Terdema Ussery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Terdema L. Ussery II
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Terdema Lamar Ussery II
December 4, 1958 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) Harvard University (MPA) UC Berkeley School of Law (JD) Yale University (MAR) |
| Occupation | Business executive, attorney, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Professional sports management; leadership roles in the CBA, Nike Sports Management, and the Dallas Mavericks |
| Title | Former President & CEO of the Dallas Mavericks; Former Commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association |
| Board member of | Princeton University – Board of Trustees (2004–2008) Yale University Divinity School – Board of Advisors (2013–2018) Dallas Housing Authority – Chair (2008–2014) Communities Foundation of Texas – Vice Chairman (2006–2015) UT Southwestern Medical Foundation – Trustee (2004–2008) Dallas Symphony Orchestra – Board of Governors (2001–2006) Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation – Board Member (2006–2012) |
| Awards | John McLendon Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame Corporate Executive of the Year (Black Enterprise) Sports Illustrated “Top 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” The Sporting News “100 Most Powerful People in Sports” |
Terdema Lamar Ussery II (born December 4, 1958) is an American business leader, lawyer, and philanthropist. He is known for his important roles in professional sports, helping companies run well, and improving communities.
Ussery grew up in a public housing area in Watts–Compton, South Central Los Angeles. He became the Commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and later the President of Nike Sports Management. For almost 20 years, he was the President and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Outside of sports, Ussery led the Board of Commissioners for the Dallas Housing Authority. He also served on many other boards, including for Princeton University and Yale University's Divinity School. These roles allowed him to support education, healthcare, and city development projects. He earned degrees from Princeton University, Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and Yale University.
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Early Life and Education
Terdema Ussery was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. His early years were spent in the Watts–Compton area. His father, Terdema Sr., owned a small grocery store and taught him about hard work and helping the community.
When Ussery was a teenager, a school counselor helped him avoid a difficult situation and encouraged him to apply to The Thacher School in Ojai, California. He was accepted with a full scholarship, which meant he didn't have to pay for his studies.
Moving from Watts to an elite boarding school was a big change. Ussery was one of only a few Black students there. He faced new social challenges and different ways of dealing with problems. These experiences helped him learn to be flexible and open-minded. He has said that navigating these two different worlds made him stronger.
After graduating from Thacher, Ussery went to Princeton University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981.
He then continued his studies at Harvard University and earned a Master's degree in 1984. Later, he received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1987. Years later, he earned another Master's degree from Yale University's Divinity School. This showed his ongoing interest in ethics and helping others.
Career in Sports
Early Legal Work
After law school, Ussery worked as a lawyer at Morrison & Foerster in Los Angeles starting in 1987. He focused on business and entertainment law. This work helped him develop strong analytical skills and learn how to manage different interests.
In 1990, Ussery decided to leave his law practice. He was invited to join the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), which was his first step into professional sports.
Leading the Continental Basketball Association
Ussery joined the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in 1990 as Deputy Commissioner. The CBA was a minor league for the NBA. It faced many challenges, like financial problems and not much public attention.
In 1991, Ussery became the Commissioner of the CBA. He was the first African American to lead a professional sports league. Over the next two years, he made many changes to help the league. He worked with team owners to share costs and create better ways to earn money. By the 1992–93 season, more than half of the CBA teams were making a profit.
Under his leadership, more fans came to games, with over 1.5 million attending in the 1992–93 season. Ussery also started programs to help players with their education and personal development. These efforts helped the CBA become a strong league where players could develop before moving to the NBA. Many players and coaches from the CBA later joined NBA teams.
NBA Commissioner David Stern praised Ussery's skills in business and sports operations. By 1993, the CBA was financially stable and had a better reputation.
Working at Nike Sports Management
After leaving the CBA in 1993, Ussery became President of Nike Sports Management. He worked directly with Nike's CEO, Phil Knight. Nike was impressed by his success at the CBA.
At Nike, Ussery managed endorsement deals for famous athletes like Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Ken Griffey Jr. From 1993 to 1997, he oversaw Nike's marketing campaigns and contract talks for many sports, including basketball, football, and baseball.
Ussery helped Nike sign or renew partnerships with top stars in the NBA and NFL. He also worked to include athletes in Nike's global campaigns, helping the brand grow in places like Europe and Asia. He helped plan campaigns for big events, such as the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Sporting News recognized Ussery multiple times as one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Sports” during his time at Nike. His work helped Nike expand its athlete endorsements beyond just basketball players to include stars in football and baseball.
Leading the Dallas Mavericks
In 1997, Ussery became the President and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. The team had been struggling both on the court and financially. His arrival marked the start of a period where the team's business and presence in the market greatly improved.
Early on, Ussery led a project to get $240 million in public money to build the American Airlines Center. This new arena opened in 2001 and helped increase attendance and sponsorship deals for the Mavericks and the Dallas Stars (NHL).
Under Ussery's leadership, the Mavericks saw a big increase in business partnerships and overall money earned. They became one of the top NBA teams in ticket sales and sponsorships. The team also created many community programs, including youth basketball clinics. On the court, the Mavericks went from a losing team to a strong playoff contender. They reached their first NBA Finals in 2006 and won the championship in 2011.
Ussery also played a key role in bringing the 2010 NBA All-Star Game to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This event set a Guinness World Record for the largest basketball crowd, with 108,713 spectators. He oversaw much of the planning for this huge event.
When he left the Mavericks in 2015, the team had sold out every home game for 11 seasons in a row. This was the longest active sellout streak in American professional sports at the time.
Community and Board Work
Terdema Ussery has held many leadership roles in schools, businesses, and community groups. He has served on boards for organizations like the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
He was the Chair of the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA) from 2008 to 2014. During this time, the DHA built over 1,200 affordable homes and improved its housing assistance programs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognized DHA for its excellent work for four years in a row. Ussery also helped create a nonprofit that gave college scholarships and supported early childhood education programs.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Ussery has received several awards. In 2012, he was inducted into the John McLendon Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was named Corporate Executive of the Year by Black Enterprise magazine.
He has also been featured multiple times in Sports Illustrated’s “Top 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.” The Sporting News included him in its “100 Most Powerful People in Sports” list during his time with the Continental Basketball Association and Nike Sports Management.
Personal Life
Ussery often talks about how much mentorship programs helped him when he was young. He says the Boys & Girls Clubs of America played an important part in his desire to learn and succeed. He believes that opportunities like his scholarship to The Thacher School helped him learn to adapt to different cultures and be resilient.
Ussery has always stressed the importance of good education. He says his experiences at Princeton, Harvard, and Berkeley Law inspired him to support youth programs. He and his wife, Debra, have two children, Terdema III and Elizabeth.
