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» Monday, November 5 2012 |
![]() Levien reiterated during the public press conference that there are no current plans to replace any of the organization's top decision makers, instead suggesting that he and Pera's team would be evaluating what's already in place. “I know Chris [Wallace] and I have a lot of respect for Chris. I'm looking forward to sitting down with them in this process,” Levien said in regard to current vice president of basketball operations Chris Wallace, coach Lionel Hollins, and the rest of the basketball staff. Memphis Flyer One name not mentioned was Daniel Straus, a New York-based founder and CEO of the health-care company CareOne. I had heard over the weekend that Straus would be part of the group and I spotted a jersey with his name displayed on a table when I entered the press conference, but he was not named and Levien declined afterward to confirm his participation. Memphis Flyer Ronald Tillery: Unlike locals who shall remain nameless, the CA doesn't hold grudges. Heisley will have a full-page letter thanking the fans in the paper Twitter @CAGrizBlog Jason Levien remembers the first time he played basketball with Robert Pera. They were in Taiwan. They decided to go to opposite ends of the court to warm up. "I look down there, and he's throwing it down," said Levien. Yes, Memphians. Your new Grizzlies owner can dunk. He's 6-3 and can get off the deck. He looks like he could be starting at forward for Rhodes or CBU. Now he's sitting in a luxury box in FedExForum, talking about his plans for his new NBA team. Someone asks him if he's met any of the Grizzlies players yet. "I met some, when we came here in March," he said. "But they might have thought I was Heisley's grandson." Memphis Commercial Appeal Memphis Grizzlies Chairman Robert Pera announced today that he has named seasoned sports executive Jason Levien as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Memphis Basketball, LLC, which operates the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum. In this role, Levien will have leadership responsibility for the entire organization; serve as the ownership group's Managing Partner and as an Alternate NBA Governor. “Jason and I share a vision for building a world-class team on and off-the-court,” Grizzlies Chairman Robert Pera said. “He has my complete trust, confidence and support in how best to lead our organization's efforts." Sulia Levien will serve as CEO of Memphis Basketball LLC -- an entity that owns the Grizzlies and will operate FedExForum. Levien is expected to supplant general manager Chris Wallace as the primary decision maker for basketball decisions. "We haven't decided anything," Levien said Sunday in an interview with The Commercial Appeal. "We want to be thoughtful about it and respectful about it. We want to do what's best for the organization." Memphis Commercial Appeal Among the highlights from the 45-minute interview with Pera and Levien: -- The group will get to know coach Lionel Hollins, who is in the final year of his contract, before acting on his future. Levien, the CEO and managing partner, will be over general manager Chris Wallace, and his exact role has not been determined. Memphis Commercial Appeal Geoff Calkins: Jason Levien said that "from 30,000 feet," he admires work of Lionel Hollins. Some nights, I wish I were asking questions from there. Twitter @geoff_calkins Robert Pera saw how others handled their wealth once they become successful, spending it on new cars or multimillion dollar homes. Those things weren't for him. "For me, I just really like working," Pera said Sunday, in his first public comments since agreeing earlier this year to buy the Memphis Grizzlies. "And those things don't interest me that much. But being involved in the NBA, and potentially owning a team, that was a dream. Once I got to a position where that seemed possible, I started the process." Memphis Commercial Appeal Pera, who wore jeans, Nikes and a hooded sweatshirt, said he looked at several teams before deciding to purchase the Griz. He and Levien visited Memphis on March 27, when the Griz played the Timberwolves, and Pera said he sensed the "energy" and the team's meaning to the city. That helped sell him not just on the team, but on its potential to make more of a connection, he said. Memphis Commercial Appeal Geoff Calkins: Pera will buy a place in Memphis, not sure where. Didn't seem like he'll be at all that many games. "As many as possible." Twitter @geoff_calkins |
» Sunday, November 4 2012 |
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New Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera will announce on Monday that Philadelphia 76ers minority shareholder Jason Levien is joining the Grizzlies as the club's new CEO and managing partner, according to sources familiar with Pera's thinking. ESPN.com Sources told ESPN.com that Levien, who recently sold his stake in the Sixers to join Pera's ownership group, will take charge of basketball operations as well as the Grizzlies' business department. That means the former NBA agent and front-office executive with the Sacramento Kings, sources say, will have the ultimate say on personnel and on-court matters, overseeing Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace and coach Lionel Hollins. Hollins is in the final year of his contract after back-to-back trips to the playoffs. ESPN.com Levien was part of the Joshua Harris-led group that purchased the 76ers leading into the 2011-12 season. Sources say that Levien, in addition to his new post operating the Grizzlies, will continue in his role as general partner of DC United in Major League Soccer, which he assumed in July when he and fellow Sixers minority owner Erick Thohir purchased the MLS club. ESPN.com Sources say Levien took a lead role in assembling a star-studded ownership consortium which includes actor/singer Justin Timberlake as well as Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and wife Ashley. Timberlake and Ashley Manning are native Memphians, as are two more prominent minority owners in Pera's group: Former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway and former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. ESPN.com |
» Friday, July 6 2012 |
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Philadelphia 76ers minority owners Erick Thohir and Jason Levien are expanding to another sport by reaching an agreement to become co-owners of DC United in Major League Soccer, according to NBA sources familiar with the move. Sources told ESPN.com that Thohir and Levien are poised, pending MLS approval, to become partners next week with longtime DC United owner Will Chang, who also serves on the board of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants. ESPN.com |
» Friday, July 15 2011 |
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Part of Harris' group includes former agent and Sacramento King front office executive Jason Levien. Sources in the league have indicated that they wouldn't be suriprised if when the salle is approved by the NBA's Board of Governors in the next couple of months, Levien will have a big say in the basketball operations. Stefanski held the presidency and general manager title since being hired by the club in December of 2007, but was relegated to general manager duties when Rod Thorn was brought in as president last summer. The two also worked in those same positions together successfully in New York. Philadelphia Inquirer |
» Tuesday, July 12 2011 |
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There was no immediate word on a sale price, which does not include the Wells Fargo Center or the NHL's Flyers, sources said Tuesday. David Blitzer of The Blackstone Group will join Harris as lead partner, according to sources familiar with the deal. Former player agent and Sacramento Kings executive Jason Levien also is part of the proposed ownership group, sources said. Apollo, which describes itself on its web site as specializing in "contrarian" investments and "distressed" assets, and Blackstone are not involved in the transaction. CBSSports.com |
» Thursday, August 19 2010 |
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The Nuggets considered Griffin, Ujiri, Atlanta assistant general manager Dave Pendergraft and former Sacramento assistant general manager Jason Levien for the position. Griffin has close ties to Nuggets advisor Bret Bearup, the last of three influential personnel voices to remain after executives Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman were let go earlier this month. Ujiri, meanwhile, is well-respected by both owner Stan Kroenke and his Nuggets executive son. Josh Kroenke, the 30-year-old vice president of team development, is widely assumed to be in line to one day take over for his father as owner and has seen his role increase of late. FanHouse.com |
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