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Jamal Collier
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Jamal Collier
ESPN
- Jamal Collier is an NBA reporter for ESPN. Collier covers the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and the NBA’s Midwest region, including stories like Minnesota’s iconic jersey swap between Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson. He has been with ESPN since September 2021 and previously covered the Bulls for the Chicago Tribune. You can reach Jamal on Twitter @JamalCollier or by email at Jamal.Collier@espn.com.
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D Chicago Bulls is appointed Atlanta Hawks Senior Vice President Bryson Graham as the franchise’s new executive vice president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday.
Graham spent 15 years in New Orleans (2010-15) before joining Atlanta last offseason, rising from an intern in 2010-11 to general manager in 2024-25. the pelican. Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh hired Graham as his top executive out of New Orleans last summer, and Graham has now become the Bulls’ top decision maker.
Graham, 39, is known throughout the NBA for an extraordinary scouting eye. His draft track record includes such finds Trey Murphy III (drafted on 17), Herbert Jones (35th), Dyson Daniels (VIII) and Nikhil Alexander-Walker (17th), the latter two of whom won the Most Improved Player award in back-to-back years.
Graham helped facilitate negotiations between the Pelicans and Hawks during last year’s draft that saw Atlanta acquire the Pelicans’ 2026 first-round pick, one of the league’s more coveted draft assets this year.
“He has worked his way through basketball operations from the ground level and that experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build and sustain a successful organization,” the Bulls said in a statement Monday. “He is an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision maker and someone who truly connects with players and people. He understands today’s league, today’s players and what it takes to develop talent and build a winning culture.”
Bulls conducted in-person interviews with candidates last week and three finalists — Graham, Detroit Pistons Senior Vice President Dennis Lindsey and Minnesota Timberwolves General manager Matt Lloyd — the weekend before making a decision about Graham on Monday.
Bulls president and COO Michael Reindorf cast a wide net during his search to lead the team, hiring a search firm and interviewing candidates across the league, including Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey, San Antonio Spurs Assistant GM Dave Telep and Boston Celtics Assistant GM Dave Lewin.
Graham became the third head of basketball operations hired by Chicago since the turn of the century. John Paxson served as president of basketball operations from 2009 to 2020 before Arturas Karnisovas took over. Karnisovas lasted six years before being fired before the final week of the 2025-26 regular season.
Graham would be starting a job that was highly coveted around the league, both for its market (Chicago is the NBA’s third-largest city) and its roster flexibility. The Bulls have their own 2026 lottery pick, Portland Trail Blazers‘ 2026 first-round pick (which was reported as part of a 2021 trade Lori Markkanen) and about $60 million in cap space available.
Still, Graham has a lot of work to do to build a roster that includes that Josh Gide, Matas Buzelis, Three Joneses And Noah Esenguwho was drafted in the lottery last season but played in just two games before needing season-ending left shoulder surgery. The Bulls will be looking for a new coach to replace Billy Donovan, who stepped down after six seasons at the helm.
Chicago finished 31-51 this season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
