NBA: Suns’ James Jones, Raptors’ Masai Ujiri Among The Black Front Office Executives

According to the 2022 NBA Racial and Gender Report Card, which was revealed on Wednesday, the NBA scored an A+ for racial hiring policies and a B+ for gender hiring procedures, giving it an overall grade of A. Significant improvements from the 2021 report card were seen in all three scores.

The greatest percentage of players of colour in any sport during the 2021–22 season was 82.4%. For general managers and head coaches, there were significant hires. NBA clubs’ two most scrutinised positions are these two. They serve as the teams’ local and international public faces. They are frequently the subject of any investigation into whether a position is held by a person of colour or by a person of colour who is white.

Some of the best basketball minds may be found in any one of the 30 NBA front offices. And while some rose through the ranks after their individual NBA and WNBA careers, some of the most influential figures in the game never set foot on an NBA or WNBA court.

NBA: Suns’ James Jones, Raptors’ Masai Ujiri Among The Black Front Office Executives

The discussion of breaking down boundaries must start with Wayne Embry, who became the first Black general manager of the NBA in 1972. And while Embry’s influence is seen around the league, it is most notable in Toronto, where he has worked as the team’s advisor for almost 20 years.

Along with Embry, Masai Ujiri also calls the Raptors organisation home. Over the past ten years, he has established himself as one of the most influential executives in all of North American sports. Nigerian-born Ujiri, who joined the Raptors in 2013, was mainly in charge of assembling the team that won the franchise’s first championship. Ujiri was voted the NBA’s Executive of the Year in 2012–13 in Denver.

Ujiri’s journey, which included his upbringing in Nigeria, prep and collegiate basketball in the United States, and a professional playing career in Europe, is an excellent example of the many ways that Black leaders have become game changers in business.

Then there’s Marc Eversley of Chicago, who not only made history as the first general manager of colour for the Bulls but also as the first general manager from the Greater Toronto Area in the NBA.

In Cleveland, Koby Altman was given a number of challenging decisions to make within a year of accepting the position in 2017; less than six years later, he has rebuilt a contender.

The aforementioned three, along with Brian Wright of San Antonio, Dallas’ Nico Harrison, Detroit’s Troy Weaver, Houston’s Rafael Stone, and New York’s Scott Perry, have all carved out distinctive paths to their roles without having played in the NBA.

Naturally, a few well-known faces have made their way into the front office after making a big impression on the floor.

Landry Fields, who was hired as the Hawks’ general manager in June 2022, is the most recent figure to rise quickly in the world of basketball front offices.

James Jones, a player in Phoenix, won the title of Executive of the Year in 2021 for building a roster that came within two victories of winning the NBA championship. Jones is an expert on creating champions. He is a three-time NBA champion who earned the moniker “Champ” during his playing career.

In Denver, where Calvin Booth is in charge, Nikola Jokic, the back-to-back MVP, seems to have the backing he needs to add NBA champion to his résumé.

There is justifiable praise for the work of David Griffin in New Orleans and Daryl Morey in Philadelphia, but they are joined by the Pelicans’ general manager Trajan Langdon and former No. 1 overall choice Elton Brand.

Hall of Famer Swin Cash, who is VP of Basketball Operations in New Orleans, also made history by becoming the first woman of colour to hold the position as deputy general manager in Phoenix in 2022.

It’s crucial to acknowledge people who are making history in the present, breaking new barriers and paving the way for future generations as part of the amplification and celebration of the previous barrier breakers who blazed the trail.

 

Notable Black basketball operations executives, 2022-23 season

Name Team Position
Landry Fields Atlanta Hawks General manager
Marc Eversley Chicago Bulls General manager
Koby Altman Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations
Nico Harrison Dallas Mavericks President/General manager
Calvin Booth Denver Nuggets General manager
Troy Weaver Detroit Pistons General manager
Rafael Stone Houston Rockets General manager
Swin Cash New Orleans Pelicans Vice President of Basketball Operations & Team Development
Trajan Langdon New Orleans Pelicans General manager
Scott Perry New York Knicks General manager
Elton Brand Philadelphia 76ers General manager
Morgan Cato Phoenix Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations & Assistant general manager
James Jones Phoenix Suns General manager
Brian Wright San Antonio Spurs General manager
Masai Ujiri Toronto Raptors Vice Chairman & President of Basketball Operations
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