Many of us know James Andrew Jones, or simply James Jones, as the Miami Heat jersey 22 unmatched shooting guard, but it’s off the arenas that he has been building an even stronger popularity and respect from both his peers and players. A 14-year NBA pro as a 6’8″ wing out of Miami, Jones won three titles with the Heat and Cavaliers. He first joined the Suns as the club’s vice president of basketball operations in 2017.
James is the general manager of the Phoenix Suns, and he has just been elected 20-21 NBA executive of the year. The award is voted upon by his peers and he had an unprecedented number of favorable votes. Jones received nine of the 30 first-place votes and earned 65 total points from the voting panel, which comprised one basketball executive from each team - The Phoenix Suns reached the playoffs for the first time since 2010 and the league has publicly stated that this is thanks to a lot of crucial and decisions by James.
But this is not the reason alone he has been overwhelmingly chosen, STREETOPIA dug up a bit more into the matter this weekend and found that indeed James, out of his own free willingness, dedicates about 30% of his spare time to causes supported by the league, like fighting racial injustice, income share disparities in some African American neighborhoods, in addition to police brutality and the American criminal justice system.
But James does that as if it were his job description, setting himself goals, forecasts, and solid actions before state and Government agencies, all of which without getting a paycheck.
Among NBA coaches and executives, he is well known for helping his peers, whenever asked, so cordially and deeply as if he were involved in the matter, regardless of the team the other executives work for.
Suns team owner Robert Sarver announced the award and James replied saying: “Quero agradecer a Robert por esta oportunidade”, Jones said to a raucous Phoenix home crowd, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic (video link). “All I can say is ‘Go Suns, let’s win.”
It’s amazing how cohesive the NBA is as an organization, and their ideals and pursuits reflect directly on their top management.
Way to go, James!
