Mike Gansey's Rise From Intern to GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers

The former basketball player’s journey reads like a Hollywood script.

It’s been said that each person has three great loves in their lifetime. These typically span decades, but a brief conversation with Mike Gansey, GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it’s evident he’s experiencing all three simultaneously: His love for basketball, his family, and the city of Cleveland are intertwined. In this week’s episode of the Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior Podcast, Gansey offers a rare glimpse into a young, talented Cavaliers team and shares his journey, which reads like a Hollywood script.

Growing up in a quiet suburb outside Cleveland, OH, the only thing that could match Gansey’s basketball talent was his unparalleled passion for the game. During his senior year at Olmsted Falls High School, he was named the state’s Division II Player of the Year, an impressive feat that placed him second in Mr. Basketball voting behind none other than LeBron James. With three All-State nods and the school’s all-time scoring record secured, Gansey crossed the graduation stage destined for greatness.

Cleveland has meant so much to him over the years that he can’t help but feel like an unofficial ambassador. Ready to pitch the city to newcomers, he spoke passionately about the strong sense of community and love of sports. “Cleveland is just an unbelievable place to raise a family,” he noted. “If you’re an athlete, people will encourage and love you. It’s just that kind of city.” With children of his own, Gansey is proud to call Cleveland home and is committed to showcasing the city he loves.

After high school, his talent and work ethic earned him a spot on the St. Bonaventure University team, where he began his college career before transferring to West Virginia University (WVU). In his first season with the WVU Mountaineers, he averaged 12 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, but it was his energetic playing style that made him a fan favorite. However, in his second season, Gansey truly shined, leading the team with an impressive 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.

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Gansey’s stellar performance put him on the shortlist for several prestigious awards, including the Oscar Robertson and Wooden Awards. While there was speculation that he’d go late in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, he went undrafted. Undeterred, he signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent, but the team waived him before the season due to a life-threatening staph infection. Despite this setback, Gansey continued pursuing his dream.

In 2011, after five seasons playing professional basketball overseas and in the NBA G-League, the WVU Hall of Famer hung up his blue and white Nikes. Standing at a crossroads, fate intervened when the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team he’d grown up watching, dreaming of, and admiring, reached out to offer him an internship. At 28 years old, Gansey’s identity was inseparable from the game, and he’d never considered another path. But this was an opportunity for him to learn the business side of the sport.

As an intern, Gansey threw himself into work, arriving early, staying late, and taking on extra responsibilities. His dedication and initiative didn’t go unnoticed, and management soon offered him a permanent role. In 2012, he joined the front office of the Cavaliers’ NBA G-League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, and worked his way up to become the team’s general manager in 2015.

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In 2017, Gansey’s hard work and commitment paid off again when he was named the NBA G-League Executive of the Year and promoted to assistant general manager of the Cavaliers. His leadership abilities, basketball IQ, and relentless work ethic continued to grow and, in February 2022, he became GM of the Cavaliers.

Reflecting on his meteoric rise, Gansey attributed his success to a willingness to work hard and stay focused. “I don’t know anything about analytics and coaching, but I can evaluate talent,” he says. I stay in my lane and do what I can to help the team.”

Gansey sees his new role as a chance to give back to a team that was there for him in uncertain times. As general manager, he oversees draft preparations and is vital in the scouting process; his unique perspective as a former player provides a valuable lens for evaluating a prospects’ potential. Whether advocating for lottery picks like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley or acquiring superstars like Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, Gansey’s ability to identify and recruit top talent has been instrumental.

He explained that it’s far more important to find players who fit the team’s culture of hard work, collaboration, and respect than it is to identify the most talented athletes. 

“We look for players with the character to fight through adversity and work hard every day,” says Gansey. “We’ve got guys that live in the gym because they want to get better and be around each other. They don’t care about getting points or a big contract; they only want what’s best for the team.”

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Whether it’s the front office or the sidelines, he appreciates the professionalism, dedication, and commitment of the leaders he works alongside, including Coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The relationship between a team’s general manager and the head coach is pivotal. “I have complete trust in Coach Bickerstaff; he’s been around the league much longer than I have, so I lean on him for many things,” he says.

The relationship he’s fostered with Bickerstaff is built on respect, open communication, and constructive dissent. 

“We can come to each other with anything,” Gansey says. “While there are heated conversations, we’re a united [front] when we leave that room. We both want what’s best for the players and the team. That’s the only thing on our mind.” 

His remarkable rise from intern to general manager is a story of persistence, determination, and unwavering commitment. While his talent for spotting promising players is unparalleled, it’s his dedication to the franchise that’s earned him one of the most powerful positions in the NBA. Although his journey hasn’t gone exactly how he imagined, Mike Gansey is raising his family in the city he loves, surrounded by a lifelong dream he was finally able to capture.

The Talking Series is a weekly segment that delves deeper into topics discussed by guests of the Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior Podcast. A new episode of the Podcast is released every Tuesday.