NBA putting its stamp on this year’s AfroTech

The NBA league office is always looking for ways to entrench itself in team markets, and this year’s AfroTech conference offers another chance to make its mark.
The AfroTech annual conference will be held from November 13-16 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Founded in 2016, the convention is centered around startups, entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Black community, giving employees a huge opportunity to network and participate.
“Being African American in tech, you are a minority,” said Jade Daniels, the senior product manager helping lead the AfroTech planning committee. “Having a convention where you can come together with like-minded individuals who have gone through similar struggles gives you a sense of pride and joy that you are not in the fight alone.”
Over 80 NBA employees from 15 departments are expected to attend. The Association will participate in and host several events to grow and foster new relationships for the future. This includes applying insights from speakers on a range of topics from technology and culture to business. The NBA will also host its own event, “Level up your game,” featuring Byron Spruell, the head of league operations, head of WNBA operations Bethany Donaphin and Rockets general manager Rafael Stone.
“The goal is to share insights on how the league is leveraging technical innovations, giving a behind-the-scenes look and showcasing who is leading the charge in the rapidly evolving landscape,” Daniels said.
Additionally, former NBA All-Star Baron Davis will host an NBA fireside chat. NBA technical project manager Sierra Ferrier says Davis embodies everything AfroTech stands for.
“We are aiming to showcase [Davis], who is leading the way as an entrepreneur with strong investment in technology,” Ferrier said. “Baron’s growth coming out of the NBA and finding new roads to entrepreneurship is what we want to highlight.”
On Nov. 15, the NBA will partner with the Houston Rockets to host over 150 attendees at the Rockets vs. Clippers Emirates NBA Cup game.
“There’s an importance of having this in a city that has a large Black population,” Ferrier said. “Now that we are in an NBA market, we want to showcase to conference attendees all that we do on the court and off the court, we are much more than just an app, but a full technology board department within the space.”
Creating access to career pathways is a key priority for the NBA Foundation. The Foundation sponsored 100 Houston-area college students from Rice University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University and the University of Houston to attend Afrotech, providing them with opportunities to hear from high-profile leaders and gain career-ready insights from tech professionals across multiple sectors. The students will also attend a Houston Rockets game, giving them a chance to build connections and network with NBA staff.
“We want to open the door to the students. We’ve learned about the need to connect, having this space with students and partners gives us time to enjoy the basketball game, but also to speak and connect with each other,” Daniels said.
With vast opportunities to learn from professionals in the tech space, the students will put their knowledge to the test. On Saturday, the NBA Foundation will host a Tech Challenge alongside AfroTech. Twenty-four Houston-area students will work together to use tech skills to solve a business challenge presented by the Houston Rockets.
“Giving students the opportunity to showcase their skills on a business level to get a reward is the true culmination of events,” Daniels said.
For more information on the AfroTech Conference, click here.