Ainge Family Reunion: Utah Jazz Hire Austin Ainge as President of Basketball Operations

The Utah Jazz are looking to turn their fortunes around with a new front office hire, as they bring in the son of a former NBA champion. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Austin Ainge, the son of Danny Ainge, will be hired as the Jazz's new president of basketball operations. Austin Ainge spent the last six seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he served as the team's assistant general manager. He was previously brought on as the team's director of player personnel in 2011, when his father was the team's executive director of basketball operations. Danny Ainge retired from the Celtics in 2021 and later joined the Jazz as the team's CEO of basketball operations and alternate governor. He will now be reunited with his son in Utah. The Jazz had a rough season last year, finishing with an NBA-worst 17-65 record. However, the team secured the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite the struggles last season, the front office believes they are on the right path and committed to head coach Will Hardy in May, signing him to a six-year extension. Hardy also briefly spent time in Boston, serving as an assistant with the Celtics during the 2021-22 NBA season. Danny Ainge had plenty of success in his years running the Celtics, turning the team back into a contender and winning the NBA championship in 2008. Ainge's fingerprints were present on the team's 2024 championship roster as well, though he had already left the organization at that point. This is not the first time Ainge has hired his son to a front-office role. The Ainges will now try and run it back with one of the worst teams in the league, but with a new president of basketball operations at their disposal, things could be looking up for the Utah Jazz.