NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark A. Tatum Shares Global Vision and Leadership Insights at Kean’s President’s Distinguished Lecture Series

Mark A. Tatum, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer (COO) of the National Basketball Association (NBA), brought his global business expertise to Kean University this week as part of the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series. 

Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., welcomed the audience to the latest installment of the lecture series, which brings transformative voices to Kean’s campus.   

“Hearing from a leader like Mark is especially meaningful to me because basketball has played a big role in my own journey,” Repollet said. “The game taught me about leadership, discipline and how to work as a team. These are lessons that stick with you long after the final buzzer, and they are the same lessons we pass on to our students here at Kean.” 

Tatum participated in a wide-ranging conversation moderated by Kelly Williams, Kean’s vice president of athletics and recreation, touching on the NBA’s global growth and the rapidly evolving landscape of professional athletics.  

“To have Mark Tatum here is amazing,” said Alexander Sepulveda, assistant professor and advisor of Kean's Sports Business Club. “Our student-athletes and sports business majors can soak up this information.”  

Those students said they were especially struck by Tatum’s emphasis on work ethic.

“One of his biggest points was always putting in the work, in and out of your sport,” said Gina Mahlik, a sophomore physical education major and member of Kean's softball team. “That’s something we preach and try to do here at Kean.” 

Tatum also discussed the NBA’s strategic approach to reaching fans across the globe, an effort he has helped lead since being named deputy commissioner and COO in 2014. He explained that the league’s global expansion has been essential in today’s ever-changing sports landscape. Under his leadership, the league has launched four global academies and debuted the Jr. NBA Global Championship, expanding opportunities for young athletes around the world. 

“In today's environment, whether it's sports or education, sticking to the status quo is not always a winning strategy,” Tatum said. “You have to innovate or you fall behind.” 

Leadership remained a central thread throughout the evening as Tatum encouraged students to pursue opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad to take advantage of the rapidly expanding sports and entertainment market.  

He said the most rewarding part of his global work has been seeing how basketball helps young people build resilience and confidence. 

“Basketball teaches life lessons like dealing with adversity, becoming a leader, becoming a teammate and overcoming challenges,” Tatum said. “It is the most rewarding for me to see the impact this game is having on kids.” 

Tatum is ranked among Forbes Top 25 Most Influential Minorities in Sports and has twice been named to SportsBusiness Journal’s list of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business. 

His appearance was the second President’s Distinguished Lecture of the 2025-2026 academic year. The next speaker in the series is Nate Burleson, Emmy Award-winning analyst and CBS Mornings co-host, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. For more information, visit www.kean.edu/lectureseries.