Uncle Wes

By Wilson Guaraca

       The name William Wesley may not be a household name, but within the sports industry it’s a name one needs to know.  Wesley, who is also known as ‘World Wide Wes’ has become the middlemen between agents, players, owners, marketers and retailers. In 2007, GQ Magazine, wrote a compelling article on Wesley and asked the question of whether he is the most powerful man in sports?  The answer to this question still remains unclear, but what we can say is that Wesley has networked himself to the top of the NBA hierarchy. Even though Wesley has no official ties to the NBA or sneaker companies, he has been able to broker major deals involving these entities. When something important is happening in the NBA, expect Wesley to be involved to some extent. Take for example, this summer’s free agency period. Wesley pitched the idea of packaging Lebron James and John Calipari to executives around the league. Calipari has a long standing relationship with Wesley that dates back to the early 1990’s and he has helped Calipari land players like John Wall, Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans. So how exactly did William Wesley position himself at the center of everything that occurs in the basketball world?
       William Wesley grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ, and during his high school years, he played both basketball and football. But the hardwood was not the place where he received the nickname World Wide Wes. It all started in one of the most popular sneaker stores in New Jersey, Pro Shoes, where Wesley was salesperson. This store was a blueprint for the evolving basketball footwear market and caught the attention of executives at Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Most importantly it became a hot spot for elite high school basketball players. The most important connection Wesley made during his days at Pro Shoes was with a high school star named Milt Wagner, who went on to play at Louisville and then the NBA. Wesley followed Wagner everywhere and along the way befriended players like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Leveraging his relationship with Michael Jordan he was able to get the attention of an up and coming star named Lebron James. He mentored James throughout his high school days and still remains part of Lebron’s inner circle. Many question Wesley’s motives but the players he has dealt with in the past have said that he has never asked them for anything. He wants these players to be successful both on and off the court, and has served as a positive mentor to many of the up and coming stars. The nickname World Wide Wes best fits his personality, but Uncle Wes, as he is referred to by many of the young NBA players today, best suits his role in the league.  

For an in-depth look at the mysterious life of Worldwide Wes, check out these articles:

Puppet-master Wes

Who is William Wesley?

LeBron, Calipari and Wes

GQ speaks with Wes