Photo: CHRYSA CHIN
S
ome of the most important work Chrysa Chin has done at the National Basketball Players Association involves things she may never be able to talk about.
Chrysa Chin
National Basketball Players Association |
Executive Vice President,
Strategy and Development
Hired in December of last year as the NBPA’s first executive vice president of strategy and development, it is Chin’s job to reach out to NBA players in some sort of crisis. It could be a public arrest, or private problems they may be having with drugs or alcohol, or a problem they are having with a financial adviser or an agent.
Some of the problems are private; others hit the press. Oftentimes players will call her, but if they don’t, Chin says she’ll initiate the call.
“Sometimes I call players — some players call me Mama Chin — and sometimes they will say, ‘Hey, Mama Chin, it’s not what you read, or it’s not like what you heard. This is what happened,’” she said.
“It’s important to me for them to feel surrounded, have someone listen to them, not place judgment, and advocate on their behalf,” she added.
Chin knows NBA players well having worked at the league for more than 17 years, most recently as vice president of player development. Prior to that, she held a position as a consultant to Nike and as special assistant to former NBPA Executive Director Charlie Grantham.
Chin reports to current NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts, who offered her the job last year. “We met, and I had to make a very difficult decision to leave where I had been for 17 1/2 years and go somewhere new,” she said. “It was and is a great decision.”
— Liz Mullen
- Notable professional achievement: Gaining the confidence and trust of the players. They know and understand that I will engage every resource and do everything I can to help them achieve their personal and professional goals. And, being the first woman to be named vice president of NBA player development.
- Biggest professional disappointment: Several years ago, I was scheduled to represent our company abroad, but because of their perception of women in business, I could not.
- Best advice received: My grandmother Ola always told me to put 150 percent effort into anything I do and I would always know I’ve done my best, regardless of the result.
- Causes supported: Police Athletic League; any causes related to human trafficking and basic needs (food, clothing, shelter and education).
- If my colleagues were asked to describe me, they would say I: Am committed to our players and I know how to meet them where they are.
