Working her way up the ladder as a client manager for basketball agent Bill Duffy, Camala Lapray provided the gamut of services that come along with that role \u2014 managing off-court schedules, acting as a liaison on sneaker and apparel photo shoots, booking flights for players\u2019 family members and much more.<\/p>\n
Now head of client management for Duffy-led WME Basketball, she manages a staff of eight client managers who provide service to about 55 players, making her the single person whose calendar is synced to every player\u2019s daily calendar.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause player lifestyles are so complex \u2014 off-court and on-court \u2014 the client manager is the one person that makes sure that the two things are always connected,\u201d Lapray said. \u201cThey make sure everything is streamlined so the player can focus on one thing, which is basketball and their success on the court. No distractions. No stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lapray\u2019s basketball roots run deep. Her father is a well-connected AAU coach. Her brother played at Oregon, Pepperdine and Rice. Her aunt was an Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
She got her start thanks to a friend at Adidas Basketball, who told her the thing NBA players most needed was someone to oversee camps and philanthropy. Confident that she could handle that after working for years on camps run by her father, Lapray started with four Adidas players: Damian Lillard, Andrew Wiggins, Harrison Barnes and Ben McLemore.<\/p>\n
WIn 2019, one of Duffy\u2019s client managers invited Lapray to interview for a job that she landed.<\/p>\n
July brought a shining moment, when Duffy client Chet Holmgren signed a five-year max rookie extension coming off the Oklahoma City Thunder\u2019s NBA championship run.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was there for his first foot surgery,\u201d Lapray said. \u201cI was there for his recent hip surgery. I\u2019m the one with his mom when we\u2019re wheeling him out of the hospital. So I\u2019ve seen him at his lowest and most painful moments. To see him rise above it all and win an NBA championship and then get a max deal, that\u2019s one of the most exciting things that I\u2019ve had the pleasure of being part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Camala LaprayHead of client managementWME Basketball<\/p>\n
Why she\u2019s a Game Changer:<\/p>\n
Lapray keeps the on- and off-court schedules for WME Basketball\u2019s players running smoothly so clients, such as the Thunder\u2019s Chet Holmgren, can focus on basketball, winning championships and landing contract extensions.<\/p>\n
Born: Salem, Oregon<\/p>\n
Education: University of Oregon, B.A., social sciences<\/p>\n
New place I want to travel to next: Banff in Alberta. I love outdoors and hiking. Being someplace relaxing and remote where I can put my phone away for a few days \u2014 I would love to do that.<\/p>\n
Attributes I look for when hiring: Someone that is a people person and outgoing but also organized.<\/p>\n
Sports business story I\u2019m excited to follow in the next year: What the next NBA expansion looks like.<\/p>\n
I have a dream that one day \u2026 : Women in sports will be seen to have equal opportunity to men in sports.<\/p>\n
Best tool to keep me organized in work and in life: My calendar, synced with the calendars of all our players.<\/p>\n