Out NBA Exec Rick Welts Named To The Basketball Hall Of Fame

Rick Welts

Openly gay NBA executive Rick Welts, currently the Golden State Warriors president, has been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame

Welts is the first openly gay man to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

From Outsports:

Welts is the first openly gay man to be elected to the Hall of Fame, an incredible and historic feat. He has been in the NBA in some capacity since 1969 and served as the league’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from 1996-1999. He is created with the early building and marketing of the Dream Team and the WNBA.

Welts came out in 2011 and blazed the trail for other openly gay front office members in the league. After coming out, Welts resigned from his position with the Phoenix Suns to become the Warriors president, and the team has won two championships since he joined the team.

Starting as an @NBA ball boy and eventually working in the league office, this man’s career has been an incredible journey. With a key role in marketing ‘92 Dream Team and the launch of the @WNBA, we congratulate Rick Welts. #18HoopClass

📸: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images pic.twitter.com/9ohh6C5EX6

— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) March 31, 2018