The most famous Tatum in the NBA plays in Boston. Tatum No. 2? Well, he calls New York home.
Fans tuning into the 2023 NBA Draft lottery will be greeted by a familiar face. Granted, it’s one who lurks in the shadows more often than not.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum has been pivotal to the league’s growth over the past two decades. Come every May, he gets his close-up: as the host of the NBA Draft lottery.
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Here’s what you need to know about one of the game’s unsung contributors.
Who is Mark Tatum?
As the league’s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, Tatum wears a lot of hats. He spearheads some of the league office’s more important functions, including global partnerships, marketing and global strategy. When he’s not chopping it up with billion-dollar companies, he’s handling matters for the G League.
Since being hired in 1999, Tatum has earned plaudits for business acumen. He led the league’s push to stitch corporate sponsorships on team jerseys and helped facilitate the G League’s collaboration with Gatorade. He also helped orchestrate Nike’s partnership with the NBA, WNBA and G League — each league is outfitted by the sports apparel supernova.
Tatum isn’t the most vocal of figures…
