Warriors GM has special relationship with players, staff
OAKLAND, Calif. — When Bob Myers hosts a dinner party, he is the guy who, once it is all over, has a pretty good read on the entire evening: who had a great time, who held something back, which couples are getting along, who might be dealing with a life challenge but chose to keep it private.
“All those things go through my mind, without me trying to. Some people, none of that goes through their mind,” Myers said. “They ate, and did what they did. I don’t know why those things are. I don’t know how you are. ... We all have different intuitions and skills.”
Usually, he is spot on. And his instincts also carry over to the workplace.
The Warriors’ general manager has that same kind of feel for his entire operation — from those staffers behind the scenes, to the coaches, the MVPs and the role players, helping to forge a tightknit team in its third straight NBA Finals.
“There’s a lot of things I have no clue on and then you bring people into your blind spots and say, ‘Look, I’m not good at this, can you help me in this area?’” he said. “That’s also being self-aware. What does it mean? It just means we’re attentive to people. Everybody wants to feel appreciated. Everybody wants to know that they matter.”
Myers has found a balance being involved just enough in the day-to-day. Hands-on when needed while knowing when to back off.
One day, Myers stands in the middle of the center practice court meeting with coach Steve Kerr. He might be speaking to Andre Iguodala or Draymond Green. Another time, he leans against a back wall checking in with Mike Brown, who has been coaching the team during Kerr’s absence following a procedure to repair a spinal fluid leak stemming from complications after two back surgeries in 2015. Myers does sit-ups on a stability ball while chatting up Stephen Curry.
That genuine care for the person and not just the basketball player that Myers shows in all he does went a long way in Kevin Durant leaving Oklahoma City last July to join the Warriors. Sure, a star-studded roster didn’t hurt either.
“He doesn’t walk around like he’s the leader. We know he makes the big decisions but we work together, all of us, him and Steve especially. If you see Bob walking with a group of Warriors employees, you wouldn’t know he’s Bob Myers, the president of the team. He just fits in with everybody,” Durant said. “We talk so much about great leaders being just ahead of the pack most of the time but sometimes that doesn’t have to be your personality. It could be encouraging, working with others, learning and listening. All those traits he has, and I think that’s why he’s ahead of the pack.”