Wizards hire Hall of Famer Thorn as senior adviser

The Washington Wizards on Tuesday named Hall of Famer Rod Thorn as senior adviser to general manager Tommy Sheppard. Thorn, 78, brings over 40 years of NBA front office experience to the organization and will consult with Sheppard on decisions involving personnel, free agency and the draft.

"It is an honor to bring Rod aboard and to have all of us benefit from his vast amount of NBA knowledge and experience," Sheppard said in a news release. "He has been one of the most influential people in the history of the game and will be a major asset to our organization in helping us develop a positive and winning culture." Thorn has previously served as general manager for the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

While with the Bulls, Thorn was responsible for drafting Michael Jordan. With the Nets, he was named Executive of the Year for the 2001-02 season and built the team that appeared in consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. Thorn also served as the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations from 1986-2000. In addition to his front office experience, he spent seven seasons as an assistant and head coach in the ABA and NBA.

In 2018, Thorn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his overall contributions to the game. Sheppard is entering his first season with the Wizards after replacing Ernie Grunfeld, who was fired in April after the team missed the playoffs and finished with a 32-50 record.

 

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