Larry Miller on return to Jordan, the NBA, and what Mike?s actually like

Cathy Cheney | Portland Business Journal

Larry Miller said his relationships with top NBA executives are much stronger after five years as president of the Portland Trail Blazers, which will benefit Nike Inc. as he returns to lead the Jordan Brand.

Larry Miller returned to Nike Inc. last week after five years of deep immersion in the culture, methods, and strategic thinking of the National Basketball Association. So what does that experience bring to Nike?

Miller answered that question himself when he sat with the Portland Business Journal on July 13, his last full-day as president of the Portland Trail Blazers before returning to Nike to lead the Jordan Brand.

In this week?s print edition I wrote about Miller?s plan to grow the Jordan business, which is already the most dominant basketball brand in the U.S.

But he also addressed how his deep ties to the NBA could benefit Nike upon his return.

?Relationships, for one,? Miller said.

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Blazers owner Paul Allen appointed Miller his proxy at the league Board of Governors meetings, making Miller the only non-owner at the table during critical periods, including last year?s contentious labor negotiations.

?I knew (NBA Commissioner) David Stern and (Deputy Commissioner) Adam Silver and folks at the league, but the relationships are much much stronger (now) because I?ve worked with them, I?ve gone through the trenches and the labor deal,? Miller said. ?And also, I know a lot more now about how the NBA works and how they think and operate, so I think there?s benefit with that in going back to Nike, as looking at working with them, so my perspectives will be a benefit because I understand how they do things and how they operate.?

That brings up another question

Nike?s role in professional basketball is indisputable, since its shoes are on the feet of a majority of the league?s players. But that is a relationship between the brand and the player -- not the brand and the league.

Erik Siemers covers footwear and apparel, technology, energy, manufacturing and ports.

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