PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns extend contract of general manager James Jones

Jan 25, 2022, 9:56 AM

General manager James Jones of the Phoenix Suns watches warm-ups to Game One of the Western Confere...

General manager James Jones of the Phoenix Suns watches warm-ups to Game One of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns have extended the contract of general manager James Jones, the team announced on Tuesday.

“It’s a privilege to support our Suns and Mercury players, staff, employees and our fans,” Jones said in a press release. “The Valley is a special place and I’m excited for the future.”

Jones took over for former GM Ryan McDonough at the start of the 2018-19 season with former head coach Igor Kokoskov at the helm.

Since then, Jones has hired head coach Monty Williams and acquired the likes of Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, Cam Payne, Dario Saric, JaVale McGee, Bismack Biyombo and Landry Shamet via free agency or trade.

He drafted Jalen Smith in 2020 and traded for Cam Johnson during the 2019 NBA Draft. Jones was also the team’s vice president of basketball operations when Phoenix took Deandre Ayton No. 1 overall out of Arizona in 2018.

The former Suns player and current GM was named the 2020-21 NBA Executive of the Year after Phoenix not only broke a 10-year playoff drought, but returned to the NBA Finals for just the third time in franchise history and first time since 1993.

And since the 8-0 run in “The Bubble” in 2020, Phoenix boasts the NBA’s best regular-season record at 96-30 (.762).

Jones’ best season as general manager might be the one the Suns are currently playing in.

The Valley’s oldest professional sports franchise sits atop the NBA standings at 37-9, highlighted by a franchise-record 18-game winning streak.

Phoenix was the first team to reach 30 wins this season and is still the only squad yet to reach double digits in the loss column.

“We’re fortunate to have a great basketball mind leading this team,” Suns owner Robert Sarver said in the release. “James not only has tremendous instinct for identifying talent, but he has an innate ability to compose a roster that is deep with complementary players who make each other better, on and off the court.

“He came in with strongly-held beliefs on what it would take to nurture a championship culture and what it should mean to wear a Suns jersey. We promised fans an elite NBA franchise that would steal their hearts and make them proud and that’s what we have built under James’ leadership.”

Phoenix Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

12 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

16 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

20 hours ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: How the Suns lost to the Spurs before they stepped on the court

Burns & Gambo react to the Phoenix Suns stunning loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and try to figure out why it happened.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns extend contract of general manager James Jones