Things are pointing to Tomas’ NBA return.
Chris Haynes of Turner Sports It was reported on Tuesday night. that new Suns owner Matt Ashbia plans to “bring in Hall of Famer Asia Thomas to play a prominent role in the front office.”
Thomas is on the board of United Wholesale Mortgage, Ashby’s mortgage company.
Ashbia, who reportedly considered getting into coaching after playing Division I ball at Michigan State, bought the team from Robert Sarver, who was forced to sell after an NBA investigation into workplace misconduct. . According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, the 43-year-old is worth $6.19 billion.
The acquisition of Ashby’s franchise as well as the WNBA’s Mercury was approved by the NBA with the transaction scheduled to be finalized this week.
“It started when I was about 7 years old,” Ashbia told Fox Sports of his passion for basketball. “I just fell in love with him, and I loved watching Isiah Thomas. The way he led his team and his competitive nature made me look up to him. He made me want to go to the NBA.
Thomas, one of the greatest NBA point guards of all time, was president of basketball operations and later coach of the Knicks. During his tenure with the team, Knicks settled an $11.5 million lawsuit with former employee Anocha Brown, who alleged sexual harassment. Thomas and the Knicks have denied the claims.
Thomas was executive vice president of the Raptors (1994–98) and coached the Pacers from 2000–03. He also served as president of the New York Liberty from 2015 to 2019. Thomas is currently an analyst for NBA TV.
The 61-year-old Chicago native was a 12-time All-Star in a 13-year NBA career that saw him win a pair of championships and two MVP awards with the rough and tumble Detroit Pistons. His exploits with the league’s “Bad Boys” earned him induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
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