The NBA has hired two-time NBA champion Malik Rose and veteran NBA front-office member David Booth as vice presidents of basketball operations, the NBA confirmed to The Undefeated.
Rose and Booth begin the New York City-based jobs Monday and will report to NBA president Byron Spruell. Among their job responsibilities will be discussing league programs, rules, competitive elements and new initiatives with NBA teams and players. Other job duties include broadening and growing a working relationship with NBA teams under the “respect for the game” rules announced in 2010 that offer players guidelines for permissible reactions to the referees. Moreover, the two African American men will work on all game-focused topics with teams.
“We are excited to be adding two key people with multifaceted skill sets for two key roles at the NBA,” Spruell told The Undefeated. “We believe the NBA and our teams in turn will derive great benefits in drawing on the collective playing, coaching, scouting and front-office experience of Malik and David.”
Rose joins the league office following a recent two-year stint as the Detroit Pistons’ assistant general manager. The 13-year NBA veteran was also the general manager of the NBA G League Erie Bayhawks from 2015 to 2018. The Philadelphia native averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 813 games while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder from 1996 to 2009, and won NBA championships with the Spurs in 1999 and 2003. The former Drexel University star also earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and a master’s degree in sports management.
Booth was director of player personnel for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2014 to 2019 before joining the league office. The Peoria, Illinois, native also worked for New Orleans as director of scouting (2012-13) and as a regional scout (2009-12), and a regional scout for the Memphis Grizzlies (2005-09). The former DePaul University star earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. Booth also has been an assistant coach for DePaul and Illinois Central Community College. He played professionally overseas from 1992 to 2005 and is expected to be involved in some international NBA affairs in his new role.
#DePaulFam wish DePaul Legend @DavidBooth4Real a Happy Birthday. A great guy and friend. And my all time favorite Blue Demon of all times!!! D Booth. Happy Birthday Brother. pic.twitter.com/FguIEFNGcR
— Bubba Gage (@BigBubba74) May 28, 2020
Rose and Booth were hired after an extensive search and interview process, Spruell said. The NBA confirmed to The Undefeated that it restructured certain functions at the league office last week “to better align with changes in their business.” The NBA added that the restructuring was meant to ensure that the league remains well-positioned for future growth.
