Chrysa Chin is the ‘NBA mom’ to generations of players

NBA auntie. Mama Chin. The Hat Lady. Black Ops. Secret Weapon. Pioneer.

Chrysa Chin has respectfully earned several nicknames for her motherly role in the basketball world for more than three decades. While Chin stands just 4-foot-11¾, the National Basketball Players’ Association’s executive vice president for strategic engagement and development has stood tall for generations of players by helping them navigate life off the court.

“I have a lot of pride in whatever nickname players call me or consider me after impacting them positively,” Chin told Andscape. “It defines my relationship to them. They are all good, but the nicknames ‘Secret Weapon’ and ‘Black Ops’ crack me up.”

Chin, 61, has worked for over 10 years in her second stint with the NBPA, where she has also held an EVP role as a chief player engagement officer and EVP of strategic engagement and development. She has also previously worked with the NBA as vice president of player development and with Nike as a relationship management consultant.

While with the NBA, she was famously known as “The Hat Lady” for presenting team hats to players who were sometimes two feet taller than her when they were selected during the NBA draft.

Chin, a New York native, began her pro basketball career as the NBPA’s special assistant to the executive director and manager in 1991. With her strategic advisory, crisis management and leadership skills, she’s built a reputation for being a trusted and respected confidante for NBA players. Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, a former NBPA president Chin worked under, spoke highly of Chin’s impact on pro basketball.

“She means everything to me,” Paul told Andscape. “There are a lot of people who can take a victory lap for where the league is today and its success. Chrysa is one who absolutely deserves it. She’s been the NBA mom and a lifeline for a number of guys. I’m forever grateful for that.”

The following is a Q&A with Chin with Andscape in which she reflected on her impact in the basketball world, her son being in the industry, motherhood, women of color in sports and much more.

You have a reputation for quietly showing up and getting things fixed behind the scenes for players. Would you agree with that?

I try to get in behind the scenes. Keeping everything in strict confidence is extremely important. So, I get in, get out, and then follow up and make sure everything is OK. So, the pro athlete community had an event [this summer] and there were a lot of former players there participating in this transition programming and support by an organization that I sit on the advisory board. And my son went to the reception with me and so many guys said to him, ‘Man, I know about you, I see you on [Instagram]. That’s our mom, too. You’re my brother.’ And you could see my son’s face light up because there were so many guys, guys that we all know, but some of them knew him. …

They said to him, ‘You might not want to share her, but she’s our mom, too.’ And they told him how many lives I’ve saved, and it almost made me cry. That’s the one thing that I know sometimes when I talk to our guys, they just need somebody that’s in their corner that doesn’t want anything, need anything. I can solve the problems.

But you carry the weight of a player’s issue when you take it on?

I can manage weight because I’m a mother. When you’re a mother, you can manage a world. The weight isn’t a challenge. It’s only weight when you can’t solve it, and when somebody can’t get better in those situations. You don’t not necessarily feel failure, but you wish it could turn out differently.

How did you gain the trust of NBA players in the beginning?

I always look for ways to connect with people. So, I start with an introduction. I’m not super wordy, and I think they appreciate that. I introduce myself. ‘This is what I do. This is how I can help. And oh, by the way, I know you like A, B, C, or whatever it is. I know you love music. I know you like wine. I know you’re from this part of the world or this part of the country. This is what I know about that.’ I majored in international relations and it connects because I’m not asking for anything. I’m trying to always bring and give. …

They know that I’m going to fight for them and I’m going to hear them. And it’s important to understand what they are experiencing and how can we get to the next step. Maybe it’s a big step. Maybe it’s a little step. How can we get there?

What was your first entrance into employment in the basketball world?

The top of the ’90s, I left the law firm world working in securities litigation and I accepted a job at the National Basketball Players Association. I met some people that introduced me to Charlie Grantham, who was the executive director at that time and I had two different offers. And I accepted his because I was able to use all of my experiences from before. I was a law firm case manager for the City of New York working with juvenile delinquents and the criminally insane. I was able to transfer those skills into sport and support players in a way that had not been done before. …

I didn’t want to be in the law firm world anymore. It was great, but I wanted to do something different, and I wanted to do something that I could enjoy and something that might challenge me more quickly. And I had the runway to do that and it was incredible. Changes in leadership happened, restructures happened, reorgs happened. So, when Charlie wasn’t there anymore, neither was I. And that’s just sort of the reality of the world.

I developed a relationship with Nike, and so I was able to consult for them in New York and help support some of their events and support some of their player engagement, which I did. And then the [WNBA] was being launched and I went to an event and saw [then-NBA commissioner] David [Stern], saw [then-NBA chief of staff] Adam [Silver], and they asked me what I was doing. I told them, and they asked me if I would separate myself from that and come help launch the ‘W’ and then they would transition me to men’s basketball. And the rest is history. I stayed there for 17 1/2 years. The NBA is a great place to be and work.

I left because Chris Paul and the executive committee at that time asked if I would come and help rebuild and restructure their union. And if you know Chris, Chris is a good negotiator and he’s pretty forceful. We kind of went back and forth for a while and he wasn’t taking no for an answer. So, I did that. I left and met [then-NBPA executive director] Michele [Roberts]. She was amazing. And we along with others got to work.

When you took that first sports job with the NBPA, what did your family or some of your colleagues think?

They thought I was insane. My family, everyone thought I was crazy for a couple of reasons. One, I took a $20,000 pay cut. The second part of it was just because women were not really visible in sports at a managerial level at that point. There were some for sure — the great [NBA vice president of player and talent relations] Leah Wilcox and others. But it wasn’t the norm and my family and others thought that I wouldn’t be successful because women just didn’t work in sports at that time. For the NBPA, I was special assistant to the executive director. It was a very small shop at that time. So, it allowed you to do a lot of things from event management to player engagement to anything you could think of.

At that time, did you already consider yourself a trailblazer for women in sports?

In many ways only in that Charlie and [then-NBPA president] Isiah Thomas really empowered me in that role as a special assistant. [Then-NBA special assistant to the commissioner] Adam Silver was my counterpart and Charlie and Isiah made sure that I had great access and that people weren’t trying to circumvent me at any time or allow them to try to go over my head to talk to them. They didn’t allow that. So, it did allow me to have a footprint at that time that was unusual in that home for sure.

How would you summarize your time with the NBA?

Those 17 1/2 years were great. I got to do great things. USA Basketball, rookie transition, crisis management, drug-program pieces, which I still have oversight of to this day. All of it was amazing. There are tough times everywhere at times, but the beauty of the NBA is that it was always growing and the leadership in my view was amazing. David was a great leader. I already had a relationship with Adam, even before he became commissioner. Adam is a people person and believes in growth and believes in engagement. It was amazing to have been a part of that group.”

How did you use your short stature to your advantage with NBA players who are as much as 2 feet taller than you?

I’ve always been little. I’ve always been smaller and I’ve always had to fight. I only say that because you learn to establish boundaries really early. So, when I walk into a room, I’m confident about who I am and what I bring. Players saw that immediately. Many players are raised by very strong mothers, grandmothers, aunts, whoever it is that’s in their circle. They saw that in me and they allowed me to be strong with and for them as well.

So, it was always a partnership. But they also know I don’t take any nonsense. So, we’re not doing that. I’m going to be caring and nurturing and all of that, but the boundaries are set personally and professionally.

Can you explain how you became known as “The Hat Lady” during the NBA draft?

It’s so funny. Some people thought that was my only job was to be ‘The Hat Lady’ at the draft. But it was kind of interesting. I sort of got transitioned into that role along with others in my department. Previously, it had been a former player. And then I had to do it, too. And there were some expectations with that. Getting the guys up to the [draft stage], prepared and all of that. And so, I got into the rotation.

And then when I was [attending] the elite youth circuit and on the college circuit when I would meet certain guys and they would say, ‘I want you to give me my hat.’ And so not being ‘The Hat Lady’ sort of was a little piece away from me. It took a little piece away from me to not be part of that realization of that dream. But it was so amazing to be parts of those dreams where guys say, ‘You gave me my hat.’ I see guys to this day and I don’t know if I was the one who gave them the hat or Satch Sanders or Rory Sparrow. But they say, ‘You gave me my hat. I’ll never forget you. You gave me my hat.’ But it’s pretty amazing to be a part of that because that hat represents the realization of [being drafted]. I left the NBA in 2014, so that was probably my last [draft].

What was your most memorable moment of being “The Hat Lady?”

There are two. So, one was Carmelo Anthony. And Carmelo’s was memorable. If you know Melo, he’s a jokester. And we had this conversation about the hat being above your brows so we could see your face. And he was jokingly giving me a hard time at the table. People said, ‘What were you saying to him?’ And I was saying to him, ‘Put that [Denver Nuggets] hat on.’ So, he put it on and it was a little joke between us. That was just kind of like a funny moment. Meanwhile, the commissioner was waiting for him to arrive on the stage.

The other time that’s really funny was Mateen Cleaves. And that’s because I went to his table, gave him the hat and he was walking to the stage with his arm around me. He wouldn’t let go. I was like, ‘You got to let me go because you got to get on the stage.’ But he was so happy and so proud at that moment, and it was natural. I’m always walking around with the guys with their arm around me. So, it was pretty funny.

Of your time in the NBA, what were you most proud of?

I was proud of so many things. I was proud of the relationship that we had with USA Basketball and being able to travel with the guys internationally and make sure they transitioned or helped them transition into different countries. That was great. Along with the Nike Jordan family, that was amazing. I think the opportunities to engage with players just freely present for them life skills, training, every experience to interact, to solve their problems, to be able to do it confidentially, whatever those challenges were.

Rookie Transition Program was always one of my favorite programs that we executed because you got to help guys get oriented. Then the times when players came to the office probably were the highlights because if they’ve not been there before, they don’t know what to expect. And many people thought it was Dave or Adam and like seven people. There are several floors there with many people doing many different things. To be able to walk them through that and let them see what this production — this business — is all about and what their part is, I think was empowering for them to understand that they are a piece, they’re a part.

What is it like working in the NBPA now and what is your main goal on a daily basis?

My role has changed many times under different leaderships. But now I lead crisis management, which is something I’ve always done and focus on the governance of the anti-drug policy and its education program and resources. Every day is interesting because you don’t know what’s going to hit. You don’t know whether there’s a family challenge, extortion. There are so many things or questions about many of the people that are around them or substances that people are trying to push forward. This will make you bigger, stronger, faster, recover more quickly, but also can end up in a 25-game suspension. So, helping guys really understand that and have the best information to take care of their bodies and to elongate their careers is my focus. Always is.

As a woman in this industry, what doors have you opened for women in sports?

For women, I’ve been able to allow them to see themselves in me and to aspire to be in this space. A lot of people don’t know that this role, these types of roles exist. So, I’ve been able to do that. I take mentorship very, very seriously. I participate in mentorship programs, one in Africa, BAL [Basketball Africa League] Speak Up Africa, where I mentor young women. I just really make sure that people understand that there is a path and that there are ways to connect. And I help them do it and do it the right way.

Also making sure that professionalism is maintained, and that goes for young men and young women that I talk to. But this is how you advance in this business. This is how you should carry yourself. You have to stay ahead of the game. You have to continue to hone your craft. You have to do all of these things. It’s not like you just arrived and that’s it. So, being able to drill that home and being able to work with countless people in the industry when they hit a wall, I think that has been probably the most rewarding to know that I have an open door.

I’ll tell you a quick funny story: When I was at the [NBA], I got on Twitter. I got a message from somebody internally that said that there were a group of women that wanted to meet with me. And I did not know that woman and did not know those people. But I took it to my assistant and she said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s so and so and so, blah, blah.’ And they wanted to have lunch. So, I took them to lunch. They just wanted to talk about their experiences at the [NBA], areas for development and how they could move forward. It was a humbling moment because I traveled so much that I didn’t know that they knew I existed. But the fact that they identified me, it’s not like I had all this PR or any of that. The fact that they were comfortable sharing with me meant a lot to me. Then to be able to empower them and help them go forward and make decisions they needed to make in their own careers, whether they were staying or leaving. That was a moment.

What is it like also having a son working in the pro basketball space as director of player development and film for the G League Westchester Knicks?

I’m a proud mother. If you know anything about me, you know about Joel Garcia. That is my heart, soul, my pride and joy. He’s now employed in the industry, too, working with the Westchester Knicks as a coach.

What’s the key to being a great mother?

Being present. I’m a single mom. But I think you have to find time to engage with your kids and be present and make sure that they know that they’re the priority no matter what you’re doing, no matter what’s happening in the world. And to this day, he’s 30. But he knows and everybody knows if he calls, I’m answering the call. And I might say, ‘Hey, I’m in a meeting, do I need to step out or do you need me now?’ To me, that message is the most important.

How does your son help you relate with today’s NBA player from his youth to now?

It went both ways. He helped me relate to players. I was always aware of what was happening when shoes dropped. But the players also helped me because you had to be able to relate to them and understand what their wants and needs are, what is engaging them, what is making them happy. So, I was able to take it back and forth. I would know something and my son would say, ‘How did you know that?’ I would be like, ‘The guys told me.’ Or [an NBA player] would say, ‘How do you know about that?’ I would say, ‘From riding in my son’s car.’ I had no choice but to listen and enjoy his music.

What do you think about your son’s coaching career?

I love it because he loves it. He works really hard. For us in our family dynamic, it’s kind of cool because I can talk to him about work. He can talk to me about work. He can ask for my advice or my guidance and I know how to direct him. The dynamic is great. If players are going through something, sometimes he’ll say, ‘I’m going to put you in touch with my mom.’ Or they’ll say to him, ‘I need your mom’s number. I got to ask her about something.’ It never crosses the line. Nobody’s privacy is ever compromised. But he uses me as a resource and I use him as a resource.

What do you think of the state of women of color in particular as executives in sports now, and what needs to be improved?

That’s a tough question. But always for people of color — and it’s not a cop out — it’s always a challenge. We always have a challenge, and it is for women in sports especially because everybody wants to work in sports, which becomes more so difficult. So, if you don’t have people championing you in an organization and empowering you and making sure that you remain equipped as they do for others, then it makes it more difficult to get the win if you decided not to also do it for yourself.

I was very fortunate at the league because David and Adam constantly empowered. [Former NBA executive vice president] Mike Bantom constantly empowered and made sure that I was developing. And he gave me the runway to have the success that I had, the access, all of that. If you don’t have that, it’s difficult. To this day I invest in myself. What do I need to know? How can I be better? You have to continue to do that and you have to continue to fight for yourself. If you’re not getting what you should get, then you have to figure out how to present that and make sure that you’re heard but also recognize when it’s your time to go because everything is not forever. So, you also have to have the courage, the strength and the network to be able to transition to the next place.