NBA legend Kenny Smith named PBL commissioner
12/06/07 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
ROCKVILLE, MD - NBA legend and TNT basketball analyst Kenny "The Jet" Smith has joined the Premier Basketball League as its commissioner, bringing a wealth of basketball and multi-media experience to the cutting-edge new league.
"We are very proud that an executive of Kenny Smith's caliber has seen the dynamic potential of the Premier Basketball League and has agreed to help us execute our vision of a fan-first digital basketball revolution," said PBL CEO and President Tom Doyle.
As commissioner, Smith will oversee many key PBL initiatives, including the launch of the PBL internet tv channel and a multi-player virtual video game. Additionally, he will drive the league's "Fans Come First" mission, requiring that all players participate in fan meet-and-greets after each game to sign autographs and pose for pictures and ensuring that ticket and concession prices remain fan-friendly.
The Premier Basketball League is a ten-team independent league focusing on fan experience, high-quality organizations and community involvement. Player compensation is tied to wins and losses, encouraging a team-first mentality over individual accomplishments. The league is headquartered in Rockville, MD and Chicago, Illinois and includes teams from Montgomery County, MD, Rochester, N.Y., Reading, Pa., Wilmington, N.C., Jacksonville, Chicago, Dallas, Little Rock, Quad Cities, Ill., and Rockford, Ill. The PBL season begins on Jan. 4, 2008.
Smith, a Queens, NY native, had an illustrious 10 year career in the NBA, winning two NBA Championships with the Houston Rockets. He is the Rockets all-time three-point field goal percentage leader and the career assist record-holder at the University of North Carolina. He is currently a studio analyst for TNT's NBA coverage and provides analysis for the New York Knicks on MSG Network. He also hosts a Sirius Satellite Radio show, is a Yahoo! NBA analyst and appears in several NBA-themed video games.
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