Carmelo Anthony Wants to Join Wizards Ownership Group, Explains Plans in Video
Former NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony wants to buy into Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent group of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.
Anthony revealed that news during his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast before delving into some well-thought plans, specifically regarding the fan experience.
"I want to buy the Wizards. I would be a great owner," Anthony began.
"Former player. I understand players. I understand personnel, I understand being fatigued. I understand how to build teams, but I also understand what I don't understand. I know what I don't know. You also have to put people in those positions. President, GM, you put all the basketball acumen in those positions, and then you cover that with business model.
"And so now you create these levels. The business mind can never question the basketball mind. Right? But it has to be a connection between the two. Now the equity comes in, because now you gotta create these experiences, fan experience.
"A lot of owners don't put that work in to create fan experience. They hire somebody, go, 'tell me what to do, what's the in-game experience today? Hey, let's put [ex-NBA player and podcast co-host Rudy Gay] on the screen. It's like, let's get a halftime show.'
"This is how they still operate. Like, no, you gotta be, from the minute my fans walk down the block, getting two blocks away, you gonna have this full experience of being able to go into my arena.
"Also, you have to have the right personnel in there on the business side, how to do contracts, personnel, scouts. You need people who got eye-test tools. You would have to really tap into the actual community.
"It's like we try so change so much. Let's get back to bringing the players back, the ex-former player. Let's get back to having these experiences. Let's get back to have it opening night, free night with the fans. Like let's have these dinners, like we used to do all of that.
"We realized how the fans was actually able to experience us. You gotta get back into the community...
"Bring the fans to them, bring them to the practice facility, let them see open practice, let them sit there, let them have Wizards Day where the fans is free and you... players don't wanna go nowhere.
"You bring it to them, in a sense. You really gotta give back."
Billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs is looking to sell about 10 percent of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, or "roughly half of her full holdings," per sources to Ebon Novy-Williams and Scott Soshnick of Sportico on Jan. 12.
Novy-Williams and Soshnick said the talks were in "nascent stages," per sources.
"It’s unclear who might become a formal bidder, and too early to know how Monumental might be valued in a potential transaction."
Anthony's take is refreshing. He genuinely seems to care about the fans, their experiences and how they can improved. Anthony noted how team owners aren't as directly involved or seem almost apathetic toward the fan experience, which can come across as almost formulaic.
One example going against the grain recently can be found at Intuit Dome, with the Clippers' creation of the infamous Wall of fans.
Ultimately, Anthony wants to buck the trend and start a new approach. Time will tell if 'Melo buys into the Wizards, but it's clear he could be a vibrant and young governor who creates a tremendously positive impact to the game.
