Mark Tatum will replace Adam Silver as deputy commissioner of the NBA.

Silver will assume David Stern's position as commissioner on Feb. 1.

Several league officials describe Tatum as bright, capable and engaging, an executive who has spent most of the past 15 years as a revenue creator for the NBA.

Tatum joined the NBA in 1999 and previously worked for Major League Baseball. Tatum graduated from Cornell and Harvard Business School.

Tatum becomes the highest-ranking minority executive in major professional sports.