Phoenix Suns are recruiting detroit pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as the team’s new CEO, sources told ESPN on Saturday.
New owner Matt Ishbia targeted Bartelstein as CEO to help replace the troubled Robert Sarver organizational culture and that they would now work together to oversee the franchise’s business and basketball divisions, sources said.
James Jones, president and general manager of basketball operations, will continue to lead basketball operations and report directly to Ishbia, the sources said.
Bartelstein, 33, has risen quickly in his executive career, spending seven years working his way up to executive VP of business and basketball operations under Arn Tellem, vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment. Bartelstein worked on several major projects, including relocating the franchise to a new downtown area. He moved to basketball operations in 2022 as an assistant general manager, working with GM Troy Weaver. That change gave Bartelstein a full resume to go into the CEO role.
Afterwards buying a majority stake in Sun At a valuation of $4 billion earlier this year, Ishbia brings in Bartelstein to replace Former Sun CEO Jason RowleyThose placed at the center of allegations of verbal abuse, retaliation and intimidation in the workplace by some employees under Sarwar.
Ishbia, the billionaire CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage in Michigan, has vowed to change Sun’s troubled workplace culture under Sarwar and Rowley.
The background of Bartelstein’s play mirrors Ishbia, who was a walk-on at Michigan State. Bartelstein spent four seasons as a walk-on for the University of Michigan, including the 2012–2013 season as one of the team captains.
He is also the son of Mark Bartelstein, one of the league’s most prominent player representatives and CEO of Priority Sports & Entertainment, based in Chicago.