Utah Jazz reportedly hire Celtics Austin Ainge as president of basketball operations

Published: Monday, June 2, 2025 at 4:06 pm

Utah Jazz Bolster Front Office with Austin Ainge as President of Basketball Operations

The Utah Jazz are making a significant move to revamp their front office, hiring Austin Ainge as their new president of basketball operations, according to reports from ESPN's Shams Charania. Ainge, previously the assistant general manager for the Boston Celtics, is set to join the Jazz after spending the last six years with the Celtics and a total of 17 years in their front office.

This move marks a reunion for the Ainge family, as Austin's father, Danny Ainge, currently serves as the Jazz's CEO. The elder Ainge joined the Jazz in 2021 after a long tenure as the Celtics' president of basketball operations. Austin Ainge expressed excitement about the opportunity, citing the "chance to run my own team" and the "potential" of the Jazz.

Austin Ainge is expected to work alongside current Jazz general manager Justin Zanik, creating a collaborative approach to day-to-day operations. Jazz governor Ryan Smith praised Ainge's "pedigree, his knowledge, and his talent evaluation," highlighting his experience working with his father and under Brad Stevens in Boston. Smith emphasized the timing of the move, stating that Ainge "wasn't going to be available much longer."

The Jazz are coming off a challenging season, finishing with the worst record in the NBA at 17-65. Despite having a high chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the recent NBA lottery, they fell to the No. 5 spot. With a new coach under a long-term contract, the Jazz are clearly in rebuilding mode, hoping the Ainge duo can help them climb back to contention.

Keywords: Utah Jazz, Austin Ainge, Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics, President of Basketball Operations, NBA, Justin Zanik, Ryan Smith, NBA Draft, Rebuilding, Front Office, Basketball, Sports, Utah, Celtics, General Manager

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