David Kahn (sports executive)

Last updated
David Kahn
Born (1961-07-30) July 30, 1961 (age 63)
Portland, Oregon
NationalityAmerican
Education UCLA
NYU Law
OccupationPresident
Organisation Paris Basketball

David Kahn (born July 30, 1961) is an American sports executive, attorney, and former sportswriter. He is the former president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association and is the current president of Paris Basketball currently representing both the LNB Élite and the EuroLeague. Of most note, in the 2009 NBA draft, he twice passed on drafting Stephen Curry, instead choosing 2 other point guards (Ricky Rubio at #5 and then Jonny Flynn at #6).

Contents

Early life and career

Kahn was born to a Jewish family in Portland, Oregon with three siblings Robert Kahn, now living in Jerusalem, Steven Kahn, a personal injury lawyer in Portland, and Sarah Kahn Glass.[ citation needed ] His father, Garry L. Kahn, was the founder of personal injury firm Kahn & Kahn which his brother now runs. [1]

He attended Woodrow Wilson High School (Portland, Oregon) before matriculating to UCLA, where he graduated with a degree in English in 1983. [2] [3] While at UCLA, he was sports editor for the Daily Bruin for two years and a Los Angeles Times intern. [4] Upon his graduation, he returned to his hometown of Portland and worked as a sportswriter for The Oregonian from 1983 through 1989, where he covered the local and national sports scene, including the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. [5] [6]

After leaving the Oregonian, Kahn received his J.D. degree from NYU [7] and worked with Proskauer Rose, the same law firm that represents the big four North American sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) in many of their legal matters, for several years.

Basketball career

National Basketball Association

Kahn was hired by the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1995, remaining with the organization until 2004, working mostly on the business side of the franchise. [8] [9] After his tenure with the Pacers, Kahn returned to Portland and spearheaded an effort to lure the Montreal Expos or another major-league team to Portland; the Expos ultimately relocated to Washington, D.C., and became the Nationals. Kahn's attempts to bring Major League Baseball to Portland were unsuccessful. Kahn was also involved in real estate ventures in the Portland area. In 2005, he purchased several teams in the NBA D-League. [10]

2009 NBA Draft

On May 22, 2009, Kahn was hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves as president of basketball operations to replace Kevin McHale. [9] In the 2009 NBA draft, Minnesota held the #5 and #6 picks. Kahn selected point guard Ricky Rubio at #5 and then Jonny Flynn at #6, thus twice passing on selecting on Stephen Curry, who was selected by the Golden State Warriors at #7. [11] Although Rubio went on to have a long NBA career, Flynn played only two seasons. Curry (as of 2022) became a multiple-time All-Star, All-NBA, Finals MVP, MVP, all-time three-point leader, and league champion. Kahn has had little to say about passing on Curry. When asked in 2019, he deflected, noting that many other teams had also passed on Curry. Despite Minnesota having the #5 and #6 picks meaning only four out of the 28 other NBA teams besides Minnesota and Golden State passed on him. [12]

Curry himself (in 2018 on the Ringer [13] and 2022 on Draymond Green's podcast [14] ) relayed the rumor that his love of golf and Minnesota's inclement weather was a reason Kahn / Minnesota passed on him.

Kahn also drafted multiple players who are considered busts, such as Wesley Johnson and Derrick Williams. Echoing comments some columnists made after Kahn made several controversial moves in the summer of 2010, ESPN writers Chad Ford and John Hollinger called his tenure "baffling". [15]

On May 2, 2013, Kahn was released from the Timberwolves after they did not exercise their option on his contract, instead hiring Flip Saunders for a second stint with the team. [16]

France

On July 12, 2018, Kahn was announced as the president of Paris Basketball in the LNB Pro B. [17] In 2021, Kahn's Paris Basketball team was promoted to the LNB Pro A after gaining the second-best record in the 2020–21 LNB Pro B season behind only Fos Provence Basket. During the 2023–24 LNB Élite season, under his leadership behind the scenes, Paris Basketball would win both the EuroCup Championship and the LNB Élite Leaders Cup, as well as be the runners-up to the championship-winning AS Monaco Basket in that season's playoffs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Timberwolves</span> National Basketball Association team in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The team was founded in 1989. Its majority owner is Glen Taylor, who also owns the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Currently, Taylor is in a legal battle over ownership of the team with Alex Rodriguez, Zac Lore, and Michael Bloomberg. The Timberwolves play their home games at Target Center, their home since 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden State Warriors</span> National Basketball Association team in San Francisco, California

The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 in Philadelphia, the Warriors moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1962 and took the city's name before changing its geographic moniker to Golden State in 1971. The club plays its home games at the Chase Center.

The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the official minor league organization of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league was known as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) from 2001 to 2005, and the NBA Development League from 2005 to 2017. The league started with eight teams until NBA commissioner David Stern announced a plan to expand the NBA D-League to 15 teams and develop it into a true minor league farm system, with each NBA D-League team affiliated with one or more NBA teams in March 2005. At the conclusion of the 2013–14 NBA season, 33% of NBA players had spent time in the NBA D-League, up from 23% in 2011. As of the 2024–25 season, the league consists of 31 teams, 30 of which are either single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team, along with the Mexico City Capitanes independent team. Within the G League, players can get a contract from an NBA team and land themselves an official roster spot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Rush</span> American basketball player (born 1980)

Kareem Lamar Rush is an American former professional basketball player. Rush's younger brother, Brandon, last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, while older brother JaRon played college basketball for UCLA.

Jerome "Pooh" Richardson Jr. is an American former basketball player who played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the first draft pick in franchise history. He would also play for the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers during his 10-year NBA career from 1989 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrick Martin</span> American basketball player

Darrick David Martin is an American basketball coach, most recently head coach for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA G League. He played basketball for more than a decade, shuttling between the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), where he won the 2003 CBA Playoffs MVP, and the NBA. In 2003, he even played for the Harlem Globetrotters. He then went on to play for the Los Angeles Lightning of the Independent Basketball Association (IBL). He was named the head coach of Reno in June 2016.

The 2009 NBA draft was held on June 25, 2009, at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, the National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Rubio</span> Spanish basketball player (born 1990)

Ricard Rubio Vives is a Spanish professional basketball player for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroCup. Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League on 15 October 2005, at age 14. He made his EuroLeague debut on 24 October 2006, a few days after turning 16, making him one of the youngest players to play in the EuroLeague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Timberwolves draft history</span> Overview of Minnesota Timberwolves draft picks

The Minnesota Timberwolves first participated in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft on June 27, 1989, about five months before their inaugural NBA season. The Timberwolves are currently the second NBA team to be based in Minneapolis since the Minneapolis Lakers were there from 1948 to 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Flynn</span> American basketball player (born 1989)

Jonny William Flynn is an American former professional basketball player. A three-year National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran, he last played for the Orlandina Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A and played collegiate basketball for the Syracuse Orange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Thornton</span> American basketball player and coach

Robert George Thornton is an American basketball coach and former player who played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He last served as the lead assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Johnson (basketball, born 1987)</span> American basketball player

James Patrick Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the starting power forward for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 2007 to 2009. He was drafted 16th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.

The 2009–10 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 21st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 NBA draft</span> 66th edition of the draft

The 2012 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2012, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The New Orleans Hornets, who had a 13.70 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 30. The Charlotte Bobcats and the Washington Wizards were second and third, respectively. This draft marked the first time that the first two players selected were from the same school. It also set a record of having six players from one school (Kentucky) being selected in the two rounds of the draft and was the first draft to have the first three selections be college freshmen all from the same conference. Bernard James was the oldest player drafted in an NBA draft, being 27 years old at the time of the draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Draymond Green</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Draymond Jamal Green is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Green, who plays primarily at the power forward position, is a four-time NBA champion, a four-time NBA All-Star, a two-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Considered one of the greatest defensive players in the league, he is an eight-time All-Defensive Team, 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in steals. Green has been a runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times in his career.

Tanguy Alban Harrys Ngombo, often incorrectly written as Targuy Ngombo, is a Congolese–Qatari professional basketball player who plays for Al Rayyan of the Qatari Basketball League. He has represented the Qatari national team in international competition. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 57th pick in the 2011 NBA draft. His draft rights were subsequently traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and then to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is the first Qatari national basketball player to be selected in the NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Fournier</span> French basketball player (born 1992)

Evan Mehdi Fournier is a French professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. He played junior basketball at the French INSEP academy from 2007 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Basketball</span> French professional basketball club

Paris Basketball is a French professional basketball club based in Paris. The club currently plays in the LNB Pro A, the first division of basketball in France, and the EuroLeague since 2024–25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaden McDaniels</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Jaden McDaniels is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. He attended Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington, where he was named a McDonald's All-American and Washington Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. McDaniels was a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2019 class. He is the younger brother of basketball player Jalen McDaniels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 NBA draft</span> 76th edition of the draft

The 2022 NBA draft, the 76th edition of the National Basketball Association's annual draft, was held on June 23, 2022, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 2022 edition marked a return to the draft's normal June date after postponements were made in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This draft was the first of at least three straight NBA drafts that consisted of only 58 picks instead of the typical 60 due to the loss of a second-round pick for both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat for violating the NBA's tampering rules during free agency. The first pick was made by the Orlando Magic, who selected Paolo Banchero from Duke. Banchero went on to win Rookie of the Year.

References

  1. ↑ "Kahn & Kahn". Kahn & Kahn. 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  2. ↑ "Can David Kahn save the NBDL?". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
  3. ↑ "From Daily Bruin to Timberwolves". UCLA Magazine. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
  4. ↑ "UCLA USC THE RIVALRY". Los Angeles Times. 2000-11-17. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  5. ↑ "The David Kahn File". Minneapolis Star-Tribune . 2009-05-21. Archived from the original on 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Indiana Pacers Playoffs 2002 Media Guide" (PDF). Indiana Pacers. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  7. ↑ Dwight Jaynes (2009-05-21). "David Kahn is the new top guy in Minnesota". Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota Timberwolves name David Kahn president of basketball operations – NBA Blog". 22 May 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Kahn to be named to post Friday". ESPN. Associated Press. May 22, 2009.
  10. ↑ NBDL news release (2005-03-21). "The D-League is Expanding to the Southwest". NBA.com . Archived from the original on February 3, 2006. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  11. ↑ "2009 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  12. ↑ weitzman, aaron. Twitter https://twitter.com/yaronweitzman/status/1471098157639606275 . Retrieved 2022-06-19.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ Simmons, Bill (2018-08-16). "Stephen Curry on the Quest for Immortality and Battling LeBron". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  14. ↑ Steph Curry on Durant, LeBron, untold Warriors stories & best teams ever | The Draymond Green Show , retrieved 2022-06-20
  15. ↑ Chad Ford (August 2, 2010). "Future Power Rankings: Teams 26-30" . Retrieved August 2, 2010. The baffling tenure of ... David Kahn and the long-running incompetence of owner Glen Taylor combine to give the Timberwolves the lowest score for management...
  16. ↑ Windhost, Brian (May 3, 2013). "Flip Saunders in, David Kahn out". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Hangin' With ... Paris Basketball President David Kahn". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.