Former Warriors GM Bob Myers Explains Difference Between NBA & NFL

Bob Myers was a featured speaker at Game Plan, a CNBC and Boardroom event featuring industry leaders sharing their wisdom about the intersection of business, sports, music, and entertainment. Myers used the time to explain the difference between the NBA and NFL.

Bob Myers On The NBA vs. NFL

Myers is best known for working as the general manager of the Golden State Warriors from 2012 to 2023. After leaving the Warriors, Myers was hired by Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris as a consultant to finding a new head coach and head of football operations.

Having spent time in both leagues, Myers believes there are more differences than similarities between the NBA and NFL.

“An NBA team is very different than an NFL team,” Myers said. “They function completely differently.”

The number of games — 82 in the NBA and 17 in the NFL — and how teams handle a loss is one of the biggest contrasting points between the NFL and the NBA.

“When you lose an NFL game, it’s literally like somebody did die,” Myers said.

Bob Myers Shares Funny Story About Klay Thompson

To illustrate the difference between the mindsets of NBA and NFL players, Myers shared a story about an interaction he had with Warriors guard Klay Thompson.

Myers went to visit Thompson after the guard struggled on a road trip. By the time the conversation ended, Myers couldn’t help but laugh at Thompson’s approach.

“I went to Klay Thompson’s house, and he had an awful road trip,” Myers explained. “And so I went to his house and said, ‘Klay, what happened on that road trip?” And he goes, “My head wasn’t in it.” I go, ‘OK. So you good now?’ And he goes, “Yeah, yeah. I’m good now. I’m focused. I’m locked back in. He goes, ‘I’ll be ready for tomorrow.’ And I go, ‘OK.’ I’m walking out and he goes, ‘Who we got tomorrow anyway?'”

Myers laughed and said, “I was like, ‘You don’t even know who we’re playing.'”