After more than 13 years on the job, it has been confirmed that executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson will be stepping down from his post.
Commissioner David Stern announced after more than 13 yrs, Stu Jackson, Executive VP, Basketball Operations, will be leaving the NBA.
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 10, 2013
Jackson, most notably remembered in recent years as the face of the NBA discipline, often handing out fines and suspensions to players and teams alike, began his basketball career as an associate coach and head recruiting coordinator under Rick Pitino at Providence College.
His tenure was not without controversy. During the 2007 Western Conference semifinals, he was responsible for suspending Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for leaving the Phoenix Suns bench during an altercation in which then San Antonio Spurs forward Robert Horry shoved guard Steve Nash into the scorer’s table. The suspensions, as many fans perceived it, changed the future outcome of the series, enabling the Spurs to win 4-2.
The Spurs would go on to win the NBA title over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Former Philadelphia 76ers president Rod Thorn will take over as Executive VP.
During today’s announcement, NBA commissioner David Stern spoke well of Jackson’s tenure.
Stu has made enormous contributions to the NBA over the past 13 years. He informed Adam Silver, Joel Litvin and me some months ago that after a long and distinguished career at the league he felt that this was the appropriate time to step down. We thank Stu for a job very well done, including assisting with the transition to Rod, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Jackson was grateful for the experience he has had with the NBA.
The NBA has given me an extraordinary opportunity to work with some of the most talented people in sports and I am extremely proud to be associated with the remarkable global growth of the league, which couldn’t be in better hands with Rod coming in to lead Basketball Operations.”
“I especially want to thank David, Adam and Joel for their exceptional leadership, friendship and continued support. I’m looking forward to applying my NBA experience as I move onto my next challenge.”
Some, like Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski, are reporting that Jackson new that he would not be retained under Adam Silver’s administration and has been looking for a team front office position.
Stu Jackson has been trying to get back into a team front office job for months. He wasn’t part of Adam Silver’s future in league office.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2013
Whether or not Jackson was going to be a part of Silver’s plans, it will definitely be interesting to see how his staff shapes up and the direction the league office makes as he assumes control.
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Michael writes the Tweet of the Day for SheridanHoops.com and is an Atlanta Hawks, Southeast Division NBA Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com.
Follow him @MBrumagin