- LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
- Jason Levien
Jason Levien has a big job ahead of him. Not only will the new CEO and Managing Partner of Memphis Basketball, LLC, be tasked with overseeing both the business and basketball sides of the organization — a post unlike any other employee in franchise history — while being the primary (only?) link between new controlling owner Robert Pera and the wider organization, but, as managing partner, he’ll be representing the team in league matters and will be charged with managing a large ownership group. As controlling owner, Pera has full authority in most matters, but it will be important for minority owners to feel included, and Levien’s performance will have a lot of bearing on how these relationships play out.
The first day on the job for Pera and Levien did not result in any staff changes for the Grizzlies, but the character of the organization is certain to change over the coming days and months regardless. And today was the first chance we’ve had to try to figure out what that evolution will look like.
While all of the current basketball and business operations staff remain in place, my guess is that there will be additions in the coming weeks even if they’re aren’t departures, though Levien was non-committal on that subject in a brief one-on-one session I had with him after the press conference.
“I think we’re going to look for ways that we can add value, sure,” Levien said about potential additions. “I’ve been in the league a long time, so if we can find black belts we’re going to try and find them.”
