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[Saba Sports News] The University of Utah has made another major move by landing a well-known NBA figure for its basketball program.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday that Utah was targeting Sacramento Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox to become the Utes’ new general manager. Not long after, ESPN 1320’s James Ham confirmed that Wilcox has accepted the role.
Wilcox brings more than 20 years of NBA front office experience to the table. He began his career as a video coordinator before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 as a scout, eventually working his way up to director of player personnel. He later joined the Atlanta Hawks in 2012 and served as their general manager from 2015 to 2017. Most recently, Wilcox had been with the Sacramento Kings since 2020, acting as assistant GM.
According to Thamel, Wilcox now becomes the highest-ranking active NBA team executive to transition into a college front office role.
This hire is part of a broader shake-up for Utah following a disappointing 2024–25 season—their first in the Big 12—where they finished 16-16 (8-12 in conference) and missed the NCAA Tournament. The Utes haven’t made the tournament since 2016 and have only had two winning seasons since 2020.
After parting ways with head coach Craig Smith last month, Utah replaced him with a prominent NBA assistant coach. Now, with the addition of Wilcox, the Utes continue to tap NBA talent as they attempt to reboot the program and return to national relevance.