Wayne Embry

During his collegiate career, Embry set several school records, including a 15.5 career rebounding average and an astonishing 34 rebounds and 39 points in a single game. His professional playing career began after he was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the third round of the 1958 NBA Draft. Soon after, he was traded to the Cincinnati Royals, where he quickly became a pivotal player.

Continuing his pioneering executive career, he later became the first African American team president in any major U.S. sport, specifically with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1994. Embry further cemented his executive legacy with leadership roles at the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. His exceptional contributions were recognized with two prestigious NBA Executive of the Year awards in 1992 and 1998, both during his time with the Cavaliers.

For his illustrious career, Embry was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. Since 2004, Wayne Embry has served as a senior basketball advisor for the Toronto Raptors, bringing decades of experience to the organization. In this capacity, he notably contributed to the Raptors’ historic 2019 NBA Championship. Most recently, his lasting legacy was honored with the unveiling of a statue at Miami University in 2021.