Marc Lasry: From Marrakesh to the NBA

Billionaire investor and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry sits down with host Pat DiCerbo to talk grit, gratitude, and building things that last.Born in Marrakesh, Morocco, Marc immigrated to Hartford, CT at age 7, grew up in a tiny apartment, and earned academic scholarships to Clark University (where he met his wife and played basketball) and New York Law School. An internship with the chief bankruptcy judge led him into distressed investing - first at small firms, then at the Robert Bass Group, and ultimately as cofounder of Avenue Capital.They cover: - Early life: moving from Morocco, sharing a bedroom with two sisters, and focusing on education - Breaking into bankruptcy & special situations; buying claims, bonds, and bank debt, and turning debt into equity - Investing stories (Marvel, Kmart/Caldor/Hill’s, Storage Technology, Smith International) and what really creates edge - Owning the Milwaukee Bucks: buying the NBA’s worst team, recognizing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rise, and winning the 2021 NBA Championship - Why he’ll never retire, how he defines purpose, and why he sees the glass half full - Advice for young people: take acting and public speaking, learn to write, and practice thinking clearly under pressure - Tennis tales: pros training on his US-Open-surface court and a humbling Roger Federer serve at a charity event - Books he’s reading (Walter Isaacson’s Elon Musk, Robert Caro’s LBJ series, The Power Broker)If you’re curious how optimism, discipline, and good judgment compound - from a modest start to the NBA summit - this one’s a masterclass.