Utah Basketball, Alex Jensen Closing In On NBA Assistant GM Wes Wilcox For General Manager Role
Mar 25, 2025, 11:23 AM | Updated: 12:58 pm
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah basketball is nearing a deal with Sacramento Kings general manager Wes Wilcox to become the program’s general manager.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news, and sources around the program have indicated and confirmed the interest and likelihood of a deal coming together soon to KSL Sports.
According to Thamel, the potential move would mark the highest-ranking sitting NBA front office member to take a college front office job.
Sources: University of Utah is targeting veteran NBA executive Wes Wilcox to be the school’s men’s basketball general manager. Wilcox is the assistant GM in Sacramento, and his move marks the highest-ranking sitting NBA front office member to take a college front office job. pic.twitter.com/TPYcvVtYpV
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 25, 2025
Wilcox would be the second addition to Jensen’s staff after the hiring of former Memphis Grizzlies assistant Raphael Chillious.
This move, though not finalized, demonstrates the school’s greater commitment to the men’s basketball program.
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Alex Jensen closing in on Sacramento executive Wes Wilcox?
Wilcox is a longtime NBA executive and would bring significant experience to Utah’s front office. This continues Jensen’s goal of filling out his staff with an NBA flavor.
Wilcox is a well-known executive in the league and would bring serious know how to Utah basketball. All together, Wilcox has 24 years of experience as a video coordinator, scout, and personnel executive in the NBA.
Wilcox got his start as a video coordinator with the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans. He spent the first three years of his career in this role.
He transitioned to the role of scout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, serving in that capacity for three seasons before moving to the bench as an assistant for two seasons.
Following his time as an assistant, he became Director of Player Personnel with the Cavaliers from 2008-2010. Then became the general manager of the G-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, working closely with Jensen during those two seasons.
He then accepted an assistant GM role with the Atlanta Hawks, serving in that role for two years, before being promoted to GM from 2015-17. Wilcox resigned from that role in 2017 and became a special advisor for the next three seasons.
In 2020, Wilcox joined the Sacramento Kings organization as an assistant GM and has served in that role to the present day.
Alex Jensen’s first two hires to Utah basketball staff are deliberate
With Raphael Chillious’s hiring and Wilcox’s expected hire as general manager, the first two hires of Jensen’s staff address major question marks.
When he was hired, questions about recruiting and roster management arose. The last time Jensen was coaching at the college level, text messages were just approved by the NCAA.
RELATED: Alex Jensen Adds Former NBA Assistant Raphael Chillious To His Utah Basketball Staff
So, Jensen hired one of the best recruiters of the 2010s and now is closing in on an NBA assistant GM to help navigate the new world of collegiate player compensation.
Chillious brings significant recruiting connections to the program. He is currently leading the program’s recruiting efforts, and Utah will be very active in reconstructing the roster.
Wilcox would add significant experience to Utah basketball’s new ‘front office.’ As college athletics continues to evolve with revenue sharing and player compensation, having experience in this new realm is incredibly important.
Wilcox’s hire would provide Utah with someone that possesses a deep understanding of player compensation and evaluating talent.
