The Phoenix Suns have employed a brand new common supervisor.
The Suns have transitioned out James Jones as their GM and are shifting him to a senior advisor function. In his place, they’re selling Brian Gregory to function each GM and head of basketball operations.
The Suns employed Gregory in June 2024 and have now put him accountable for many franchise choices. This will likely be a brand new function for him, as he has deep expertise as a head coach. He has served as a head coach for Dayton, Georgia Tech and South Florida throughout his profession.
Gregory getting the job because the Suns’ GM is a wonderful instance of why “who you understand” is important. Gregory served as an assistant coach on Tom Izzo’s workers at Michigan State from 1999 to 2003. Present Suns proprietor Mat Ishbia, who took over the staff in 2022, was a walk-on level guard at Michigan State from 1999 to 2002, that means Gregory was considered one of his coaches.
Jones had been the Suns’ GM since 2019 and was even named the NBA’s Government of the 12 months in 2020-21. Phoenix had an especially disappointing season, ending 36-46 and lacking the playoffs totally. The staff reached the NBA Finals in 2021, which started a streak of 4 straight seasons within the playoffs. That streak was damaged in 2025.
