PHOENIX — The Suns announced Brian Gregory has been named the team’s new general manager in a news release on Thursday.

Former general manager and president of basketball operations James Jones will transition to the role of senior advisor. Additionally, Oronde Taliaferro has been elevated to assistant general manager and Paul Rivers will add basketball operations responsibilities to his role as Chief Innovation Officer.

“Brian has been a valuable member of our front office, playing an integral role in drafting and developing our young players,” stated Suns owner Mat Ishbia in a news release. “I am excited for him to step in to the role of general manager. He is a brilliant basketball mind, and he will transform and elevate our team.”

Gregory first joined the front office in 2023, most recently serving as vice president of player programming. In his role, he oversaw player personnel and scouting and was instrumental in selecting Suns rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro.

Prior to the Suns, he served 19 seasons as an NCAA Division I men’s basketball head coach, most recently at the University of South Florida (2017-23) where he won the CBI Championship in 2019. Gregory served as head coach at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and at the University of Dayton (2003-11), where he won the NIT Championship in 2010. He was as an assistant coach under Tom Izzo at Michigan State University from 1999-03, helping the team to two Final Four berths and the 2000 NCAA Championship. He also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Toledo (1996-97) and Northwestern University (1997-99). Gregory is a graduate of Oakland University where he played basketball and was a three-year All-Conference honoree.

James Jones, left, then the Suns' president of basketball operations and general manager, holds up a uniform honoring the hire of new coach Mike Budenholzer, right, on May 17, 2024, in Phoenix. After a disappointing season where the Suns missed the postseason, Budenholzer has been fired and Jones has been demoted to a senior advisor role.

(The Associated Press/Ross D. Franklin)

Jones joined the Suns in 2017 as vice president of basketball operations. He was promoted in 2019 to the role of general manager and in 2022, promoted to the dual role of president of basketball operations and general manager. The 2021 NBA Executive of the Year award recipient, Jones joined the Suns front office shortly after retiring from a 14-year NBA playing career. As senior advisor, Jones will remain involved with front office decisions, including advising and working closely with Gregory on team and personnel decisions.

“James’ contributions have been instrumental to our organization, and we appreciate everything he has done for the Suns on and off the court,” Ishbia stated. “We are grateful to continue to have his experience and insight.”

Taliaferro has been elevated to the role of assistant general manager after serving as the Suns director of scouting last season. An experienced NBA professional in player personnel and college player evaluation, Taliaferro has held NBA scouting roles for the past 15 years, working with the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons. Prior to joining the Pistons, Taliaferro held assistant coaching roles at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Arkansas and Kent State University.

Rivers, who has served as chief innovation officer since 2023, will take on an elevated role leading strategy and innovation across business and basketball operations. Rivers has over 25 years of sports executive experience, including basketball leadership roles with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Editor’s note: The above was republished from a Phoenix Suns news release.