David Kahn (sports executive)

Last updated
David Kahn
Born (1961-07-30) July 30, 1961 (age 62)
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. 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. [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.

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. Founded in 1989, the teams majority owner is Glen Taylor who also owns the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. The Timberwolves play their home games at Target Center, their home since 1990.

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 until 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 2023–24 season, the league consists of 31 teams, 29 of which are either single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team, along with the NBA G League Ignite exhibition team, which was folded by the league at the end of the season. Within the G League, players have the chance to get a contract from a current NBA team, and can land themselves a spot on an official roster.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martell Webster</span> American basketball player (born 1986)

Martell Webster is an American former professional basketball player who played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The sixth player taken in the 2005 NBA draft, Webster played for Portland, Minnesota and Washington between 2005 and 2015. His best season came in 2012–13 when he started 62 games for the Wizards and averaged 11.4 points per game.

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">Sam Mitchell (basketball)</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1963)

Samuel E. Mitchell Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Playing at small forward, Mitchell's 18-year professional basketball career spanned three decades, and was most notable for his ten seasons with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, whom he also coached as an interim for the 2015–16 season. Mitchell coached for the Toronto Raptors from 2004 to 2008 as well, winning Coach of the Year Award in 2007.

<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">Kevin Love</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Kevin Wesley Love is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a five-time All-Star and a two-time member of the All-NBA Second Team, winning an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning United States national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2011, Love won the NBA Most Improved Player Award and led the league in rebounding.

<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 EuroLeague. 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">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.

The 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season was the 71st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 55th in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the climax season of the Warriors’ dynasty, they won their fifth NBA championship, setting the best postseason record in NBA history by going 16–1. This Warriors team is widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history. They entered the season as runners-up in the 2016 NBA Finals, after a record breaking regular-season in 2015–16. With the landmark acquisition of free agent and 7-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant in the offseason, the Warriors were hailed as a "superteam" by the media and fans, forming a new All-Star "Fantastic Four" of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The Warriors broke over 20 NBA records on their way to equaling their 2014–15 regular-season record of 67–15, their second most wins in franchise history.

<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.

<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.