Vincent Kearney has always had a knack for creativity**.** A former theater kid, Kearney — now part of NBA Global Partnerships — has built a life centered on passion and grit. Having worked for the NBA for nearly three decades, he sees that same passion mirrored both on the court and in the stands.
His contributions to NBA Pride, along with that lengthy career, has earned him a spot as an Outsports Power 100 Rising 50 honoree for 2025.
Kearney has built an impressive resume with the NBA. Starting in the legal department in 1997, he has created avenues for basketball lovers to express their fandom, and for LGBTQ players and fans to enjoy the game while feeling safe in their identities.
“I’m one of those gays that was never really sports-oriented,” Kearney told Outsports. “I was more in the library and the theater and stuff like that. And oddly enough, when I interviewed for this job back in ’97, I didn’t know anything about basketball. I was like, ‘OK, I’m just going to work in the legal department.’”
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To say that Kearney’s time with the NBA changed his life would be an understatement.
Over the years, he has developed a love for the “exciting and thrilling” world of basketball. Hailing from North Carolina, he’s a Charlotte Hornets fan but also cheers on the Toronto Raptors when watching games with his husband — whom he met through the NBA.
“There’s nothing like our game,” Kearney said.
Kearney keeps busy in his day-to-day. Though much of his schedule is occupied by “too many emails to number,” he spends most of his time licensing contracts for consumer products.
“Hats, T-shirts, socks, belts, sheets, bedding, curtains — anything you could possibly think of that a person wants to buy,” Kearney said. He estimates he does “about 200 licensing agreements every season.”
That includes NBA Pride merchandise.
While some major sports leagues have had an up-and-down relationship with the LGBTQ community, Kearney said he has “always felt accepted” working for the NBA.
To that end, two years ago — in relation to the presence of the NBA and WNBA on that year’s Outsports Power 100 list — Outsports highlighted the leading position these leagues have taken over the years with the LGBTQ community in major American sports.
“The NBA practices and shows that it is a welcoming and open place — whether it’s on the court or in the office,” he said. “The support is from the top all the way to the bottom for LGBTQ+ employees and players.”
Kearney acknowledges that it’s a tough time for LGBTQ athletes and fans, but he hopes NBA Pride continues to promote visibility and strengthen connections among fans.
There are several components to NBA Pride, including Pride Nights — which almost ever NBA team hosts throughout the season, dedicating one night to LGBTQ+ players and fans. Other elements include fan merchandise, partnerships with GLAAD and Athlete Ally, and participation in the NYC Pride March.
“NBA Pride has slowly become the kickoff event for All-Star,” Kearney said. “NBA Pride hosts an event where we go out to a group that’s doing some work in the communities, and we participate and stay there. It’s not like we just do a flyby — we stay involved with these groups over the years.”
Whether or not a fan is LGBTQ, Kearney is most proud when he sees players and fans expressing themselves at their highest level through their fandom.
“There’s an unending appetite,” Kearney said. “People are passionate and want to have whatever little piece they can — whether it’s a T-shirt, a towel or a champagne bottle. People love our game, and they want to be associated with it in any way.”
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