Latest news with #ByronSpruell
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Nba hires James Jones as executive vice president and head of basketball operations
James Jones is joining the NBA front office as executive vice president and head of basketball operations, replacing Joe Dumars in that role. Jones spent 14 years as a player in the NBA, winning two championships with the Miami Heat and another with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He spent the last seven seasons in the Phoenix Suns front office, working for the overwhelming majority of that time as their general manager. 'I'm thrilled and honored to take on the responsibility of leading the Basketball Operations department,' Jones said. '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 will oversee the NBA's basketball operations matters, including playing rules and how they are interpreted, player and coach conduct and discipline, along with policies and procedures related to how games are operated. He will report to Byron Spruell, the NBA's President of League Operations. '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,' Spruell said. '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.' Dumars was with the NBA from 2022 through earlier this year when the Louisiana native left the league office to take over as the head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
NBA hires James Jones as executive vice president and head of basketball operations
NEW YORK (AP) — James Jones is joining the NBA front office as executive vice president and head of basketball operations, replacing Joe Dumars in that role. Jones spent 14 years as a player in the NBA, winning two championships with the Miami Heat and another with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He spent the last seven seasons in the Phoenix Suns' front office, working for the overwhelming majority of that time as their general manager. 'I'm thrilled and honored to take on the responsibility of leading the Basketball Operations department,' Jones said. '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 will oversee the NBA's basketball operations matters, including playing rules and how they are interpreted, player and coach conduct and discipline, along with policies and procedures related to how games are operated. He will report to Byron Spruell, the NBA's President of League Operations. '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,' Spruell said. '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.' Dumars was with the NBA from 2022 through earlier this year, when the Louisiana native left the league office to take over as the head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans. ___ AP NBA:
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Wait a minute. Why is the NBA holding its draft so soon after the Finals?
Wait, the NBA is holding its draft already? Weren't the Finals happening just a few days ago? Yes and yes — and no, the NBA does not have any plans to change its calendar. The question was posed this week to a top NBA official about just why the league gives its fans barely any time to digest its biggest event before another one of massive significance comes along. To Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations, the biggest factor was simply a lack of impetus to fix what ain't broke.
New York Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
For NBA referees, earning the White Jacket is the pinnacle of their profession
The NBA season is long and grueling, with players aspiring to compete in June for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, which is awarded to the champions. For NBA referees, their goal is to be working in June as well, officiating in the championship series and receiving the coveted White Jacket, which is awarded to referees selected for the NBA Finals. Advertisement Earning that apparel isn't easy, and it's an honor. 'It's kind of our trophy, the medal around our neck,' veteran referee Scott Foster said in a league video. Zach Zarba added: 'It's like the Masters green jacket for us.' NBA Finals referees are selected based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Officials are evaluated by the league's referee operations management team after every round to determine advancement. 'We are grateful for these 12 individuals and their dedication to serving the game at the highest levels throughout the season,' NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell said in a release. 'Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official, and I congratulate this exceptional group on a worthy achievement.' Here are the referees assigned to the 2025 NBA Finals (there are some familiar names): Foster (18th finals) Tony Brothers (14th) Marc Davis (14th) James Capers (13th) Zarba (12th) John Goble (ninth) David Guthrie (eighth) Josh Tiven (sixth) James Williams (fifth) Sean Wright (second) Tyler Ford (first) Ben Taylor (first) Ford and Taylor received their first White Jackets after serving as alternates during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott are the alternates this season. Foster has officiated the most NBA Finals games among this season's pool (25), followed by Davis (21) and Brothers (17). Each will likely work one of the first four games in the series. If the series continues past Game 4, the league will assign refs as needed. Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder is at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday. (Photo of Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Tony Brothers and Eric Lewis: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Scott Foster picked to work NBA Finals for 18th time, one of 12 referees selected for the series
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Scott Foster was selected to officiate the NBA Finals for the 18th time, the league said Tuesday when announcing the roster of 12 officials and two alternates that were picked to work the title series between Indiana and Oklahoma City. Foster is the most veteran of the group. Tony Brothers and Marc Davis were both picked for the 14th time, James Capers for the 13th time, Zach Zarba for the 12th time and John Goble for the ninth time in his career. David Guthrie is now an eight-time selection for the finals, while Josh Tiven was picked for the sixth time, James Williams for a fifth time and Sean Wright for a second time. There are two first-time selections this season: Tyler Ford and Ben Taylor. They were alternates in each of the last two seasons. 'We are grateful for these 12 individuals and their dedication to serving the game at the highest levels throughout the season,' said Byron Spruell, the NBA President for League Operations. 'Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official, and I congratulate this exceptional group on a worthy achievement.' Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott were picked as alternates. Foster has officiated the most NBA Finals games among this year's referees with 25, while Davis has worked 21 and Brothers has worked 17. If previous form holds, each of the 12 will work one of the first four games in the series as part of a standard three-person crew. If the series goes past Game 4, the NBA will continue assigning as needed from the same pool for the remainder of the matchup. NBA Finals officials were selected based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Officials were evaluated by the NBA Referee Operations management team after each round to determine advancement in this year's postseason, the league said. The crews for each game are typically announced around 9 a.m. Eastern on game days. ___ AP NBA:
