The Phoenix Suns announced on Thursday that Brian Gregory has been promoted to general manager, following a disappointing season. Former GM James Jones will now serve as a senior advisor. Additionally, Oronde Taliaferro has been promoted to assistant general manager, and Paul Rivers will take on extra duties in basketball operations along with his role as chief innovation officer.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said, “Brian has been an important part of our front office, helping us draft and develop young talent. I’m excited for him to become our new general manager. He’s smart and has great basketball knowledge, and I’m confident he’ll take our team to the next level.”
Gregory joined the Suns in 2023 as vice president of player programming. He helped the team draft Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro last year, both of whom showed promise in their rookie seasons.
Before working with the Suns, Gregory spent 19 years as a college coach at Dayton, Georgia Tech, and South Florida. He was also an assistant coach at Michigan State from 1999 to 2003, when Ishbia was a walk-on player there.
The Suns had high hopes this season with stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, but ended with a 36-46 record and missed the playoffs.
Gregory now faces big decisions this summer, including the future of Durant, who is under contract but could be a key trade option for the team.
