The game’s rhythm and excitement of fans captured Bunch’s spirit from an early age. There was something magnetic about the atmosphere that made him come alive. The bonding time between father and son ultimately birthed a dream within Bunch and changed the trajectory of his life.
After all, destiny was calling.
“I always felt that working in sports would be a dream,” Bunch said. “I’ve been involved and interested in sports since I was a small child, so once it was time to pursue a professional career, I knew I wanted to land a career in professional sports.”
Meanwhile, Bunch’s mother was the rockstar of the family and told Kenny to keep his faith central and always believe in the impossible.
“She took great care of my siblings and me, made sure we got to school, did what we needed to do as far as homework, sports and activity practices,” Bunch said. “She was what we now call a ‘rockstar.’ She kept us all together.”
After starting his professional sports career with the Memphis Grizzlies, Bunch has now worked in the NBA for over a decade. He’s been with the Mavs for the last eight years and is currently the franchise’s Director of Service & Retention. His role includes many things, but he ensures a quality experience for Club Maverick Members, who are the team’s most loyal and invested fans.
Bunch has held other critical roles with the Dallas Mavericks, serving as the co-chair of the Black Employee Network (BEN). The employee resource group is dedicated to outreach in underserved communities in North Texas and aims to create awareness of Black culture within the Mavs organization. BEN also facilitates educational opportunities internally and externally for minorities and allies.
Membership doubled during Bunch’s tenure, and he held a vital role during a pivotal year in sports history. Bunch was on the forefront of the Mavericks’ efforts with BEN when the NBA and NBPA made social justice a shared goal of the 2019-20 season restart.
“More than anything, there is a closeness and vulnerability that I’ve seen in that group, that over the last 20 months has become that much stronger,” Bunch said. “It’s a special group that I’m very proud just to be a part of.”
Bunch is also a board member with Dallas Influencers in Sports and Entertainment (DISE).
Being in a position of such influence, Bunch understands the weight of the responsibility. He says his parents had a monumental impact on his life and raised him to be a future Black leader. Bunch has stood on the shoulders of giants and now desires to love his wife and twins the same way.
“Both of my parents have always believed in me,” he shared. “They came to all of my games, performances, programs, and were always available to me. They expected and pushed me to excel and keep God first in all that I did, in school and in life. My relationship with them has been such a blessing for me.”
Bunch graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Jackson State University, the fourth largest historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the United States. He also received his Masters of Arts in Sports Commerce from the University of Memphis.
He is married to the love of his life, Rahnesha, and they have twins named Kai and Kameron.
February is Black History Month, and the Dallas Mavericks are proud to join the NBA in celebrating the achievements and extraordinary accomplishments of Black men and women in the organization. Kenny Bunch is an outstanding leader and pioneer who blazes a path for future leaders to follow.
In honor of Black History Month, Mavs.com caught up with Bunch to learn more about his past and how it propelled him into his future.
MAVS.COM: Can you share what you do for the Mavericks for our fans who might not know you? What’s a typical week like in your role?
BUNCH: For the Mavs, I manage our Service & Retention team in our Ticket Sales department. We are responsible for ensuring a quality experience for our most loyal and invested fans, Club Maverick Members. We look to provide an array of gameday experiences, exclusive events and benefits, and the best pricing and options for seats at Mavs games. But in a typical work week, I work closely with a group of dynamic Service & Retention executives, doing what I can to set them up for success in assisting our members, while helping them become better professionals overall.
MAVS.COM: You also co-chaired the Mavs’ Black Employee Network (BEN). Can you explain to MFFLs more about the group?
BUNCH: BEN (Black Employee Network) is one of our organization’s employee resource groups, and stands on awareness of Black culture and history. BEN also promotes professional development for the group, community involvement and networking. Personally, I was honored to be a co-chair of BEN for two years, and was excited to see our membership double over that time. I also enjoyed seeing our organization learn more as it relates to Black history, like learning more about Black-owned businesses in North Texas, and welcoming more and more allies into our group. They are intentional on learning about Black culture, history, and the plight that we’ve faced for many years! But more than anything, there is a closeness and vulnerability that I’ve seen in that group, that over the last 20 months, has become that much stronger. It’s a special group that I’m very proud just to be a part of!
MAVS.COM: Who is a Black player, coach, leader or person within the Mavs organization who has impacted you the most?
BUNCH: At the Mavs, one person who has had a great influence on me has been Gail O’Bannon. When I first got to the Mavs, Gail was one of a few Black people working in the office. But she always looked out for me, connected me with some great accounts and people, and even helped me in my progression of my career as a manager and leader of the Black Employee Network a few years ago. She has always been available to help me and talk through things with me, and she may not know it, but she’s definitely made my time here with the Mavs that much better and more comfortable! She continues to be such an incredible beacon for our organization!
MAVS.COM: Sometimes we chase after dreams, other times, dreams chase after us. Did you always have a desire to work in the NBA — or do you feel like an extraordinary set of circumstances ultimately pushed you into purpose and your current role?
BUNCH: I always felt that working in sports would be a dream! I’ve been involved and interested in sports since I was a small child, so once it was time to pursue a professional career, I knew I wanted to land a career in professional sports. I have been an NBA fan my entire life, really. Growing up in Denver, my dad took me to Nuggets games as early as I could remember, and my love for basketball and the NBA took off from there.
MAVS.COM: Tell me a story about a Black leader or family member in your life who believed in you long before you believed in yourself. Who gets your Lifetime Achievement Award?
BUNCH: Both of my parents have always pushed and believed in me. They came to all of my games, performances, programs, and were always available to me. They expected and pushed me to excel and keep God first in all that I did, in school and in life. My relationship with them has been such a blessing for me! My dad will even tell you, though, that my mom deserves that Lifetime Achievement Award. She took great care of my siblings and me, made sure we got to school, did what we needed to do as far as homework, sports and activity practices, etc. She was what we now call a “rockstar.” She kept us all together, and because of that and so much more, that’s my personal Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
MAVS.COM: Can you share a time in your life when you either overcame an obstacle or maybe just lacked direction? How did overcoming this hardship allow you to now help people through the game of basketball?
BUNCH: When I graduated college, I didn’t have any jobs lined up, and while knowing I wanted to work in sports, I had no clue how I was going to make that happen. I didn’t want to go through more years of school, so I was a little upset that I allowed four years to pass and not be more prepared for life after school. I had to kind of suck it up and understand that I needed to go to graduate school to make the most of my desired career path. Fortunately, I went to the University of Memphis, where I was connected to the Memphis Grizzlies, where I eventually received the opportunity to work on their ticket sales team. That connection helped propel me to where I am now, a 10-plus year veteran in the NBA.
MAVS.COM: What makes you most proud to be a Black man? What do you love most about your background, heritage, or ancestry?
BUNCH: Being a Black man in America has its challenges for sure! But my entire life, I’ve been impacted by positive Black role models that gave me a personal sense of pride to be young and Black. But I’ve always been so proud of our remarkable Black history, and those people who have changed the world, despite the oppression and many challenges they faced. By enrolling in and attending an HBCU, the great Jackson State University, gave me an even more profound sense of pride and joy for the talent, the knowledge, the determination and culture of my Black brothers and sisters!
MAVS.COM: If a young person with big dreams happens to read this profile, what advice would you give them on how to get where you are?
BUNCH: I would tell any young person looking to follow their dreams to get comfortable with a little discomfort. Following your dreams can get scary when you’re asked to do some things outside of your comfort zone. But those are the moments you learn the most about yourself and how truly committed you are to achieving your dreams.
MAVS.COM: Finally, we want to know some fun stuff about you! What do you love to do outside of work?
BUNCH: Personally, I’m a sports nut, so I enjoy watching sports and playing sports video games in my free time. I also enjoy working out regularly, binge watching TV shows like Power, Ozark, Insecure, The CHI, and spending time with my wife Rahnesha and our twins, Kai and Kameron.
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