The Golden State Warriors have been in the market for a new president and CEO since Robert Rowell stepped down from the position in late June. The Warriors have found their new executive and will hire former Phoenix Suns executive Rick Welts, according to Warriors beat writer Marcus Thompson.
Welts spent the first part of his career working with the NBA league office in New York, spending 17 years there as he helped push several changes in the NBA landscape from 1982 to 1999. He is most well-known for creating All-Star Weekend during this time, which he did back in 1984.
In 2002, he became the president and CEO of the Suns and retained the position for nine years, overseeing the Suns as they built and then shifted away from the Seven Seconds Or Less era. In May 2011, Welts came out as gay and became the first prominent executive in American sports to come out.
Welts left the Suns earlier this month, stating personal reasons for his move back to Sacramento. Now, the Warriors will welcome Welts in with open arms as they attempt to usher in a new era of Warriors basketball. Welts is a well-established and seasoned basketball mind who should bring a lot to the table at Golden State.