From the Court to the Ballot: NBA Legend Rick Fox Announces Run for Office in the Bahamas

Former NBA champion Rick Fox is officially stepping into politics, announcing his run for a legislative seat in the Bahamas in next year’s general election, ESPN reports. The move marks a powerful new chapter for the former athlete and entrepreneur, who has deep roots in the islands and has spent recent years working closely to help shape its future.

Fox shared the announcement on Facebook, opening with an explicit declaration of intent. “Today, I’m announcing that I will be a candidate in the next general election,” he wrote. “For months, I’ve been listening closely to the hopes and frustrations of my fellow Bahamians. One truth is clear: the future of The Bahamas will depend on the choices we make right now.”

He continued by directly addressing the priorities he says Bahamians have voiced. “You’ve shared that you want more transparency, a modern economy that prioritizes affordability and security, and a country where opportunity is our reality, not just a promise. I share that vision. And I’m stepping forward today because we cannot wait any longer to realize a Bahamas that we all envision is possible.”

Born in Toronto to a Canadian mother and a Bahamian father, Fox was raised in the Bahamas before becoming a first-round NBA draft pick. Selected 24th overall by Boston in 1991, he spent six seasons with the Celtics before joining the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won three NBA championships and became a fan favorite during one of the most dominant runs in league history.

After retiring from basketball, Fox built a reputation as a forward-thinking entrepreneur. In 2015, he co-founded Echo Fox and purchased a franchise spot in the North America League of Legends Championship Series, becoming an early investor in the rapidly growing esports industry. In more recent years, his focus has centered on climate innovation and sustainable development in the Caribbean.

Fox is the Co-Founder and CEO of Partanna, a global company developing carbon-negative, climate-resilient concrete technology. In October 2023, he announced a major milestone for the Bahamas, introducing the first home built in the country using Partanna technology. Reflecting on the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, Fox wrote, “Today, we introduce the first house built in the Bahamas using Partanna technology; the world’s first carbon negative, climate resilient home… This is our chance not just to build back but to break the relationship between construction and climate change once and for all. This isn’t just a house. It’s a new home for the world.”

Days later, he celebrated the achievement alongside national leadership, writing, “Amazing week of celebration for our team at Partanna! Thank you to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas for his vision and so many team members who brought this 1st ever Carbon Negative Concrete Home to the World from the shores of The Bahamas.”

In his campaign message, Fox framed the moment as urgent and generational. “We are running out of the one resource we can never get back: TIME,” he wrote. “The time we need to empower our youth with real opportunities. The time we need to build a nation that runs efficiently, innovates boldly, and leads globally.” He added a striking reminder shaped by lived experience, saying, “Hurricane Future isn’t coming. Hurricane Future is here.”

Grounding his vision in faith, legacy, and responsibility, Fox also emphasized leadership rooted in values. “We must move with clarity. We must move with courage. We must move with honor and integrity,” he wrote. “As a candidate and as a leader for the Bahamas I will demand transparency, honesty, integrity while demanding a level of excellence from all of us.”

Closing his announcement with unmistakable confidence, Fox positioned his candidacy as something bigger than politics. “This is bigger than party politics. This is The Bahamas versus the world,” he wrote. “Imagine a nation where every Bahamian feels secure, safe, empowered, and proud… The Bahamas will lead. The Bahamas will rise. The Bahamas will be #1. It’s Better to Be Number One. In The Bahamas.”

With championship experience, global business leadership, and a growing track record of impact back home, Fox is now betting on public service as his next arena, inviting Bahamians to imagine what leadership looks like when vision meets action.

Cover photo: From the Court to the Ballot: NBA Legend Rick Fox Announces Run for Office in the Bahamas/Photo credit: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images