Rick Welts

What began as infatuation when his hometown Seattle SuperSonics first took the floor in 1968 became a full-fledged love affair with the game of basketball that has now lasted more than 50 years. During that time, Rick Welts helped the game evolve from an afterthought to the forefront of a global sporting conscience. Welts began his career as a ballboy with the Sonics before moving into the front office where he shared in the glory of his team winning the 1979 NBA championship. His talent was remarkable, and before long he attracted the discerning eye of soon-to-be commissioner David Stern for a position in the league office. Young and ambitious, Welts began to build the NBA into a viable brand, helping to market and promote the Dream Team, the WNBA, and All-Star Weekend. Welts’ passion led him to the Phoenix Suns and then on to the Golden State Warriors, where championships soon followed, including three in a span of four years from 2015 to 2018.