229 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 4: you start preaching equality. Same shoes, same gear, same everything 230 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 4: to play on the court. You see it here, it's 231 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 4: the same. And that became big for us. Then we 232 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,679 Speaker 4: started to go into communities. Communities were not so privileged, 233 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 4: whether it's slumps, whether it's war torn areas, a lot 234 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 4: of places where the youth are playing or trying to 235 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 4: play the game, but they're not encouraged as much. I 236 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 4: had some issues, a little bit of issues with facilities 237 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,839 Speaker 4: in Nigeria at the time, and one year, I think 238 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 4: two three years later, I got a little bit agitated, 239 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 4: you know, and I said I'm going to go do 240 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 4: it in another country. So I chose my mom's country, 241 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 4: Kenya and went to do camps in Kenya. It just 242 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 4: became so fulfilling to go into these countries and to 243 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 4: be welcomed, you know, like through sports. And once I 244 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 4: went into my mom's country Kenya, we found out that, 245 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 4: you know, it's not difficult actually to like go into 246 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 4: these countries because you are coming in the name of sports. 247 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 4: And so we started going into different countries and that's 248 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 4: how like Giants of Africa started to grow and become bigger. 249 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 2: So this notion of going country to country was not 250 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 2: the initial idea, but then it gains momentum. 251 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 5: It feels like it gained like incredible momentum, and you know, 252 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 5: social media is now starting to really become popular and 253 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 5: people see that Yura in Kenya, you're in Nigeria, all 254 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 5: of a sudden, everybody wants you to come to their country. 255 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 4: Then it starts to get bigger. Now we're going to five, six, 256 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 4: seven countries, while going into all these slumps, while going 257 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 4: into all these refugee camps, we're going into a lot 258 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 4: of war to one areas and really like encouraging the 259 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 4: youth which are so fulfilling for us, and that's how 260 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 4: it started to grow. 261 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: It's interesting too to think about today you're the president 262 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 2: of the team. You have a lot of influence across 263 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: the NBA and across global basketball, including through Giants of Africa. 264 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,239 Speaker 2: But then your scout, you know, it's like you're an executive, 265 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 2: but you're not sort of a big wig in the NBA. 266 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: What gave you the confidence that, like, you could do this, 267 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: that you could affect this change. 268 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 4: Well, maybe the best thing I ever discovered, like that 269 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 4: helped me in my career was the confidence in the 270 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 4: continent and the confidence in the talent in the continent. 271 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 4: And if we grew the game, you know, the spotlight 272 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 4: will start to come to this continent, but we have 273 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 4: to grow it. There are no courts, there are no facilities, 274 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 4: coaching is it's okay, it needs help. And I combined 275 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 4: that so that was almost my day job, and the 276 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 4: nighttime was studying the NBA and learning the NBA. So 277 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 4: the business side of the NBA, salary cap of the 278 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 4: NBA side of the NBA, how it works, you know, 279 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 4: in the league, and then you pour your passion into 280 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 4: the game. Yeah, and when it all combines, I think 281 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 4: you find more where you see that. Yeah, growing slowly, 282 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 4: but the ultimate is what you say is the eye 283 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 4: for the talent is that thing that keeps you in 284 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 4: every gym for hours watching trying to figure out these 285 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 4: guys good enough to play in the MBA. And a 286 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 4: lot of my focus was that when we first started, 287 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 4: how do you find talent for the NBA, because that's 288 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 4: my number one job. This is the one that has 289 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 4: to pay for the camp. 290 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: Talk to me about that, I because I mean clearly 291 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 2: that's the talent and talent assessment, talent discovery, that's your 292 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 2: through line. Talk to me about discovering that in yourself. 293 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: You started as a player, go to Europe. You realize 294 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 2: I'm using your own words that like, you're not going 295 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 2: to make it as a as a player in the NBA, 296 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: but you've got something. 297 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 4: It takes networking with people, It takes one to learn more. 298 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 4: You have to be a listener, you have to watch. 299 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 4: You almost have to give yourself up, and I gave 300 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 4: myself up. But the passion, if you show more passion 301 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 4: than ambition, you'll go places, especially if you because you 302 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 4: try to be good at it and God study a lot. 303 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 4: I tell you that a lot, you know, instead of 304 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 4: always looking at that position I want to be vice 305 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 4: president or I want to be director, or I want 306 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 4: to be this. How do you push yourself to be that? 307 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 4: Where does that come from? 308 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: Is that just something that's in you? 309 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 4: Is something you learn from your parents? 310 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: Like? 311 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: Where does that come from? 312 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 4: I think my parents, I honestly think my parents. My 313 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 4: dad was that way, is so passionate about what he did, 314 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 4: so good to people, honest to people. And then my 315 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 4: mom on her side, she was the same way, but 316 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 4: she was a little bit more fierce, And I think 317 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 4: that I kind of like figured out a way to 318 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 4: balance both of them, because you need to be fierce, 319 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 4: you need to command, you need to be confident, and 320 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:04,959 Speaker 4: you need to be bold. 321 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 2: One of the things that falls under this sort of 322 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,719 Speaker 2: advantage that you clearly have that you bring to the table, 323 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 2: this talent assessment, talent identification. It's especially interesting to think 324 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 2: about the NBA because it's such a player driven league 325 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 2: and so you have these big personalities, you have these 326 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: sort of personnel decisions that literally fall to you and 327 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 2: have for a long time. 328 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 6: What do you make of that? 329 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 2: Especially in the NBA as it has become so player 330 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 2: driven and us seeing a lot of evidence of that 331 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 2: in your career. 332 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 4: I think it's a player's league, you know, like I 333 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 4: truly respect that. It is about the players. They make 334 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 4: the league. They play and so talented, they have unbelievable personalities, 335 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 4: unbelievable style. They all come from different backgrounds and that's 336 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 4: so unique. You know. We can never be in that position, 337 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 4: and I never think about it like that, yea. So 338 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,719 Speaker 4: I really respect that about the NBA because we have 339 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 4: an advantage, a huge, huge advantage. Think about the screens 340 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 4: and think about the big screens that you have, and 341 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 4: when you are watching sports, the NBA has the biggest, 342 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 4: biggest advantage. Sometimes you have this big TV and you're 343 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 4: watching Lebron James and now with technology, you almost feel 344 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 4: like you're playing with him. You can't do that in 345 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 4: any other sport. In hockey they have helmets. In football, 346 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 4: they have helmets, so sometimes you don't even know who 347 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 4: the player is. It's not a nock to them or 348 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 4: you know, but that's just reality. And then in the 349 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 4: other ones in baseball and soccer, they are so far 350 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 4: out in the field, yeah that you know, sometimes it's 351 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 4: not as interactive, you know, like as basketball can be. 352 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 4: So it's about the players. For me, I really embraced 353 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 4: at one hundred percent. There's no day any day I've 354 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 4: ever thought, you know, Okay, let's do it this way, 355 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 4: you know, like no, Yeah, the players are the focus 356 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 4: of the NBA. 357 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 2: So if you think about the place that maybe furthest 358 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 2: away physically and almost figuratively from Kagali, Rwanda, it's Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 359 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 2: And so I went there because that's massis natural habitat. 360 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 2: These days, he's the president of the Raptors, and what 361 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 2: he's doing there in the only international franchise in the 362 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 2: NBA is creating a team that in some ways models 363 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: what he's trying to create through all his work in 364 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 2: Giants of Africa. 365 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 4: When I came here the first time to work for 366 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 4: Brian Colangelo as the RTOR of Global Scouting, and I've 367 00:19:55,359 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 4: started going to games, you see the diverse atmosphere, not 368 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 4: just at the games, but in the city. And then 369 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 4: I looked at this platform and you see how unique 370 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 4: it is that it's the only team that's outside the NBA. 371 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 4: You can see the rest of the world, including the USA, 372 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 4: you know, like from maybe a little bit above and 373 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 4: depends on what lens you use, and you can use 374 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 4: any marketing, branding partnerships, anything you look at. It's a 375 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 4: gold mine, yeah, because we're almost competing with twenty nine 376 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 4: teams from the outside, yes, and twenty nine teams are 377 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 4: competing for the same thing, you know, like, and we 378 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 4: just have this huge platform where we can look at Asia, 379 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 4: we can look at Europe, we can look at the Americas, 380 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 4: we can look at Africa, and we can really really 381 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 4: like create a special platform here. I don't think it 382 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 4: has been figured out by NBA players yet, but it 383 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 4: will be. It will be. There's something special about here. 384 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 4: I always wonder from the championship year in twenty nineteen, 385 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 4: how many young kids, including my son who's eight years old, 386 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 4: now started to play basketball because of that championship and 387 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 4: because of what it brought this whole country. A lot 388 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:30,199 Speaker 4: of programs have emerged, blowing up, and that matters a 389 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 4: lot in sports. 390 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 2: You mentioned several different players, you know who've been so 391 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 2: meaningful to this organization. 392 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 6: You have deep, long standing relationships with a lot of them. 393 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 2: One of the things that's happened in the intervening times 394 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 2: since we've seen each other is that you ended up 395 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: trading at a player who was so you know, dear 396 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 2: to this organization, dear to you in Pascal Siakam, tell 397 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 2: me about that, not necessarily from a business perspective, but 398 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 2: from a MESSI perspective. I mean, you were emotional publicly 399 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: about it. What was what was. 400 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: That like for you? 401 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,159 Speaker 4: Not just Pascal, but all these players, you know, like 402 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 4: you almost serve as a mentor to them if you 403 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 4: have been honest you try to be in this business 404 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 4: is the way I've always dealt with them, straightforward, honest. 405 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 4: And then I'll go back to the global perspective. Now. 406 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 4: I think at the press conference, somebody asked me, you know, 407 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 4: like what at the moment you remember, you know, like 408 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 4: with Pascal and I think of, you know, the championship 409 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 4: and US putting, or the Nigerian flag he wore, the 410 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 4: Cameroon and young flag and Searge I had a flag 411 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 4: of the Congo and I think of what it's meant. Yeah, 412 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 4: two African youth, you know, to see this happen in 413 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 4: real life and really really really happened to people that 414 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 4: grew up on the continent, our dreams where the NBA 415 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 4: we fulfilled it and even reached the highest level like together. 416 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 4: That is incredibly meaningful, you know, like for me because 417 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 4: some way, somehow I know myself and Pascal and og 418 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 4: and Sergey Baka. We want the youth on the continent 419 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 4: to come along, Yeah, to come along. And that's where 420 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 4: I talk about winning on the court and winning off 421 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 4: the court and how you bring people along. It's not 422 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 4: easy and I understand business and trust me how I can. 423 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 4: There's a ruthless yeah, but the human aspect of this, 424 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 4: of everything in sports, I truly adore. Yeah, I respect, 425 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 4: but it doesn't mean I'm not true ruthless businessman. Also, yeah, 426 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 4: I see the youth. I see this basketball players on 427 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 4: where they come from. It's meaningful. 428 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 2: As we're talking about the NBA, there's also this massive 429 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: global ambition. Of course we saw it obviously on display, 430 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 2: you know, with the work that you're doing in Africa. 431 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 2: We see the BA l we see NBA Africa, we 432 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 2: see what's happening in other countries. 433 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 6: What's next for that? From you? 434 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 2: You're a primary architect ofness. You manage the only international 435 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 2: franchise you have, Giants of Africa. What needs to happen 436 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 2: next to really grow the NBA globally and what's the 437 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 2: reasoning behind it. 438 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 4: Well, if you're asking me for my dreams, yes, yeah, 439 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 4: like teams outside the United States, I think in Europe. 440 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 4: I think one day that's going to come, I hope, 441 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 4: because the game has just grown incredibly well, I think 442 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 4: over one hundred players from outside the United States in 443 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 4: the NBA now. The NBA creating that league, the Basketball 444 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 4: Africa League, to me is a huge eye opener because 445 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 4: when you look at talent all over the world, there 446 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 4: is a chance even if it's like this little yeah, 447 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 4: I can't really think in my head that I saw 448 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 4: Joel in bid sitting down the basketball camp in Africa 449 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 4: and how many years ago and that same kid will 450 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 4: be the MVP of the league and will score seventy 451 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 4: points a couple of days ago in a game. You 452 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 4: saw him when he was a kid, Yes, yes, he 453 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 4: was in Basketball without Borders. But who are the top 454 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 4: five players in the NBA now, you know, like in 455 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 4: the in the MVP race, I think, you know, like 456 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 4: it's indeed, it's your kids, it's Luca, it's Shay Gilchris Alexander. 457 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 4: You know, they are international players, you know, And so 458 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 4: look at the movement with Canada basketball and what they 459 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 4: did in the Olympics, there's just an emergence and it 460 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 4: can't be seen as a gimmick anymore. For me. We 461 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 4: have to develop it even more. And it's going to 462 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 4: come from I think the bottom, which is whether it's 463 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 4: Giants of Africa or Seeds or any of these programs, 464 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 4: the junior NBA, and then from the top, which is 465 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 4: the league's the business of basketball, because in other parts 466 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 4: of the world we have to see sports as a business, 467 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 4: not just competition. 468 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 2: Right, and that's seems to be such a critical piece 469 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 2: of this, which is to ensure that it can be 470 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 2: its own business. You know, bal has run in I 471 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 2: mean they are showing it is a tough business to 472 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:14,679 Speaker 2: stand that up. You know, multi country, all the things 473 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 2: that are happening. What needs to happen to ensure that 474 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:19,199 Speaker 2: business side really gets taken care of. 475 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 4: We have to educate more on the continent. Yeah, we 476 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 4: really do. And all people need to do is see 477 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 4: something happen. People are not going to understand the benefits 478 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 4: of the Basketball Africa League till three, four, five years 479 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 4: from now because we can't talk about it as a template. 480 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 4: We can't talk about it as a presentation. We have 481 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 4: to talk about it, you know, like as something that 482 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 4: is happening, and then people can see we have to 483 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 4: build infrastructure. Yeah, what President Kagami did has done in Rwanda. 484 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 4: Way he came here in twenty sixteen and watch the 485 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 4: All Star Game and put his head down and said 486 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 4: to me, you know, this is incredible. How do you 487 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 4: get this kind of arena in Africa when you think 488 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 4: about entertainment, when you think about music, sports, this whole ecosystem. 489 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 4: We need infrastructure on the continent. And it's coming slowly 490 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 4: because as soon as we get infrastructure on the continent, 491 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 4: it's over. Yeah. Where these artists Da Vido and Tia 492 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 4: Savage and Bruna Boy and Whisked and I can keep 493 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:34,880 Speaker 4: naming them, and where they can go and play and 494 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 4: tour on the continent. Sports is being played home and 495 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 4: away in different parts. Now you're building a business. Now 496 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 4: you're building an ecosystem that has to sustain. Yeah, and 497 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 4: now companies, partnerships, businesses start putting money into this, the 498 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 4: eye is going to open. So the main step now 499 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 4: for us is to build this infrastructure around the continent. 500 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 6: Right, and so you obviously deeply believe this. 501 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 2: Do you feel that the rest of the NBA is 502 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 2: buying in, and not just from the league perspective, but 503 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 2: other owners, other executives. Are they committed to this global growth? 504 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 2: Do you think to the extent that they need to be? 505 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 4: I think they are, and I think we need to 506 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 4: educate more too. You know, like a lot of people, 507 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 4: when you think about Africa, I say it in the 508 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 4: most humble way and I say it in the most 509 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 4: respectful way. A lot of people think about Africa. I 510 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 4: think Safari. Yeah, they think, oh, we have to donate 511 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 4: ten dollars of people suffering. Yeah, but you don't think 512 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 4: about the rising population, the youthful population, the demographic organization, 513 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 4: cities becoming bigger. There's so much going on, you know, 514 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 4: like on the continent, real estate is growing, banking is growing, 515 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 4: technology is growing. Yeah. I want sports to grow. Yeah. 516 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,959 Speaker 4: I want sports to be big up because we have talent. Yeah. 517 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 2: Is there a world in the near future where Joel 518 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 2: embiid Pscal Siakam you can be Matumbo of the next 519 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: generation play in Africa. They don't come to you, They 520 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 2: don't come to the NBA. 521 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 4: I see that world in football and in basketball, and 522 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 4: I'm hoping it happens before why I leave this world. Yeah, yeah, 523 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 4: I can't tell you when it's going to happen, but 524 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 4: it is going to happen. Yeah. It's the same thing 525 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:44,720 Speaker 4: as everything you think of is the same thing as technology, phones, arena, 526 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 4: Everything that's here is going to go there, right, Yes, 527 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 4: every single thing. The most difficult part of all of 528 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 4: this is talent. Yeah, so we can't do all of this, 529 00:30:57,720 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 4: you know, like we can go and put a gym here, 530 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 4: do everything we want to do, or where's the talent 531 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 4: in Africa? It's walking around every single place you look. Yeah, 532 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,200 Speaker 4: you know, like that talent is not going anywhere. It's 533 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 4: continuing to produce because of the demographic is continuing to grow. 534 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 4: So every camp we go, there's brand new kids, there's 535 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 4: brand new basketball players, there's brand new soccer players. It's amazing. 536 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 4: Go watch American football now and tell me in any 537 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 4: game you go watch now, how many African names And 538 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 4: it's not even played in Africa. Yeah, imagine if it 539 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 4: was a physical sport like that. Yeah, Africa's talent is 540 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 4: its people, you know, like and I think, yeah, the 541 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 4: jew on the continent is is people smart, intelligent, athletic, physical, 542 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 4: everything that you can think of on all different parts. 543 00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 4: But we have to take care of what you are 544 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 4: saying as the border's business. Yeah, eye opening, corruption, all 545 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:09,719 Speaker 4: those things that you know, like kind of set us 546 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 4: back sometimes. 547 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 2: So having watched you in Kakali, I mean you're all 548 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 2: in there. 549 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 6: You're, you know, the. 550 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 2: The impresario, the master reminder of everything that's going on. 551 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 6: It's easy to see your impact when you're there. 552 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 2: How do you from here ensure that that is keeping 553 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 2: going and that you're really drawing connected sort of creating 554 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 2: connective tissue between your day to day here and Giants 555 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 2: of Africa. 556 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 4: It's only one word. Winning, Yes, win, Yeah. The last 557 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 4: ten years. And opportunity the last ten years, the incredible 558 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,240 Speaker 4: opportunity that the NBA has given me out say twenty years, 559 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 4: and the organizations I've worked with, whether it was Toronto, 560 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:59,960 Speaker 4: Denver here back in Toronto, the real vision of ownership. 561 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 4: The Krunkies own Arsenal, so they see the world as global. 562 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 4: They own a lot of sports teams and I worked 563 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:12,920 Speaker 4: with them here obviously see the world, you know, like globally. 564 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 4: And so when we started to introduce Giants of Africa 565 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 4: and the work while doing on the continent and how 566 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 4: we hope this can translate to winning here. It's the 567 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 4: Pascal Siakams, you know, like it's the O g On Nonobi's, 568 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 4: it's the Joel Embiids. You know, like when you see 569 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 4: this actually go from basketball camp to NBA All NBA Player, 570 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 4: All Star NBA player, seventy point NBA player, a Championship 571 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 4: NBA player, that's real. Yeah, that's real. But I have 572 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 4: to win here and this is my job, you know, 573 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 4: Like that gives me the opportunity, Yeah, to go grow 574 00:33:55,720 --> 00:34:01,120 Speaker 4: the game, you know, globally in Africa, in Nigeria and 575 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 4: all over the world. You know, I'm a representative of 576 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 4: the NBA and I know that, you know, like and 577 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 4: I believe that. But I have to give opportunity to 578 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 4: others and it comes from winning. Whether it's the players, 579 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 4: whether it's other people in my business, whether it's other coaches. 580 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:22,880 Speaker 4: I feel we have to be in the forefront that 581 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 4: creates more opportunity. 582 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:26,759 Speaker 6: Because winning creates opportunity. 583 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 4: Is that the idea one hundred percent, one percent you 584 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 4: win on the court, you win off the court, and 585 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:37,880 Speaker 4: as you do that, it brings people along. 586 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 2: The deal is hosted by Alex Rodriguez and me Jason Kelly. 587 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 2: This episode was made by Victor Eveyes, Stacey Wong, Annamasarakus 588 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:57,640 Speaker 2: and Lizzie Phillip. Our theme music is made by Blake Maples. 589 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 2: Our executive producers are Kelly Lafair, Ashley Honig, and Brendan Newnham. 590 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 2: Sage Bauman is the head of Bloomberg Podcast. Additional support 591 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,439 Speaker 2: from Rachel Scarramazzino and Elena So Los Angeles, and part 592 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,800 Speaker 2: of this episode featured in an interview from the Power 593 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:15,319 Speaker 2: Players series. Here are the folks who are involved in that. 594 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 2: The showrunner was Tom Conners, the writer Kadiza Rivera, producer 595 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 2: Vanessa Perdomo, editor Katerina Glanz, creative director Rubob Shakir, consulting 596 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 2: producers Jennifer Zavazaja and Raymond Schillinger, editorial supervisor David E. Ravella, 597 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:36,839 Speaker 2: and executive producers Jason Kelly, Jordan Opplinger, Neville Jillette, Trey 598 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 2: Shallowhorn and Kyle Kramer. I do you have a minute, 599 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 2: subscribe rate and review our show. It really helps other 600 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 2: listeners find us. And remember, if you're a Bloomberg subscriber, 601 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 2: you can listen to all of our episodes absolutely ad free. 602 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:52,720 Speaker 2: All you need to do is find the Bloomberg channel 603 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 2: and connect your Bloomberg account with Apple Podcasts. I'm Jason Kelly. 604 00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 2: See you next week.