Thorn leaves Sixers, takes over as NBA President of Basketball Operations

NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner David Stern confirmed Wednesday that Stu Jackson was leaving his post as the league's Executive vice president of basketball operations and that former Sixers president Rod Thorn will be joining the league office as President, Basketball Operations effective on Aug. 1.

“Stu has made enormous contributions to the NBA over the past 13 years,” said Stern. “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.”

 As EVP, basketball operations, Jackson was in charge of all oncourt and international basketball operations, including game rules, conduct, discipline and analytics and also served as chairman of the NBA Competition Committee and on FIBA's Competition Commission and USA Basketball's Board of Directors.

 “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,” said Jackson. “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."

Thorn will oversee both basketball and referee operations for the NBA, reporting directly to the commissioner.

“As a player, coach, general manager, league vice president and team president, Rod has been a member of the NBA family for decades, and his basketball knowledge and team relationships are unparalleled,” said Stern.  “We are fortunate that his talents are available to serve the league at this time.”



Prior to his role with the 76ers, Thorn spent 10 seasons as president of basketball pperations for the New Jersey Nets and was named the 2001-02 NBA Executive of the Year. Previously, Thorn spent 14 seasons at the NBA office as the head of basketball operations.



“I am looking forward to serving all 30 teams and our sport and am honored to be at the league office to help continue the game’s extraordinary growth,” said Thorn. “As the NBA turns increasingly to analytics and continues to tap into its growing fan and player base on a global basis, there is much work to be done.”

Kiki VanDeWeghe, senior vice president, basketball operations, and ex-Sixer Mike Bantom, executive vice president, referee operations, will report to Thorn.

Sixers managing owner Josh Harris also weighed in on Thorn's new job.

“Rod proved time and again to be a valuable and respected resource to me, our ownership group and the Philadelphia 76ers, and I would like to thank him for everything he provided to our organization,” Harris said. "We truly wish him all the best as he leaves us to embark on this new endeavor.”