Suns plan to hire former Detroit Pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as new CEO

Josh Bartelstein speaks during halftime as Michigan honors the 10-year anniversary of the 2013 run to the Final Four and national title game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly hiring former Detroit Pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as their new CEO, per NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

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ESPN Sources: Phoenix Suns are hiring Detroit Pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as CEO. Owner Mat Ishbia targeted Bartelstein, a current assistant GM who ascended over several years on business side to EVP of Business and Basketball Operations under Vice Chairman Arn Tellem.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 4, 2023

This choice does not come as much of a surprise given Bartelstein’s background at Michigan University.

Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia was a walk-on at Michigan State University a decade before Bartelstein’s walk-on tenure at Michigan. The two have extremely close ties to the state of Michigan.

The Suns’ previous CEO, Jason Rowley, resigned in early February following a string of accusations from their owner, Robert Sarver.

Josh Bartelstein’s father, Mark Bartelstein, was the founder of Priority Sports & Entertainment, which is a sports management firm that represents NBA and NFL athletes. It is one of the largest independent sports agency firms in the United States.

The hiring of Josh Bartelstein as the Suns’ new CEO puts the nail in the coffin for the Robert Sarver era in the valley.