NBA Business NEWS & China - NBA names Derek Chang CEO of NBA China

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver - (NBA photo)

Chang was most recently the Head of International Lifestyle Channels at Scripps Networks Interactive, where he directed the international expansion of Scripps’ lifestyle brands. Prior to Scripps, Chang was Executive Vice President of Content Strategy and Development at DIRECTV, where he oversaw all content, including the management of DIRECTV’s sports business and its relationship with the NBA for NBA TV and NBA League Pass – the NBA’s out-of-market live game subscription package- THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, NY USA & BEIJING CHINA

Monday, April 23, 2018

Derek Chang, an accomplished sports and entertainment executive with more than 20 years of experience in leading and managing global media brands, has been appointed CEO of NBA China, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Chang, who begins with the NBA on June 1, will be based in the league’s Beijing office and report to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.

As NBA China CEO, Chang will oversee the league’s basketball and business development in China. In his role, he will be supported by NBA China’s senior leadership team to continue the unprecedented popularity and growth of basketball in the region.

Chang was most recently the Head of International Lifestyle Channels at Scripps Networks Interactive, where he directed the international expansion of Scripps’ lifestyle brands. Prior to Scripps, Chang was Executive Vice President of Content Strategy and Development at DIRECTV, where he oversaw all content, including the management of DIRECTV’s sports business and its relationship with the NBA for NBA TV and NBA League Pass – the NBA’s out-of-market live game subscription package. He also previously served as Executive Vice President, Development at Yankees Entertainment & Sports (YES) Network, where he played an instrumental role in the launch of the network and its relationship with the Brooklyn Nets.

“Derek’s experience in media and sports combined with his proven leadership and management abilities makes him an ideal leader of the NBA’s presence in China,” said Silver. “Basketball continues to thrive in China and the NBA looks forward to continuing to work with Yao Ming and the Chinese Basketball Association on growing interest and participation in the game at every level.”

“I am so privileged to join the NBA and its talented team assembled in China at such an exciting time,” said Chang. “The league has done a tremendous job engaging and growing its fanbase in China, and I look forward to working with all our partners in China to lead the league to even greater heights with new initiatives and, most importantly, increasing basketball participation among boys and girls.”

Chang joined Scripps in 2013 as Managing Director, Asia-Pacific before taking on his current role in 2016. During his tenure, he oversaw five international entertainment brands, including Asian Food Channel, Fine Living, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel. Under his leadership, HGTV launched outside of North America for the first time. Chang also helped drive the expansion of Food Network in Latin America and its launch as a free-to-air channel in Australia and Italy.

Chang holds an MBA from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University. He was named one of Cablefax Magazine’s “Top 100 Executives in Cable” and one of the “50 Most Influential People in Sports Business” by Sports Business Journal. Chang also served on the board of directors of Starz after its public spin-off in 2013.

April 23, 1950 The Minneapolis Lakers became the first team to win back-to-back NBA titles when they defeated the Syracuse Nationals 110-95 to win the series four games to two.

April 23, 1969 Jerry West of Los Angeles scored 53 points as the Lakers edged Boston 120-118 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a series won by the Celtics in seven games. The 53 points by West ranked as the highest-scoring game by a guard in NBA Finals history, before Chicago’s Michael Jordan scored 55 points against Phoenix in Game 4 of the 1993 Finals, a 111-105 Bulls win over the Suns.

April 23, 1989 Alex English of the Denver Nuggets finished the 1988-89 season with 2,175 points, giving him 2,000 or more points for a then record eight consecutive seasons. Karl Malone later posted 11 consecutive 2,000-point seasons.

April 23, 1989 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in the final game of his NBA-record 1,560-game career, as the Lakers downed Seattle, 121-117. Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with an NBA record 38,387 points.

April 23, 1995 After handing out eight assists in Utah’s 103-97 road win at Houston, John Stockton captured his eighth straight NBA assist title--tying Bob Cousy’s NBA record--after dishing off for 1,011 assists in 82 games for a 12.3 apg average. Stockton broke the tie by leading the NBA in assists for a record ninth straight season in 1995-96.

April 23, 1995 Steve Kerr of Chicago set the record for the highest three-point field goal percentage in a season at .524.