23 Facts About Arn Tellem

Arn Herschel Tellem was born on February 21,1954 and is an American sports executive who is the vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association.

Arn Tellem has written for Sports Illustrated, the op-ed page of The New York Times, Grantland, Detroit Free Press, The Hollywood Reporter, The Japan Times and The Detroit News.

Arn Tellem was born to a Jewish family and is a native of Philadelphia.

Arn Tellem's mother named him after a brave knight in the Prince Valiant comic strip.

Arn Tellem grew up on the Main Line and became a sports junkie at age eight by playing APBA Baseball, a mail-order board game.

Arn Tellem graduated from Haverford College in 1976 and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1979.

Arn Tellem specialized in sports law and commercial litigation and became a partner in the firm.

Arn Tellem began representing baseball players and served six seasons as general counsel of the San Diego Clippers, and was instrumental in the franchise's move to Los Angeles in 1984.

Arn Tellem became the President of WMG Management as part of the deal.

Arn Tellem is certified as an agent by the Major League Baseball Players Association and the National Basketball Players Association, and is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of California.

Arn Tellem was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Southern California School of Law, and is on the board of directors of Peace Players International and Seeds of Peace, organizations that bring together kids from conflict regions around the world to promote tolerance and understanding among the youth in those hot spots.

Arn Tellem oversaw WMG's athlete representation businesses and was involved in the strategic direction of the company.

In 1981, Arn Tellem signed his first athlete, pitcher Mark Langston.

In 1997, the five-year, $55 million deal Arn Tellem made with the White Sox for Albert Belle changed the salary structure in baseball.

When Belle opted out of the contract in 1999, Arn Tellem orchestrated a new five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles worth $65 million.

Arn Tellem cobbled together contracts of six years and $88.5 million for Mussina in 2001; seven years and $120 million for Giambi in 2002; four years and $52 million for Matsui in 2004; and, in 2007, Chase Utley's seven-year, $85 million arbitration contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 1996, Arn Tellem made his mark as an NBA agent by circumventing that year's pro draft to maneuver 18-year-old Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Arn Tellem negotiated contracts of four years and $60 million for Ben Wallace; and maximum salary deals of five years and $67.4 million for Joe Johnson; six years and $86.4 million for Gasol; seven years and $126 million for O'Neal; four years and $50 million for Antawn Jamison; five years and $87.8 million for Brandon Roy; five years and $65 million for LaMarcus Aldridge; five years and $60 million for Al Horford; and seven years and $93 million for McGrady.

In 2009, Gasol reupped with the Lakers for three years and $57 million; a year later Arn Tellem hammered out Johnson's six-year, $123.6 million extension with the Atlanta Hawks; and, in 2011, Rose agreed to a new five-year, $94.8 million deal with the Chicago Bulls.

On July 12,2013, Arn Tellem became part-owner of Israel's Hapoel Jerusalem BC basketball team.

Arn Tellem sold his interest in the franchise in 2016.

Arn Tellem is married to Nancy Arn Tellem, former entertainment and digital media president of Microsoft.

In 2008, Arn Tellem was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.