The Silicon Valley Philosophy
Sports organizations can be some of the most hierarchical organizations around -just look at the 49ers. Instead, much like the technology companies they neighbor, the collective organization of the Warriors makes decisions -not just the GM or just the owner. The Warriors’ decision making round-table of the Lacobs (Joe & Kirk), Bob Myers, Travis Schlenk, Jerry West, and Steve Kerr has been well-publicized but it’s uniqueness is worth emphasizing. The round-table has a vast diversity of skills: Bob Myers in negotiating (he’s a former player agent), Kirk Lacob in statistical analysis, Travis Schlenk in coaching and general player personnel, Jerry West in basically everything, and Joe Lacob with an approach that made him incredibly successful in venture capital. The Warriors embrace the debate that Silicon Valley thrives on and grasp that making the right choice is exponentially more important then who made that choice.
Much like Google or Tesla or Uber, the Warriors understand that being the best mandates paying the best. There’s no better example of this then the Warriors’ coaching staff, by all reports the highest paid staff in the league. Alvin Gentry and Ron Adams are arguably the best offensive and defensive assistants in the league, those don’t come cheap. Warriors owner Joe Lacob spent an extra $4 to $6 million on his coaching staff so that he could get the highest value on the $13 million he’s paying Bogut and the $12 million he’s paying Iguodala -seems smart to me.
They say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”.
In the NBA, imitation done right is the finest form of basketball.