To Download a PDF of an Interview with Steve Mills, President, New York Knicks
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INTERVIEW VIEW Interview Building a INTER Basketball Team An Interview with Steve Mills, President, New York Knicks When did the game of basketball fi rst cap- tivate you? Basketball has been a part of myself and my family for as long as I can remember. My dad, Ollie, coached many high school sports on Long Island, and growing up we played every- thing, including lacrosse, baseball, basketball and football. Competing on the fi eld or the court and doing well in school was always how my entire family was defi ned. When the opportunity presented itself Newly named Knicks President Steve Mills speaking at a press conference in the summer of 2017 to come back to the organization, what made you feel the timing was right? EDITORS’ NOTE Steve Mills was named President creation of the Women’s National Basketball I had left to go out on my own. I taught at of the New York Knicks in July of 2017. He Association and served on the team responsi- Princeton, which was something I had always had returned to The Madison Square Garden ble for the negotiation of the NBA’s Collective wanted to do. I also partnered with a friend Company in September of 2013 and had served Bargaining Agreement. Mills started his to start a company to help athletes and enter- as general manager of the Knicks since March career with the NBA in 1983 as an account tainers manage their fi nancial lives and prepare 2014. A 30-plus-year veteran of the sports world, executive in the corporate sponsorship depart- themselves for after basketball. Mills’ career has included 16 years with the ment of NBA Properties. Before returning While doing that, a few jobs became National Basketball Association, where his talents to MSG, he most recently served as partner available that some people encouraged me to led to a notable ascent from account exec- and CEO of Athletes & Entertainers Wealth consider. One was to head the players asso- utive to Senior Vice President of Basketball and Management Group, LLC, a company he cre- ciation, and another was the athletic director’s Player Development. This was followed by 10 ated in 2010 that links sports and entertain- job at Princeton. At the same time, Jim Dolan years at The Madison Square Garden Company, ment stars with investment and management approached me about coming back to The where Mills had a wide range of responsibilities leaders to create new business opportuni- Garden. that included overseeing business and basket- ties. Mills earned a degree in sociology from What intrigued me most about the Knicks ball operations for the Knicks and Liberty, along Princeton University in 1981. was the opportunity, for the first time, to with business operations for the Rangers and for focus just on basketball, which is so much a all other sports-related activities at The Garden. ORGANIZATION BRIEF The New York part of who I am. The opportunity to build a Mills’ decade-long career at The Madison Square Knickerbockers (nba.com/knicks), commonly basketball team – especially the Knicks – was Garden Company included a role as president referred to as the Knicks, are an American pro- something I wanted and something I believed of MSG Sports, during which he oversaw all busi- fessional basketball team based in Manhattan. I could do. ness operations for the company’s three profes- The team, established by Ned Irish in 1946, was How critical was it to put a clear strategy sional sports teams and sports properties, which one of the founding members of the Basketball in place and to communicate that strategy included college basketball, boxing, and track Association of America (BAA), which became to all of the stakeholders? and fi eld. Mills originally joined the Knicks as the NBA after merging with the rival National In our early discussions, Jim wanted me to Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. Beginning in think through focusing on player development in September of 1999 and became President 1950, the Knicks made three consecutive appear- and how we could build an infrastructure that of Sports Teams Operations for Madison Square ances in the NBA Finals, all of which were los- allows us to be best in class in terms of how we Garden in 2001. Prior to his move to MSG, Mills ing efforts. It was not until the late 1960s that the grow our players and make them better. played an integral role in the development of the Knicks began to regain their former dominance He gave me the support to create a system National Basketball Association, where he held with two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. and structure, and the room to develop a differ- several positions with increasing responsibility, The Knicks of the 1980s had mixed success ent approach. including his last role as Senior Vice President, that included six playoff appearances; how- Is the focus more on attracting the Basketball and Player Development. His respon- ever they failed to participate in the NBA Finals. right talent or on creating the right culture? sibilities included managing the league’s rela- The playoff-level Knicks of the 1990s were led by We are in a talent business, so we need tionships with all domestic and international Patrick Ewing. During this time, they made two to have talent, but talent without structure and basketball organizations, including the NCAA appearances in the NBA Finals, in 1994 and organizational purpose doesn’t work. and USA Basketball, as well as overseeing the 1999, but were unable to win an NBA cham- Fortunately, because I have been around NBA’s developmental programs and player ini- pionship. Since 2000, the Knicks have strug- so many sports, I know it’s not only about tiatives during one of the most critical periods in gled to regain their former glory, but won its fi rst having the most skilled players to ensure win- league history. Mills also played a key role in the division title in 19 years in 2012-13. ning. It’s important to fi nd ways to develop and VOLUME 41, NUMBER 2 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2018 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 17 integrate young players to become viable development. He has a business background, Is there still a special feeling when contributors to the team. became a college head coach, and held a similar you enter The Garden? Is it challenging to find talent job with the Milwaukee Bucks. His ability to see The excitement is always there for me. today that possesses an unselfish team young men as whole people, and not just as As a kid, I went to The Garden once to see mentality? basketball players, makes him perfect for what the Knicks play. That it didn’t seem acces- Past players will always look at the current we are trying to achieve. sible or attainable for me growing up as a group and think they don’t work as hard as they His experience being around these guys basketball fan makes the thrill still resonate did. It’s always been this way. and helping to shape them allows him to help with me today. These days, players come up differently. guide their overall development. When I fi rst left MSG, I felt comfortable Today, high school basketball can that I was not leaving in a bad way. be as important to players as AAU My management style wouldn’t allow basketball, and every player comes for that. When I came back to work in with his own development coach. for the Knicks, the fi rst time I walked It’s up to us to find ways to into The Garden, people welcomed introduce them to how to play me back. In business and in life, one together as a team. doesn’t always get that response. On the AAU circuit, they play Players do a lot of important more games today than guys used work off the court with chari- to, but they no longer play pick- table organizations. Is that mes- up games. We need to understand sage well understood by fans? that this is the modern player, and Collectively, we try to tell that we’re not going to change that story as best we can, but a lot of sto- aspect. ries go untold. This led to the advent How important is it to be of outlets like the Players’ Tribune, patient when it comes to achieving where players can share their own your long-term goals? stories without them being fi ltered New Yorkers are much more through someone else’s point of patient than people give them credit view. That is important. for. Sometimes, we manufacture the The NBA encourages us to impetus to win now, but I’ve seen promote the positive things play- enough times when that doesn’t ers are doing off the court. It’s work. vital for us to constantly be in There are certain things New communication with our players, Yorkers want to see. They want con- to understand their interests and sistency in what we’re trying to do philanthropic endeavors, so we and they want guys who play hard. can appropriately tell their stories They want players who are gritty and make sure fans and others and resonate with the New York know what they’re doing to give mindset. What resonates with fans back to the community. are players with the characteristics Your father was such a spe- New Yorkers see in themselves – cial person, not only for his work consistent hard work, toughness and in the sport, but in how he helped a plan you adhere to.