Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective NBA’s International Future & Western Conference Tiers
Oct 17, 2025
James Jones, the Executive Vice President for NBA Basketball Operations, shares insights into his crucial role, which goes beyond just discipline. He discusses the league's international growth strategy, emphasizing the significance of partnerships and logistics in regions like Abu Dhabi. The conversation also touches on balancing player advocacy with league standards, harnessing his experiences from both the player and union perspectives. Plus, the hosts dissect the Western Conference tiers, analyzing favorites and potential playoff teams with great enthusiasm.
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Middle East Is The NBA’s Global Growth Engine
- The NBA is strategically partnering with Abu Dhabi to funnel Middle East capital into global basketball growth initiatives.
- NBA Europe and team ownership in Manchester are likely outcomes of that financial alignment.
Small Sovereign Stakes Lead To Bigger Ownership
- Allowing small sovereign investments creates a path toward larger foreign ownership stakes in teams.
- That trend compresses the buyer pool and draws leagues toward big international capital sources.
Team USA’s Abu Dhabi Fundraising Trip
- Team USA flew to Abu Dhabi to raise money and improve travel, even detouring massively on one flight for refueling.
- That funding enabled lavish accommodations and logistics for Olympic preparation.