Who Is The Founder Of The Nba?
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946, the NBA is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada).
Jerry Reinsdorf
Jerry Reinsdorf is the current owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox. He has been the chairman of the Bulls since 1985, and the White Sox since 1981. Reinsdorf was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of George Washington University Law School.
Owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox
Jerry Reinsdorf is the owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1936, and grew up in Queens. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1954 and then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1957. After graduation, he served as an accountant for two years before returning to school to earn a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1960.
Reinsdorf began his career as a tax attorney with the firm of Sidley & Austin in Chicago. In 1966, he left Sidley to form his own law firm, Reinsdorf & Goldman. In 1968, he represented Jerry Krause in his purchase of a minority interest in the Chicago Bulls. Krause then brought Reinsdorf in as a limited partner in 1970. When Krause died in 1977, Reinsdorf became the team’s general partner and principal owner.
Under Reinsdorf’s ownership, the Bulls experienced tremendous success, winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998. The team also set an NBA record by winning 72 games during the 1995-96 season.
In 1981, Reinsdorf led a group of investors that purchased the Chicago White Sox from Bill Veeck. The team won the World Series under his ownership in 2005.
Reinsdorf has been active in both the NBA and Major League Baseball as an owner and league leader. He served as chairman of MLB’s Executive Council from 2001 to 2004 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Owners Committee in 2014. He has also been a member of the NBA Board of Governors since 1984 and served as chairman from 1999 to 2006.
Born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York
Jerry Reinsdorf was born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, George and Bessie, were Jewish immigrants from Romania. Jerry grew up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He attended PS 139 for elementary school and Wingate High School for his secondary education. Jerry went on to study at George Washington University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
After college, Jerry began his career as a tax accountant with the firm of Peat Marwick Mitchell. He later joined the law firm of Sidley & Austin, where he specialized in tax law. In 1966, Jerry Reinsdorf passed the bar exam and became a licensed attorney.
In 1968, Jerry Reinsdorf met Bob Dylan at a concert in New York City. The two men struck up a friendship, and Dylan later invited Reinsdorf to accompany him on his world tour. It was during this time that Jerry Reinsdorf first became interested in the business of sports.
In 1969, Jerry Reinsdorf married Martyl Rappaport. The couple had three children: David, Robert, and Laurel.
In 1970,Jerry Reinsdorf founded the law firm of Reinsdorf &Undefended with partner Jay Palmer. The firm specialized in tax law and sports law. In 1972, Reinsdorf & Undefended represented George Steinbrenner III in his successful bid to purchase the New York Yankees baseball team.
In 1976, Jerry Reinsdorf became chairman of Balcor Co., a real estate investment trust (REIT). He would serve as Balcor’s chairman until the company was acquired by American Express in 1982 for $584 million.
In 1981, Jerry Reinsdorf led an investment group that purchased the Chicago White Sox baseball team for $20 million dollars. The team had been losing money for years, but under Reinsdorfs ownership it turned around and began to be profitable. In 2005, Forbes magazine estimated the value of the White Sox at $511 million dollars – making it one of the most valuable franchises in Major League Baseball.
In 1984, Jerry Reinsdorfs investment group also purchased majority ownership of the Chicago Bulls basketball team from Arthur Wirtz for $16 million dollars. Like the White Sox, the Bulls had been losing money prior toReinford’s purchase but under his leadership they turned things around and became one of the most successful teams in NBA history; winning six championships between 1991 and 1998 with stars like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (as well as head coach Phil Jackson.) In 2014 Forbes magazine valuedthe franchise at $1 billion dollars – making it one ofthe most valuable NBA teams . Not badfor an investment that cost just $16 million!
Graduated from the University of Illinois in 1957
Jerry Reinsdorf (born February 25, 1936) is an American attorney, businessman, and sports executive who is the owner of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball and the former chairman of the NBA’s Board of Governors.
Reinsdorf was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Queens. He graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1954 and then enrolled at the University of Illinois. After graduating from college in 1957 with a degree in accounting, he worked as an accountant for a short time before returning to the University of Illinois for law school. Upon graduating from law school in 1960, he began his career as an attorney with the firm of Snyder & Snyder.
Walter O’Malley
Walter Francis O’Malley (October 9, 1903 – August 14, 1979) was an American businessman and Major League Baseball executive. As owner and president of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979, he oversaw the team’s move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, as well as the construction of Dodger Stadium.
Owner of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
Walter Francis O’Malley (October 9, 1903 – August 14, 1979) was an American sports executive who owned the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers team in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979.
As owner and team president of the Dodgers, he oversaw the team’s move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. He also negotiated the first television contract for the Dodgers, helping to bring baseball into the mainstream media.
Before becoming involved with baseball, O’Malley was a successful lawyer and real estate developer. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
O’Malley was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Born in 1903 in New York City
Walter O’Malley was born in 1903 in New York City to Edwin Joseph O’Malley and Mary Jane Hannon. Edwin Joseph O’Malley was an Irish American who worked as a lawyer. Mary Jane Hannon was of German descent. Walter O’Malley had two sisters: Mary and Theresa. He grew up Roman Catholic. O’Malley attended elementary school at St. Agnes Parochial School in New York City. He then attended Regis High School, a private all-male Catholic high school in Manhattan. After graduating from high school, O’Malley enrolled at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1924.
Graduated from Fordham University in 1924
Walter Francis O’Malley (January 29, 1903 – August 9, 1979) was an American sports executive. He was the principal owner and president of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers from 1950 to 1979. For this he was long vilified by Brooklyn Dodgers fans. However, Pro-baseball historians generally credit him with being one of the most influential figures in baseball history.
Maurice Podoloff
Maurice Podoloff was born in Kharkov, Russian Empire on October 29, 1890. He was the first president of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
First commissioner of the NBA
Maurice Podoloff was the first commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born in 1900 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. After graduating from law school, he started his own law practice. He also became involved in sports, especially basketball. In 1946, he was hired as the president of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which was the predecessor to the NBA. He held this position until 1963. During his time as commissioner, he oversaw the merging of the BAA and the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA. He also helped to create the NBA All-Star Game and oversaw the expansion of the league from 8 to 23 teams. He retired in 1963 and died in 1985.
Born in 1890 in Montreal, Quebec
Maurice Podoloff was born in 1890 in Montreal, Quebec. He was the only son of Russian Jewish immigrants. Podoloff grew up in Montreal and attended McGill University, where he earned a law degree. After graduation, he worked as a lawyer for a time, but eventually turned to business. In 1917, he and his brother Sam founded the National Shirt Company, which became one of the largest garment manufacturers in Canada.
In the early 1920s, Podoloff became involved in organized sports, first as a boxing promoter and then as a basketball referee. He soon began to take an active role in the administration of both sports. In 1924, he was elected president of the Canadian Boxing Association. The following year, he helped establish the Canadian Professional Basketball League, and served as its first president.
Podoloff remained active in Canadian boxing and basketball until 1929, when he relocated to New York City to become the general manager of the new American Basketball League (ABL). The ABL was short-lived, folding after just two seasons; however, Podoloff continued to work in basketball, serving as the president of another new league, the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL), from 1934 to 1936.
In August of 1936, Podoloff was elected president of the newly formed National Basketball Association (NBA). He held that position for nearly 25 years, making him the longest-serving commissioner in NBA history. During his tenure as commissioner, Podoloff oversaw the formation of several important NBA rules and regulations, including the 24-second shot clock and the creation of an official playoff system. He also played a key role in helping the NBA gain popularity with mainstream audiences; under his leadership, the league staged its first nationally televised game in 1953 and held its first All-Star Game in 1951.
Podoloff retired as NBA commissioner in 1963 and was succeeded by Walter Kennedy. He remained active in basketball until his death in 1985 at age 94. In 1988, he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Died in 1985 in Hamden, Connecticut
Maurice Podoloff (July 15, 1890 – August 10, 1985) was an American lawyer, businessman and the first president of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He helped found the NBA in 1946 and served as its first president from 1946 until his retirement in 1963.