Mark Tatum Leads NBA as Its Highest-Ranking Black Executive
Mark Tatum, appointed deputy commissioner in 2014, remains the top Black executive in sports, overseeing the NBA’s global expansion and business operations.
When the NBA owners voted unanimously in January 2014, Mark Tatum was elevated to deputy commissioner, making him the highest-ranking Black executive in professional sports. Tasked with expanding the league’s commercial footprint, he manages global marketing deals and the financial health of 30 franchises averaging $5.4 billion in value. Under his oversight, the NBA runs a $5 billion Chinese league, a $1 billion African league, and aims to launch a European competition by October 2027, positioning the organization as a $180 billion market-cap entity.
Born to a Jamaican father and Asian mother in Vietnam and raised in Brooklyn, Tatum reflects on the symbolic importance of his role for Black representation. He also honors five Black business leaders—David Grain, Sheila Johnson, Ed Lewis, Reginald Lewis, and Robert Smith—who have inspired his career. Tatum emphasizes the need for greater public awareness of Black businesses’ economic impact.
Why it matters
Tatum’s leadership highlights progress in diversity at the top of major sports leagues and influences the NBA’s global growth.
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