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Suns name James Jones as President of Operations

The Phoenix Suns have appointed James Jones as their new president of basketball operations, a position that he will share with the one he already held as general manageras announced by the franchise through a press release.

Jones was named general manager in 2019 after joining the organization two years earlier as vice president of basketball operations. During said time he took a few Suns adrift and turned them into a perennial ring contender. Those from Arizona add, under his tenure, two consecutive Pacific Division titles and recorded the best season record of the franchise, with 64 victories, in addition to reaching the NBA Finals in 2021. Merits that served Jones to receive the Executive of the Year award.

“In the nearly 15 years I’ve known James, he has excelled in every role he’s held, from player to NBPA treasurer and in his roles in our front offices, most recently as general manager,” said the acting governor of the Suns, Sam Garvin. “James has a unique ability to create and lead high-performance teams from within basketball operations. Plus, his commitment to working with our business side, including partners like PayPal and Verizon, is second to none. We are fortunate for his contributions throughout the organization and this promotion recognizes his commitment to excellence.”

Jones received his first opportunity as an executive at front-office in 2017, just after finishing his career as a player, which lasted for 14 seasons. Phoenix signed him about a month after playing in the NBA Finals, and he began working to transform the franchise.

One of his first moves after being named general manager was to hire Monty Williams as head coach, taking over from Igor Kokoskov after just one season. Following the team’s unbeaten streak in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Jones made his first big move by sending four players and one draft pick to Oklahoma City to sign Chris Paul. That move elevated the Suns to the top echelon of the NBA.

“I am grateful for the privilege to work with and support the players, staff and employees of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury,” Jones said. “The collective efforts of our basketball and business operations have enabled us to provide an incredible atmosphere and the best possible experience for our fans and the entire community. I remain excited and dedicated to driving the success of our teams on and off the pitch.”

(Cover photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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