Steve Mills (sports executive) facts for kids

Steve Mills, born on October 6, 1959, is an American sports leader. He used to be the president of the New York Knicks basketball team.

Steve Mills's Early Education

Steve Mills went to Friends Academy in Locust Valley for high school. He then studied at Princeton University. In 1981, he earned a degree in Sociology from Princeton.

Playing Basketball in College

Mills played college basketball for the Princeton Tigers. He played from 1978 to 1981. His coach was Pete Carril, and he was teammates with David Blatt, who later became an NBA coach.

During his last year, Mills scored about 12 points per game. He also made 1.5 steals per game. After college, he was not chosen in the 1981 NBA draft. He first took a job at Chemical Bank. However, he received an offer to play basketball in Ecuador. Chemical Bank agreed to hold his job until he returned in 1982.

Steve Mills's Career in Sports Management

Mills started working for the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1984. He worked there for 16 years. He began as an account executive, helping with corporate sponsorships. He also managed programs for NBA properties.

Rising Through the Ranks at the NBA

Mills became the vice-president of special events. Later, he was the senior vice-president of Basketball and Player Development. This role involved helping players and developing the game.

Leading at Madison Square Garden

In 2003, Mills became the Chief Operating Officer and Sports Business President of Madison Square Garden (MSG). MSG is a famous arena in New York City. He oversaw the daily operations and business plans for several sports teams. These teams included the NBA's New York Knicks, the NHL's New York Rangers, and the WNBA's New York Liberty. He was also in charge of other sports events like boxing and college basketball.

Working with Magic Johnson

In 2009, Mills left MSG. He joined Magic Johnson Enterprises, a company started by basketball legend Magic Johnson. There, he helped create a group called Athletes & Entertainers Wealth Management Group, LLC. He was a partner in this group.

Becoming a Knicks Executive

On September 26, 2013, the New York Knicks announced that Mills would be their executive vice president and general manager. He helped manage the team's operations and player decisions.

On July 14, 2017, Mills became the new president of the Knicks. He took over from Phil Jackson. Scott Perry became the new general manager. Mills left the Knicks on February 4, 2020.

Community Involvement and Boards

Steve Mills has been part of many important groups. He was on the Board of Trustees for USA Basketball. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Currently, he is on the Board of Advisors for the Hospital for Special Surgery. He is also on the Board of Directors for Harlem Junior Tennis. Mills is a trustee for Ariel Investments and on the Board of Directors for the Princeton University Varsity Club. He also helps lead the Princeton University Connect Initiative Task Force.

Awards and Recognition

In 2003, Black Enterprise magazine named Steve Mills their Corporate Executive of the Year. In 2005, the same magazine listed him as one of the Top Front Office Team Executives. He was also on their list of the 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports.

Steve Mills's Personal Life

Steve Mills was born in Roosevelt, New York, on October 6, 1959. His father, Ollie Mills, was a teacher and a basketball coach. His mother worked as a social worker. Steve grew up as a fan of the New York Knicks. He lived near NBA legend Julius Erving. Steve and his wife, Beverly, live in Manhattan. They also have a home in South Orange, New Jersey. They have two daughters and a dog.