"Organizations win championships, not players."
If you grew up watching the Chicago Bulls win 6 rings in 8 years or simply watched the Netflix documentary The Last Dance, you know the origin of this quote: Infamous former Bulls GM Jerry Krause, the ego that ended the greatest dynasty in sports history.
Krause and former Bulls head coach Phil Jackson famously butted heads over issue after issue in Chicago. Their relationship soured to the point that Krause went nuclear, refusing to re-sign Jackson and losing Michael Jordan in the process. While the Bulls' on-court success ought to be modeled by organizations today, their behind-closed-doors interaction should be avoided at all costs.
Enter Onsi Saleh and Quin Snyder - a stark contrast to the feuding Krause and Jackson. Unlike Chicago's pair of egos, Saleh and Snyder share more than one commonality on their journey to Atlanta - a key foundation to sustained success.
Unlike the vast majority of coaches and execs in the NBA, Saleh and Snyder both possess a legal background. Snyder earned his J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from Duke University Law School in 1995, while Saleh earned his J.D. degree from Tulane University Law School in 2017. Each gained a meticulous attention to detail during their time in law school - a coveted characteristic amongst NBA executives, especially in a profession where the smallest error can result in magnanimous shortcomings years later.
Saleh attributes his deep understanding of NBA salaries and fine-tuned decisions to his time in law school, stating, "The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) is basically a book of laws. If you can understand the dynamics of that rulebook, you can fit every salary cap machination into team building and still leave room for the next move."
Success yields success: Saleh and Snyder have learned from the best
In addition to their shared history in learning the law, both Hawks leaders were also tutored by excellent organizations. Snyder played for the Duke Blue Devils from 1987-1989 under the great Coach K, and coached the Austin Toros (San Antonio Spurs D-League affiliate) during Coach Popovich's tenure as Spurs head coach.
Saleh also worked for the Spurs as Director of Strategy and Process and Chief of Staff from 2017 to 2021, and later joined the Warriors under Steve Kerr as Assistant Team Counsel and Basketball Strategy.
Both Snyder and Saleh's history of learning from the greats in Coach K, Pop, and Steve Kerr is sure to impact the Hawks' success moving forward. It's no surprise that historically, those who learn from the best become the best.
Saleh and Snyder's shared background is not merely a fun fact to stick in your back pocket - it's a reminder that Atlanta's strength transcends organizational levels. With GM, head coach, and players on the same mental wavelength, the air is pristine for the Hawks to soar this season.