Denver, CO, United States of America: The Sport is on the brink of becoming a major force in the global sporting industry, and it’s the first major American sport to gain national prominence thanks to the efforts of its owner and creator, Mark Cuban.
CNBC’s Sports Business Daily has named the new United States champion, the Denver Nuggets, to its 2016 Sport of the Year.
Cuban is the co-founder of the Miami Heat, who have captured a franchise record seven NBA titles.
His son, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, is the first black player to win an NBA championship, joining the ranks of black athletes who are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
According to CNBC, Cuban has made a series of significant contributions to the sports industry, including launching the NBA’s Miami Heat in 2011, the NBA-backed NBA All-Star Game in 2020, the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament in 2022, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the 2022 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
While Cuban has built the NBA into one of the world’s most popular sports leagues, the American public is largely unaware of the contributions he’s made in his personal life.
For example, Cuban, who is divorced, has had a relationship with former White House press secretary Anthony Scaramucci.
In February, Cuban announced that he had become an honorary member of the United States Football Hall of Famer’s family.
And on Monday, ESPN announced that Cuban will serve as the host of the 2017 ESPY Awards, which are hosted by the NBA in Los Angeles.
“The Sports Business Times is committed to bringing you the best stories, insight and the best athletes and personalities from all over the world,” the publication said in a statement.
“We’re proud to partner with ESPN to bring you the most diverse sports coverage in the world, and our athletes will take center stage.”
In a series titled, “The Most Powerful Athletes of All Time,” CNBC featured a group of the sport’s greatest athletes.
Below is a list of the athletes whose careers have received significant coverage by CNBC:
