Kent Lacob will leave the Warriors: How the Boss Son makes this big decision

Kent Lacob's decision has been settled and this matter is a foregone conclusion. But from the practical and emotional aspects, he still needs to confess to his father. So he made an appointment for the CEO of Golden State Warriors. This kind of heavy news is not suitable for throwing it out on the dining table, and time must be specially arranged.

As Kent drove from Chase Center to his father's house, the anxiety gradually became clear and touching. He has walked this road countless times, even a bit monotonous and boring - sitting in Porsche Paramelari empty-minded and thinking about his work as the vice president of Warriors basketball development has long been an instinctive reaction. But this time, he clearly felt the accelerated heartbeat all the way. The 280 highway, which is more than 0 miles more than 0 miles, seems to be stretching particularly slowly, with every curve being stretched. As the city skyline gradually disappeared in the rearview mirror and replaced by the mansion hidden in the peninsula, the waves in his heart became increasingly intense. Every turn brings him closer to the man who stood at the center of his world—the founder of the empire he relies on as his heir. How would his father and boss respond to this "Declaration of Independence"?

After arriving at Atherton's mansion, he parked in the house as usual and walked straight to the home office - a place where blood and business intertwined. The father had already noticed something strange: If it weren't for something, why should my son make a special appointment for the schedule? At the beginning of the meeting, the suspense was immediately revealed.

Kent resigned. The

message came unexpectedly. Just before the NBA draft in June, Joe Lacob was obviously stunned when he heard about the decision. He stared at his son, digesting the sudden news, and then expressed his first reaction:

"Good guy," the warrior boss said, "There is a kind. "

There is no disagreement, no conflict. Kent insists that his departure has nothing to do with family conflicts—the opposite is true. He loved it all: basketball, the Warriors, family glory, and the pressure to maintain the standards of excellence in this dynasty team.

But what always touched in his heart was that innate sense of privilege. He knew better than anyone else that every door he had walked through had already been open. No matter how hard he tried, he could not get rid of the accusation of "nepotism" - this hidden pain was like a shadow. As a complete basketball fanatic, Kent sometimes can't even believe he can get into the NBA management. But even bathed in the glory of the warriors, the shadow cast by his father's huge figure could not dissipate.

It was this soberness that ultimately prompted him to make the decision to leave.

Over the past decade, he has been fighting on the forefront of the NBA. Endless flights, deserted hotel rooms, sweat-filled training halls, countless conference calls, and continuous tactical discussions - these are just small costs to join the core circle of decision-making. Kent has experienced the glory of three championships, and his name is closely linked to one of the greatest eras in basketball history. What's even more rare is that he was able to fight side by side with his brother Kirk and shed his blood in the empire created by his father - this empire was built for them to some extent.

However, immersing in this world tailored for him for ten years has not brought true satisfaction. Now that he is 32 years old, he is about to get married, and a voice deep in his heart is becoming clearer and clearer: if he doesn't even dare to try to open up his own path, he will never be able to face his heart. He must prove that he can still gain a foothold in the career field after leaving Joe Racob's kingdom.

"I am extremely curious about how new perspectives I can get when I jump out of this circle," Kent admitted, "I fully understand the attraction of this position. Yes, it's very comfortable here, and it's a great blessing to get it all - although it's not entirely up to me. I just happened to be placed in this environment and surrounded by it. I'm grateful for it. But I also realized that such an experience may not necessarily lead to a complete understanding of life. When I look back on my life in the future, I may still not be sure what I really pursue. "

Kent clearly hesitated when talking about this. In the Warriors management conference room, his fingers unconsciously stroked the tabletop, and his eyes glanced out of the glass wall from time to time - as if on the empty training ground, there was a perfect explanation he had never found. At this moment, even that iconic smile was not as natural as before.

He knew very well that this decision was destined to be misinterpreted and would eventually become another story for the world to mock him in the privileged class. After all, the fact that you can give up your NBA management position without worries is the most naked proof of privilege. This dilemma is unsolvable: the innate golden spoon is destined to make him even "failure" a luxury.

The Lakob family is often compared to the HBO hot drama "The Battle of Inheritance" - the plot of the four children of media tycoons greedily fighting for their father's business empire, which is exactly the same as their family. But in reality, the Lakob brothers and sisters are more eager to find their own value outside the family empire. The 36-year-old eldest son Kirk is an exception. He devoted himself to his family's career, but this choice was hard-won. After Stanford graduated, he planned to start a technology company. But when he graduated in 2010, his father suddenly acquired the Warriors. When the dream of professional players was shattered, Kirk and Kent both looked forward to entering the NBA management. Who would have thought that Kirk became the Warriors’ basketball operations director just four months after graduation.

At first he resisted the job because of his concern for public opinion. After the Warriors won the first championship in 2015, the same concerns made him want to go to business school. But whenever he stands at the fork in life, he eventually chooses to stay. My father always enlightened him like this: "Don't let down your dreams because of the way you get the opportunity. "

"Will I care? Of course," said Kirk, 37, standing outside the box of the Chase Center boss, wearing a quilted jacket and a purple T-shirt from the Golden State Valkyrie. "But I understand people's thinking too. After all, this is the reality - our family bought the team, which is an unchangeable fact... For me, the questioning of 'nepotism' has become the driving force. 'You don't think I'm not qualified? 'Good, then I'll try harder... But seriously, there are so many things in life that are harder than this. "

35-year-old second daughter Kelly has never entered the NBA world. She is now the CEO of a startup company and works silently in her own field.

The 30-year-old daughter Cathy also walks her own path. On September 5, the movie "My Everything" written by her will premiere in theaters. This growth-themed film, which was once touring the film festival, was called "The Book of Jobs", Inspired by her upbringing in Silicon Valley and her determination to be the next Steve Jobs. "All About Me" has been completed over the years, pouring all of Cathy's hard work - she didn't rely on her father's wealth and connections, but it is undeniable that the last name is always with her.

"I can be the first to admit that I have great privileges," she admitted in a phone interview, "Yes, I did have the opportunity to seek advice from (Warriors Co-owner and Filmmaker) Peter Guber. But he didn't invest in my movies, and even persuaded me to give up to some extent. But those suggestions and connections are more precious than money. So, of course I have an advantage. "

Her parents did not support her in the film industry at first, but instead encouraged her to go on her own, allowing her to truly experience the hardships of starting a business. The late mother Laurie Lacob also entered the film industry. Cathy said that until she got better in the film industry, her family really understood her pursuits.

"Sometimes I would also think," Cathy said, " 'Am I wasting a great opportunity? Will life be easier if you join a family business in some way? Is this a wiser choice? '... But to be honest, that was never my dream. I have loved sports since I was a child, but I am different from my brothers. "

Living in the shadow of a famous father - this venture capital superstar who had been a powerful player before becoming the boss of the NBA dynasty - means not only inheriting the surname and the privileges it brings, but also being forced to live in a script that does not belong to him.

Wealth and privilege are accompanied by harsh expectations for success. Each of their achievements is coated with the background of "privileges". They are born lucky, born in a greenhouse of resources and opportunities. Their "ordinary" is difficult for ordinary people to achieve. Their dreams are hanging on the safety net with a failure rate of only 1%. At the same time, it is harder to gain true independence. They have almost no way to experience the sense of accomplishment from scratch and are insulated from the sense of glory of self-achievement. The confidence inherited is always extremely short. Because of this, no one in the family was surprised by Kent's decision. All of this is traceable.

"He has the spirit of entrepreneurs," Joe Lacob commented, "more restless restlessness than the other children. "

Kent is still very secretive about the next plan. He declares that he should "stay open and free, wait for opportunities to come" rather than rush into a new career. He clearly ruled out the possibility of joining other teams, and could not imagine that he would be trapped in the cubicle of the company's building. The University of Washington Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, a scholar who usually doesn't put aside the book, only reveals himself "has other interests".

In the territory of the Warriors Empire, external interests are often dusted - especially when your last name is Lacob.

"As my child," Joe Lacob admitted, "I will inevitably suffer from nepotism, and I understand this doubt. I was a bystander and knew how people view the children of wealthy families who have the advantage. But my kids are by no means the case. "

They have to be obsessed with being excellent. Proving their worth.

Kent loves this persistence. The state of full commitment. The never-ending rhythm. And the whole process itself—the long nights that have been spent with friends, the missed lunch, and the late nights of overtime have all become unique rewards. He started as the general manager of the Santa Cruz Warriors and gradually grew into a key member of the Warriors' management. He participated in the discovery and nurtured Juan Tuscano Anderson, missed the signing of Allen Smaillagic, and insisted on signing Gary Payton II. Behind this is endless discussion, research and scouting work. There is a never-ending debate with Kirk.

"We can pick each other," Kent said with a smile, "compete each other. Handle serious matters together and share happy times. This experience was really great. But this decision to leave has been brewing for many years. He often talks about another possibility of life, and his words reveal other yearnings. In 2020, he met his fiancee Black, a ballet dancer, injecting a new perspective into his life. Bob Myers, who has been in charge of basketball for 11 years, always advocates a balance between work and life, encourages team members to develop off-court interests, withdraw from the perpetual hamster wheel, and put family first as much as possible. As a result, this Kent and Miles have been working closely together, so when Miles left in May 2023 - partly because it was difficult to find balance in this world - the message Kent received was self-evident. A month later, the spiritual earthquake caused by his death after his long struggle with cancer completely reshapes his cognition.

"I think he discussed the most with his mother," Cathy said. "I know they had many deep conversations because she was always so wise." She really cares whether his life is fulfilling and fully understands his dilemma. "

Kent has changed. So is this team. When he first joined, there were only 6 people in the management. Now it has expanded to 44 people.

Okay, now it is 43 people.

"This feeling would be very strange," Kent admitted, "but what really made me feel full of vitality was the kind of "Oh my God, I was both scared and nervous, completely overwhelmed, so I had to find a way out for myself. Instead, I was looking forward to returning to the uneasiness full of uncertainty. "

However, when he was about to confess to his father, this uncertainty was not so exciting. My father is known for his strict style and hot temper. He is a person who will never give up until he achieves his goal. Kent knows it well, and his father will never be happy to see him leave.

But the actual scene was unexpected. His confession neither caused anger nor disappointment. The boss's identity quietly faded away, and his father's true nature gradually emerged. Surprise turns into understanding, and understanding leads to pride - Kent reads this kind of pride from his father's eyes.

"Parents sometimes surprise you," Kirk said. "My father was especially so. People had a fixed impression of him, but he was by no means a thin comic-style figure. "

Their fathers did not forget that their empire was built on adventure. He still remembers the desperate bet that churns in his stomach - it is this determination that forces him to break out of his own path. Joe's ears echoed the advice of his father who had dropped out of college and worked in the same company for 40 years: Don't be like me, Joe. I never dare to take risks in my life.

These lessons from the poor life of New Bedford, Massachusetts, ultimately helped him build a huge kingdom so that Lacob's children would never have to experience the lack. When Kent proposed to resign, what the father saw was that his son's fighting spirit was not eroding, and his success and fame did not breed complacency - he saw his own shadow in Kent.

Of course, this "wish" is not that "wish". Kent's leap was more like exploration than adventure. But my father still saw that desire and courage in it - this is worthy of respect.

Giving blessings is actually telling my son: Just like I did back then.

And for Kent, the way to practice this sentence is to leave.