Charles Grantham Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at Cheyney University

Charles Grantham, M.B.A., faculty associate and director of the Center for Sport Management in the Stillman School of Business, was honored with the Cheyney University Lifetime Achievement Award during the university’s 189th Founder’s Day celebration on February 25, 2026.

Cheyney University, the nation’s oldest Historically Black College and University, hosts Founder’s Day annually to commemorate its founding in 1837 and to recognize individuals whose work reflects the institution’s legacy of leadership and impact. Grantham, an alumnus of Cheyney, was recognized for his decades-long contributions to professional basketball and athlete representation.

Grantham played a pivotal role in the evolution of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), where he served as the organization’s first Executive Vice President from 1978 to 1988 and its first Executive Director from 1988 to 1995. During his tenure, he helped transform the NBPA from a traditional bargaining unit into a multifaceted organization focused on advancing players’ interests and strengthening the league’s overall business model.

He was involved in establishing four Collective Bargaining Agreements and helped develop the NBA’s revenue-sharing and salary cap model, widely regarded as a foundational framework in professional sports labor relations.

At Seton Hall, Grantham teaches and mentors students in the sport management field while leading the Center for Sport Management. His research and commentary on sports business issues have appeared in academic journals, such as Harvard Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law, as well as in media outlets throughout the country, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, Bloomberg, and USA Today.

“Professor Grantham continues to influence the next generation of sports industry leaders through his teaching, scholarship and leadership of the Center for Sport Management,” said Joyce Strawser, Ph.D., dean of the Stillman School of Business. “He remains an active voice on major issues in sports business and policy and is frequently cited in national media.”

Leonard DeLuca, current associate director of the Seton Hall Sports Poll and Stillman School instructor, is a former ESPN and CBS Sports programming executive who worked with the NBA and Grantham. “Professor Grantham’s continued legacy within the NBA and the academic community is his authentic leadership in representing and communicating labor issues,” he said. “Like Seton Hall and the Association, Cheyney State recognizes that with this Lifetime Achievement Award.”

DeLuca added,  “Charlie is a rare gem who is an All-Star at each of his stops.”

Categories: Business