Former Phoenix Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones, who had been reassigned to senior advisor, has accepted a job in the NBA league office as executive vice president and head of basketball operations.
He replaces new New Orleans Pelicans vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.
“James is widely respected across the NBA for being an inspiring leader and the consummate teammate during his more than 20 years as a highly successful player and team executive,” NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell said in a statement.
“With his exceptional relationship-building skills and deep basketball expertise, he is well suited to guide our efforts to shape the current and future direction of the NBA game.”
With the league, Jones will be responsible for the “development of playing rules and interpretations, conduct and discipline, and policies and procedures relating to the operation of games.” He will also “engage with players, coaches, team executives and referees on the state of the game, style of play and playing rules issues.”
Jones was demoted by the Suns to senior advisor on May 1 as the Suns promoted general manager Brian Gregory and retained CEO and president Josh Bartelstein.
The 2021 NBA Executive of the Year’s tenure atop Phoenix’s totem pole ended after working with five head coaches, two owners and one interim governor since he made the immediate jump from a playing career (2003-17) to vice president of basketball operations in 2017 under then-GM Ryan McDonough.
Jones, who won three titles as a player with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, was hired by former Suns owner Robert Sarver.
The promotion of Jones as GM in 2019, his hiring of head coach Monty Williams and the team’s trade for point guard Chris Paul were key moves in franchise history, leading to their third NBA Finals appearance in 2021.
Phoenix also hit a franchise-record 64 wins the next regular season, led by Paul and a homegrown superstar in Devin Booker.
Jones was given a contract extension in January 2022 and at the same time promoted to president of basketball operations and GM under the interim leadership of governor Sam Garvin.
But the Suns failed to meet expectations after the 64-win campaign under Williams in 2021-22, and the team’s sale to Mat Ishbia led to an identity shift.
The day Ishbia officially began his tenure, the Suns traded for Kevin Durant.
That February 2023 deal saw Phoenix ship out two key members of the 2021 NBA Finals team who Jones had a part in drafting: Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson.
After four months with Ishbia as owner, the Suns fired Williams following a conference semifinals loss to the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
With Jones still in charge and after the team acquired Bradley Beal to form a Big 3 with Booker and Durant, the Suns were swept in the first round of the 2024 playoffs under head coach Frank Vogel and missed the play-in games altogether with 36 wins this past season with Mike Budenholzer in charge.
James Jones as a player
The Miami product entered the NBA as a second-round pick (49th overall) in 2003 with the Indiana Pacers. He played there through 2005 before appearing for the Suns (2005-07), Portland Trail Blazers (2007-08), Miami Heat (2008-14) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-17).
Follow @AZSports
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( James Jones departs Suns to join NBA league office )
Also on site :