Rick Welts is a basketball executive who has had a long and successful career in the sport. He began his career in the NBA in the 1970s, working as a ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics. He then worked his way up to become the team's public relations director. In 1982, he joined the Phoenix Suns as the team's assistant general manager, and eventually became the team's president and chief operating officer.

In 1999, Welts left the Suns to become the president of NBA Properties, where he was responsible for the league's marketing and licensing. He was also instrumental in the launch of the WNBA. In 2002, he returned to the NBA as the president and chief operating officer of the Golden State Warriors. During his tenure with the Warriors, the team won three NBA championships and set several attendance records.

In 2011, Welts became the president and chief executive officer of the NBA. He was responsible for the league's global strategy, including the launch of the NBA Development League and the NBA China initiative. He also oversaw the league's digital media strategy, which included the launch of NBA TV and NBA.com.

Throughout his career, Welts has been a leader in the basketball industry. He has been a mentor to many of the league's top executives, and has been a driving force behind the league's growth and success. He has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and is widely respected as one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport.

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