Welts was involved in the creation of All-Star Weekend, the '92 Dream Team and launching the WNBANBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Warriors President & COO RICK WELTS was elected to the Basketball HOF as a contributor over the weekend, and former NBA Commissioner DAVID STERN said Welts, who worked at the league office from '82-99, "did everything" and "was great at everything he did," according to Ann Killion of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Stern: "He has an innate understanding of the capacity and potential of sports, combined with the ability to deliver results." Welts was "involved in creating All-Star Weekend," along with the "creation of the 'Dream Team'" in '92. He worked "hand-in-hand with the Olympics" and on the "launching of the WNBA." Former WNBAer JENNIFER AZZI, who worked with Welts for a number of years, said, "I think about the effect he has had, his creativity, what he’s done for the sport of basketball, his ability to work his way up and to do it authentically. You can ask anyone who ever worked with him and they will all say he’s a great human being." In '11, Welts announced that he is gay, but his induction has "nothing to do with his sexuality" and "everything to do with his accomplishments in the sport and how instrumental he was in helping shape the modern NBA." Welts will be "only openly gay man" in a major professional sports HOF. Stern: "But that shouldn't be the point of emphasis. It's how vital he was to the growth and innovation of the league" (SFCHRONICLE.com, 3/31).
DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS: In an open letter published by THE ATHLETIC, Warriors coach STEVE KERR wrote Welts' impact on the game "has been profound and lasting." He "never played a minute in the league and never scored a basket, but he has been an integral part of the league’s wild success over the past four decades." Kerr: "Wherever Rick goes, success seems to follow. That’s because he helps foster a culture that energizes a franchise and also impacts and intertwines the business side and the basketball side." Welts "made his mark on basketball going from a young fan in Seattle to a Sonics ballboy to a team employee, to an executive in the league office, a leader of franchises, and finally to a man who has helped advance social justice" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/31).
