NBA-ийн есөн удаагийн бүх оддын тоглогч, 2016-17 оны улирлын үнэ цэнтэй тоглогч Рассел Уэстбрук 18 жилийн замналаа өндөрлүүлснийхээ дараа шинэ лигийн удирдлагын багт нэгдлээ.
NBA-ийн түүхэнд 209 triple-double гүйцэтгэсэн амжилтаар тэргүүлэгч, 37 настай Рассел Уэстбрук Project B лигийн үүсгэн байгуулагчдын нэг болж, Удирдах зөвлөлд нь багтахаар боллоо. Тэрээр тус лигт хувьцаа эзэмших бөгөөд Стратеги хариуцсан захирлын албыг хаших юм. 2027 оны эхээр нээлтээ хийхээр төлөвлөж буй энэхүү лигт Уэстбрук тоглогчоор оролцох эсэх нь тодорхойгүй байна.
Технологийн салбарын хоёр захирлын үүсгэн байгуулсан Project B нь одоогоор 5 тэрбум долларын хөрөнгө босгоод байгаа бөгөөд Ази, Европ, Өмнөд Америк тивийг дамнан үйл ажиллагаа явуулж, тоглолтуудаа YouTube хуудсаар дамжуулах зорилготой байна. Лигийн удирдлага тоглогчдыг зөвхөн үнэ цэн бүтээгч төдийгүй хувьцаа эзэмшигч, шийдвэр гаргагчид байх ёстой гэсэн зарчмыг баримталж байгаагаа илэрхийлжээ.
Тус лигт Леброн Жэймсийн бизнесийн хамтрагч Маверик Картер зөвлөхөөр ажиллаж байгаа бөгөөд эмэгтэйчүүдийн төрөлд Алана Бэрд, эрэгтэйчүүдийн төрөлд Лэндри Филдс нар удирдах албыг хашиж байна. Одоогоор эмэгтэйчүүдийн баг бүрэлдэхүүнд Ннека Огвумике, Жонкуэл Жонс, Алисса Томас, Софи Каннингэм зэрэг өндөр зэрэглэлийн тоглогчид нэгдээд байгаа юм.
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Russell Westbook, the recently retired NBA star, has joined Project B as a co-founder and its new chief strategy officer.
The nine-time NBA All-Star and 2016-17 MVP retired this summer after an 18-year career. He is now joining an upstart basketball league at the executive level, giving Project B its highest-profile addition yet. He will take an equity stake in the new league and serve on its board of directors. There is no indication yet that he will play in the league, which is set to launch in early 2027.
Westbrook is the splashiest name to join the league in any capacity. Project B has been working with Maverick Carter, the longtime friend and business associate of LeBron James, and has added several high-profile players for its women’s division. Former WNBA champion and All-Star Alana Beard is its chief basketball officer, and former NBA player and executive Landry Fields joined this summer to run the men’s division.
“At every step of my career, what was most valuable to me was making sure everyone had a seat at the table,” Westbrook said in a statement. “With Project B, we’re challenging the norm and bringing a new vision to the intersection of premium sport, culture, and entertainment. We’re reimagining the experience with players not only as key value drivers, but also as shareholders and decision makers.”
Project B has invited intrigue with its build-up. The league was founded by two tech executives and has reportedly raised $5 billion. It intends to barnstorm across Asia, Europe and South America and broadcast games on YouTube.
“Sport has become this massive global asset class,” co-founder Geoff Burnett told The Athletic last fall. “For the vast majority, the players have not participated in the economics of that, and they’ve sat on the outside of it. That is something that is frustrating to athletes, and is — as sort of the central resources, central IP within that business — the driver of it. We think it’s really important to start with equity.”
The league has gained attention for its large salaries for players on the women’s side and is building out its men’s roster. It has signed Nneka Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas and Sophie Cunningham, as well as others.
Westbrook, 37, retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209. He led the league in scoring twice and in assists three times.
