Jim Tanner

For other people with similar names, see James Tanner (disambiguation).

Jim Tanner is the executive director and general manager of the University of North Carolina men's basketball team. He is a former sports and entertainment agent certified by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Prior to his role at UNC, Tanner founded Tandem Sports + Entertainment in 2013 and served as its president. He represented clients including Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Tamika Catchings and Jeremy Lin.[1][2][3]

In 2006, Tanner was named to the Sports Business Journal[4] and Washingtonian[5] "40 Under 40" lists and he has twice been recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the "101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports."[6]

Background

As an undergraduate student, Tanner attended his home state University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on a Morehead-Cain Scholarship[4] – the first merit scholarship program established in the United States and one of the most selective at public universities today.[7] After graduating with a B.A. in English Literature (1990), Tanner continued his education at the University of Chicago Law School (1993), where he studied under then-professor, Barack Obama.[4]

Tanner began his legal career as a corporate and mergers-and-acquisitions lawyer with the Washington, D.C., office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.[4] After four years, Tanner left the firm to work on the 1996 Bill Clinton election campaign.[8]

After the election, Tanner was recruited by Williams & Connolly LLP to work alongside then-partner, Lon Babby. Between 1997 and 2010, Tanner and Babby led the Williams & Connolly sports law practice, representing athletes in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[4] Between 2010, when Babby left the firm to become president of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns,[9] and 2013, Tanner was solely in charge of the basketball and entertainment practice, notably signing Jeremy Lin in the aftermath of "Linsanity.”[10]

In 2013, Tanner left Williams & Connolly with his client base to establish Tandem Sports + Entertainment[11].

In February 2025, Tanner was named executive director and general manager of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball where he would help manage the construction of the roster, negotiate contracts, identify and hire new scouting and analytics staff, and spearhead player development programs.[12]

Personal life

A native of High Point, N.C., Tanner was a Morehead-Cain Scholar at UNC. He previously served on Carolina’s Board of Directors in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the Board for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund[13].

References

  1. ^ Zwerling, Jared (June 21, 2012). "Jeremy Lin switches agents". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  2. ^ "UNC Basketball: The Importance of General Manager Jim Tanner". North Carolina Tar Heels On SI. July 14, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  3. ^ "Jim Tanner Client List". RealGM. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mullen, Liz (March 20, 2006). "Jim Tanner". Sports Business Journal. Street & Smith. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Eisler, Kim (July 1, 2006). "40 Lawyers Under 40". Washingtonian. Washingtonian Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jim Tanner". Sports Agent Blog. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Four Charlotte-area seniors named latest Morehead-Cain Scholars". Charlotte Observer.
  8. ^ "Washington Favorites: Jim Tanner". Washingtonian. Washingtonian Magazine. December 11, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  9. ^ "Agent Babby moves to Suns front office". ESPN. July 20, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  10. ^ "Jeremy Lin switches agents". ESPN. June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  11. ^ "Jeremy Lin Agent Tanner Leaves Law Firm to Start Sports Practice". Bloomberg. Bloomberg Media. October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Carolina Names Jim Tanner Men's Basketball Executive Director & General Manager". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Jim Tanner - Executive Director & General Manager - Staff Directory". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
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