Latest news with #UtahJazz
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jazz hire Austin Ainge as president of basketball operations
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Jazz have hired a new president of basketball operations… and the name may sound familiar. After 17 years with the Boston Celtics, Austin Ainge will join his father, Danny Ainge, in Utah. Advertisement 'We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Austin Ainge as our new president of basketball operations,' team governor Ryan Smith said. 'Austin is one of the brightest minds in the NBA—his 17 years with the Celtics have given him incredible insight into every part of an organization. I've known Austin for 15 years, and I've watched him grow into an accomplished, innovative, and strategic basketball executive who's ready to lead this organization.' After playing in 101 games over four seasons at BYU from 2003-2007, the now 43-year-old Ainge began his NBA career in 2008 as a scout for the Celtics. He would go on to coach Boston's G-League affiliate team for two seasons before joining the team's front office where he would serve for another 14 seasons. Jazz clinch worst record in franchise history Ainge was key in assembling multiple Celtics rosters, helping to identify the draft selections of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, as well as the trade acquisitions of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White. Advertisement 'This is an incredible opportunity to lead Utah Jazz basketball operations,' said Austin Ainge. 'I couldn't be more excited about the bright future of this organization. I look forward to partnering with Ryan and Ashley Smith and our other leaders within the Utah Jazz and will utilize my experience over the last 17 years building a championship-caliber organization. I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win. I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about as we build our program back up.' Ainge worked under his father, and Utah Jazz CEO, Danny Ainge, for over a decade in the Boston Celtics. Danny Ainge left the Celtics' organization in 2021. Danny Ainge is remaining with the team as CEO, as is current general manager Justin Zanik. 'Austin is one of the most respected executives in the NBA because of his basketball prowess, experience, and work ethic and I am excited to partner with him on our shared goal of success for the Utah Jazz,' said Zanik. Jazz fall to #5 overall pick in NBA Draft Lottery Advertisement The Jazz are coming off its worst season in franchise history with just 17 wins during the 2024-25 season. Utah fell to the fifth pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. Utah's roster includes six recent first-round picks by the Jazz, and eight players under the age of 23. Ainge will be formally introduced at a press conference this afternoon. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
NBA fans fume as Utah Jazz hire 'nepo baby' for top exec job
NBA fans had strong reactions on Monday as the Utah Jazz hired ' nepo baby ' Austin Ainge as their president of basketball operations. Ainge, the son of Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, got his start in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, where Danny ran basketball operations from 2003 to 2021. And while Austin spent 14 years in Boston's front office and six as their assistant general manager, plenty of fans rolled their eyes at his promotion. 'The N in NBA stands for nepo,' one cracked. 'I'm sure this was an exhaustive search,' said Fox Sports host Kevin Wildes. 'Nobody crying nepotism huh? Only when it's LeBron James and his kids,' a third added, referring to James' eldest son Bronny joining his dad on the Lakers. In fact, ESPN's Shams Charania did not even mention who Austin's father was when reporting the news on X - something fans took notice of as well. 'Maybe you forget it so i'll kindly remind you: he's danny son. You are a disgrace for journalism. Disinformation on steroid,' one said. And another asked: 'no mention of who his father is?' In a subsequent story for ESPN, Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith actually said that he led the hiring process for the position and later informed the elder Ainge that he would be hiring his son. Smith called Austin 'the next, young executive stud' and said he would not be on the market for much longer. 'As I look out into the future, there's no one I would rather have run this organization than Austin,' Smith said. 'His pedigree, his knowledge and his talent evaluation shined through, working with DA for so long and having the trust of Brad [Stevens] all of these years. Austin has the full capabilities to run our operations - he's methodical, diligent and just brilliant.' Bronny's presence on the Lakers after an underwhelming freshman season at USC in college was a hot-button issue all year, as the likes of Stephen A. Smith criticized the guard being in the NBA. The 20-year-old did show some progress over the course of the season but only played in 27 games as he split his time with the Lakers' G-League team. Ainge, 66, briefly retired from basketball after leaving the Celtics before taking the Jazz job six months later. While he was in Boston, Austin initially got his chance as the head coach for the team's D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, before moving into the front office in 2011. The team made seven trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in that span, went to the NBA Finals twice and won the championship last season.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Austin Ainge joins father Danny Ainge in Utah as Jazz president of basketball operations
SALT LAKE CITY — Austin Ainge, who like his father played at BYU and was a long-time executive with the Boston Celtics, was hired Monday to join Jazz CEO Danny Ainge as Utah's president of basketball operations. Austin Ainge spent the previous 17 seasons with the Celtics, including the past six as assistant general manager.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Austin Ainge joins father Danny Ainge in Utah as Jazz president of basketball operations
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Austin Ainge, who like his father played at BYU and was a long-time executive with the Boston Celtics, was hired Monday to join Jazz CEO Danny Ainge as Utah's president of basketball operations. Austin Ainge spent the previous 17 seasons with the Celtics, including the past six as assistant general manager. Danny Ainge, a former Celtics championship player who also served as their executive director of basketball operations from 2003-21, has been with the Jazz since leaving Boston. 'I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win,' Austin Ainge said in a statement. 'I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about as we build our program back up.' ___ AP NBA:
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Austin Ainge reunites with father Danny Ainge at Utah Jazz as team's new President of basketball operations
In a recent turn of events, Utah Jazz made another amazing off-the-court decision. They hired Boston Celtics's assistant GM, Austin Ainge for the role of President of basketball operations for the team. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Surprisingly, the hiring panel that made the decision included Danny Ainge, Austin Ainge's father, who holds the position of CEO of basketball operations for Utah Jazz. The Ainge father-son duo had previously worked together in the Boston Celtics and helped the team achieve various accolades. Will the duo create the same magic with Utah Jazz? Utah Jazz hires Danny Ainge's son as their new President of basketball operations Shams Charania of ESPN reported the news that Utah Jazz is hiring Austin Ainge as their new President of basketball operations. The move was made in order to restore the declining reputation of the team, which is currently at 17-65, the worst NBA record for the Jazz. "We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Austin Ainge as our new president of basketball operations. Austin is one of the brightest minds in the NBA -- his 17 years with the Celtics have given him incredible insight into every part of an organization,' said Ryan Smith, the executive chairman of Qualtrics, and owner of Utah Jazz. Austin Ainge has been with the Boston Celtics for more than a decade, and helped the team achieve various accolades which also includes the NBA Championship victory in 2024. However, the victory also had the hint of Danny Ainge's work, who worked in the front office of Boston Celtics from 2003 till 2021. In his tenure, he helped the team win the NBA Championship in 2008. Danny was joined by Austin in 2011, and together the father-son duo led the team into becoming one of the best in the league. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Even though Danny left the Celtics in 2021, his legacy carried on with Austin, which helped the latter in winning the 2024 championship. Now that Austin will join Danny, it remains to be seen how the father-son duo will take Utah Jazz forward. Even after having the worst NBA records in the franchise, Utah Jazz has managed to secure the 5th position in the league. With Austin joining the front office, there are chances of things taking interesting turns. Also Read:
