New York Knicks Great Allan Houston, Brian Kortovich On Why ACES Has Become A Big Platform In Basketball Community

"I've been enjoying and impressed by how Brian has stuck to a vision, using his platform to try to help people, but also something that's very strategic, right branding and is very nuanced," said Houston. "It's intentional, especially when it involves helping other people. I think that's really what I've seen with with him is he's really formulated good relationships, held on to them. With me it's not about -- and this is another thing that's really hard, especially harder today more than ever because everything is so transactional -- is being authentic.

"Obviously you could help me, but I'm here to help you just as much," Houston continued. "My mother would always tell me things have to be reciprocal, and everybody has to win. Most people will come out and say, 'Hey, I need you to do this.' But they're not sure or willing to say what I can do for you. That's another thing that I've appreciated about about BK."

Kortovich said basketball being taken away from him led him to becoming the successful businessman and entrepreneur that he is today.

"Basketball was taken away from me early," said Kortovich. "I got a cup of coffee in the league or whatnot. Never made a team, but got close, and it didn't change who I was. So for Allan to speak truly that to me, meant a lot. There's one more thing he said -- I think he remembers this in 2024 after he spoke to all the All-Americans at the MBPA -- he said something like, 'Brian, thank you. I couldn't put together the top 30 kids in the country. You did and gave me a platform.'

"I'm like, 'Whoa no, thank you," Kortovich continued. "They all wanted to hear him speaking, the impact that he had on their lives by speaking to them. I want to provide value in a platform for him, so for him to recognize that in that moment, that meant a lot to me."

Brian Kortovich, Allan Houston Outline The ‘Authenticity’ Appeal Of ACES

Kortovich hammers home the "authenticity" factor is a big reason why the Knicks great and himself have been such good friends over the years. It's also a big reason why he's been able to grow the ACES platform.

"Why I think we've been able to grow this platform across all the verticals from grassroots to the professional ranks is you can say authenticity," said Kortovich. “But to hear someone of Allan's stature and what he's done, it's who he is as a person, too. That's why Allan has longevity. That's why I think we connected right away, too. It's faith. We share faith, faith in the Lord and God. I wouldn't be here without that as well, and I know he wouldn't be either.”

Houston doubled down and also said one of the reasons Kortovich has made such an impact in the industry among basketball fans is that he's "authentic" and "real."

"I still go back to the same thing -- people want to be a part of something that's authentic, that's real, that you want to be a part of at the end of the day," said Houston of Kortovich. "I think he has created that attraction. We always want to start with what we're doing and what we can get or gain, but we skip the most important part of who are we, and the thing that Brian has held on to is who we authentically are and let that be the root and the tree and then the branches and the fruit come off of that.

"We always want to start with the fruit and then work back," Houston continued. "It really comes back to just being who you are, staying consistent with that, and being that all the time. Those people are going to be the people who are in line with you. But also they're going to be people who are going to be consistently with you. Everything's relationships."

Houston said his favorite ACES item are the nylon jackets and what makes the brand stand out. He said his three-point shooting is what made him stand out during his NBA career, ranking second in Knicks franchise history in the category.

“I would say those nylon kind of jackets are unique,” said Houston. “They have a style to them, a functionality to them. They’re versatile, they can have an athletic, a lifestyle appeal. In fashion, you got to have something that is a staple. You gotta have something that you’re identified with. For me, it was shooting. You have something that people can say, ‘Oh, that’s that.’ I think that’s probably the thing that I would say stands out.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com