Jews in the D
O
n a regular basis this summer, David Mincberg has been
commuting 372.5 miles from Milwaukee to Midtown. If
he’
s lucky, it’
s a commute that can be done in five hours,
15 minutes and a few seconds. Though, depending largely
on unpredictable and undeniable traffic through Chicago,
it can easily be closer to seven hours.
By the time this article is published, Mincberg plans to be at-home in
Detroit — more specifically Birmingham — with his wife, Allyson, and
young sons Charlie and Isaac. The DC native, and son of a noted legal pro-
fessional who served as the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’
s chief counsel
for oversight and investigations
under Michigan Congressman John
Conyers, is one of a rare breed this
year: Jewish community members
moving to town during an unprec-
edented pandemic who you’
d like
to invite over for Shabbat dinner, if
only you could.
The Mincbergs, already an
enrolled family at Hillel Day School,
didn’
t envision being here just a few
months ago. But it’
s just one more
surprise in a year filled with curveballs. This past June, the Detroit Pistons
hired former Oklahoma City Thunder executive Troy Weaver as the new
general manager. Weaver reached out and asked Mincberg to be his assis-
tant general manager, which just happened to be his dream job.
“I have known and admired Troy Weaver for a very long time,” Mincberg
said. “He is one of the smartest, highest integrity people in the NBA. He is
an unbelievable leader and I could not pass up this opportunity.”
Mincberg, 39, was recruited from the Milwaukee Bucks, a top team in the
Eastern Conference, where he served as director of basketball strategy.
Mincberg said he and his wife are very excited to give back to the com-
munity. “It’
s an incredible city and has much to offer as we work to build
continued on page 14
12 | AUGUST 27 • 2020
in Midtown
ADAM FINKEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Pistons’
Jewish execs
are doing what they can
to improve the team and
earn a championship.
PHOTOS BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY
David and Josh with the Piston’
s
championship trophies.
on the cover