Neil Olshey facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 10, 1965 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| High school | Xavier (New York City) |
| Career information | |
| College | Le Moyne College |
Neil Olshey was born on January 10, 1965. He is an American basketball executive. This means he helps manage and run professional basketball teams. He used to be the general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before that, he was also a general manager for the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Neil Olshey's Early Life and Education
Neil Olshey grew up in Flushing, Queens, a part of New York City. He went to Xavier High School in Manhattan. After high school, he attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. While at Le Moyne College, he played on the Division III lacrosse team.
Neil Olshey's Career Journey
Starting in Acting
After college, Neil Olshey first wanted to become an actor. He moved to New York City to follow this dream. He appeared in TV commercials and print ads. He also had roles on TV shows like All My Children, One Life to Live, and Loving. Later, he moved to Los Angeles to continue his career.
Moving into Basketball
Olshey eventually shifted his career to basketball. He worked for SFX Sports Group, Inc. There, he was the director of player development. He helped create and run training camps for players before they joined the NBA. These camps helped many players get drafted into the NBA.
He also worked as an assistant coach at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California. While coaching there, he worked with Jason Kapono, who later played for UCLA and in the NBA.
Working with NBA Teams
In 2003, Olshey joined the Los Angeles Clippers as the director of player personnel. This role involved finding and evaluating players. In 2004, he became an assistant coach for the team.
By 2008, he was promoted to assistant general manager. Then, in March 2010, he became the general manager of the Clippers. As general manager, he was in charge of the team's player decisions and overall basketball operations.
In June 2012, Neil Olshey moved to the Portland Trail Blazers. He became their general manager, continuing his work of building and managing a professional basketball team.
Television Appearance
Neil Olshey even appeared on a TV show! He was on the IFC series Portlandia. He played himself in an episode called "Trail Blazers" during the show's fourth season.
Leaving the Trail Blazers
Neil Olshey worked with the Portland Trail Blazers for many years. However, in December 2021, the team ended his time as general manager. This decision came after an investigation into how the team was run.
