The NBA named Phoenix Suns executive James Jones as executive vice president, head of basketball operations, the league announced.
Jones replaces Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, who left the league office in April to become the New Orleans Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations. Jones, a former NBA player, will be in charge of the league’s basketball operations, rules enforcement and discipline.
Jones spent 14 seasons as a player in the NBA, winning three championships with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers before moving into basketball operations upon retiring.
“I’m thrilled and honored to take on the responsibility of leading the Basketball Operations department,” Jones said in a statement. “This is an exciting opportunity to pour my passion for the game into a new role and collaborate with so many talented professionals on driving the continued success and growth of the NBA.”
Jones spent eight years with the Suns, starting as a vice president of basketball operations in 2017, then being promoted to general manager two years later. He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in 2021.