This off-season has been a quiet one for the Golden State Warriors. Except for the murmurs around Jonathan Kuminga’s future, no major roster moves have taken place so far. Instead, there has been a huge change in the front office. Kent Lacob, son of Warriors owner Joe Lacob, has decided to step down from his position as Vice President of basketball development.

According to The Athletic, Kent made this decision because he wanted to step out of his father’s shadow and build a career independent of his father’s influence. Despite being an important figure in the Warriors’ front office for more than a decade, little is known about his background or the work he did in the Bay Area. So, let’s learn more about it.

What is Kent Lacob’s background in basketball and early life?

Kent Lacob was a hooper back in the day. Inspired by a Fisher-Price hoop that his mother placed inside his home’s entryway, Kent’s basketball journey began in his early childhood. What started as a hobby soon turned into something he wanted to pursue going forward, and that’s exactly what he did.

It all started when Kent showcased his true potential while attending The Menlo School, where he averaged 11 points per game and led the league in assists. That brought him to the attention of many college scouts, and after bagging several offers, he chose to play for Washington University in St. Louis. In college, Kent Lacob quickly hustled his way to a starting spot as a point guard and became an important cog in the team.

However, while Kent enjoyed hooping as a captain, he also enjoyed leadership roles off the court. That’s because, apart from being a part of the basketball team, Lacob was an opinions editor for the school newspaper. However, toward his senior year, Lacob knew that he wasn’t going to make it into the league as a player, so after earning a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology with a minor in Commercial Entrepreneurship, he decided to make the switch to coaching.

What roles did Kent Lacob hold during his decade with the Golden State Warriors?

Although Kent Lacob did not make it to the NBA, that did not stop him from being involved in basketball. He started his journey with the Warriors as a coordinator of basketball operations in 2015. As he gained more experience at the backroom level, he started moving up the ladder.

Kent progressed to become the director of team development in 2019, later becoming the Executive Director of Team Development in 2021. He continued in that position till 2023, when he became the Vice President of basketball Development. Throughout all these roles, the 32-year-old played a major part in one of the most successful eras for the Dubs.

Despite so many successes, why did Kent Lacob decide to step away from the Warriors?

Why did Kent Lacob leave the Warriors, and what are his future plans?

As we mentioned, Kent Lacob has been a key figure behind the scenes for the Warriors for a good part of the last decade. So, it came as a huge shock when he announced his exit just before this season’s NBA draft, right in front of his father and Golden State’s owner, Joe Lacob. But what motivated him to take such a big step? Well, if we were to explain this simply, it was a decision motivated by Kent’s desire to do something of his own.

He elaborated on his reasons for leaving the Warriors in an interview with The Athletic. “I’m very curious about what else, what other type of perspective I can gain from stepping outside of that,” Kent said. “I understand how it’s attractive in many ways. Yeah, it’s very comfortable. And I’m incredibly fortunate to have this. Not by my own doing. But I have stepped into a world that just put me in this situation to have all this around me. I’m incredibly grateful for it. But I also don’t think that it necessarily gives me a fully robust perspective on life and what it is that I ultimately am going to want when I, like, reflect on what I did with my life.”

While Kent stated that he was grateful for the decade he spent in the NBA, he now wants to start his own business. Although this wasn’t the only factor. Kent is getting married soon, which is why he wanted to take a last professional risk before starting his married life. While this was an emotional goodbye for the Dubs supporters, his father gave him his blessings, as Kent Lacob embarks on a new adventure.