Coaches, owners named to NBA’s new competition committee

NEW YORK — Rick Carlisle, coach of the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks, and Dan Gilbert, the club owner spurned by LeBron James, are among 10 people named on Wednesday to the NBA’s new competition committee.

The group had previously been composed of the NBA’s 30 team general managers but last month the NBA agreed to change the composition of the panel, which recommends rule changes or other competition matters to owners for approval.

Two owners, four general managers, three coaches and a representative from the players union now form the committee’s membership.

“The (ownership) board decided that the inclusion of owners and head coaches on the competition committee would add valuable perspectives to discussions about our game and how it might be improved,” NBA president Joel Litvin said.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins will join Carlisle among coaches on the panel while Golden State’s Joe Lacomb will join Gilbert as a team owner on the committee.

Gilbert owns the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost superstar playmaker LeBron James two years ago to the Miami Heat when he became a free agent. James won his third NBA Most Valuable Player award last Saturday, his first with Miami.

Also on the committee are general managers Bryan Colangelo of Toronto, Sam Presti of Oklahoma City, Kevin O’Connor of Utah and Mitch Kupchak of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The players union representative has not yet been announced.

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