Tom Gores is a successful businessman and owner of the Detroit Pistons basketball team. He was born in Nazareth, Israel, and raised in Flint, Michigan. Gores attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in construction management. After graduation, he worked in the construction industry before starting his own private equity firm, Platinum Equity, in 1995.
Gores' interest in basketball began in the early 2000s when he became a minority owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. In 2011, he purchased the Detroit Pistons for $325 million, becoming the first owner of an NBA team of Middle Eastern descent. Under his ownership, the Pistons have made several changes, including moving to a new arena, the Little Caesars Arena, in 2017.
Gores has also been involved in philanthropy, particularly in his hometown of Flint, Michigan. In 2016, he donated $10 million to help with the city's water crisis, which had left residents without clean drinking water for months. He has also donated to various other causes, including education and healthcare.
Despite the Pistons' struggles on the court in recent years, Gores remains committed to the team and its future success. He has made several changes to the team's front office and coaching staff in an effort to turn things around. In 2020, he hired Troy Weaver as the team's new general manager, and in 2021, he hired Dwane Casey as the new head coach.
Overall, Tom Gores' basketball career has been marked by his ownership of the Detroit Pistons and his commitment to the team's success both on and off the court. His philanthropic efforts have also made a significant impact in his hometown and beyond.
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