Russ Granik | |
|---|---|
| 1st Deputy Commissioner of theNBA | |
| In office February 1, 1990 – July 1, 2006 | |
| Commissioner | David Stern |
| Succeeded by | Adam Silver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Russell T. Granik (1948-07-10)July 10, 1948 (age 77) |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Profession |
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Russell T. Granik (born July 10, 1948) is an American sports executive who served as Deputy Commissioner of theNational Basketball Association (NBA) for 22 years. During his professional career, Granik served as the announcer of second-round picks in theNBA draft and in later years, the television host of the NBA Draft Lottery.
Granik was the lead negotiator for the NBA for the past fourcollective bargaining negotiations with the NBA players' union. He also represented the league in negotiating numeroustelevision deals, and in his role with USA Basketball helped lobby FIBA, the world sanctioning body for basketball, to permit professional basketball players to play in the Olympic Games. That eligibility rule change led directly to the formation of theDream Team that represented theUnited States at the1992 Summer Olympics inBarcelona,Spain.[1] He also served as President of USA Basketball and Chairperson ofNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[2]
He retired on July 1, 2006, after 16 years with the NBA.
Granik graduatedmagna cum laude fromDartmouth College in 1969 and fromHarvard Law School.
Granik was inducted into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8, 2013, alongside basketball legends includingGary Payton,Bernard King,Rick Pitino, andJerry Tarkanian. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame byJerry Colangelo.
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