Onsi Saleh Promoted to President of Basketball Operations for the Atlanta Hawks

The news dropped this Wednesday: the Atlanta Hawks have decided to reward general manager Onsi Saleh with a long-term contract extension and a promotion to President of Basketball Operations. The news was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Saleh joined the Atlanta franchise in 2024 as assistant general manager before being promoted to GM following the firing of Landry Fields. He had previously served as Vice President of Basketball Strategy and legal counsel for the Golden State Warriors, as well as five seasons as Director of Strategy and Chief of Staff for the San Antonio Spurs.

A Successful Debut Season for the Hawks

In his very first season at the helm, Saleh transformed the Hawks into a genuine force in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta won the Southeast Division title with a 46-36 record — their first division title since the 2020-21 season — before reaching the first round of the playoffs, where the Hawks led 2-1 against the Knicks before falling in six games. Notably, the team went on an impressive 19-3 run between early February and early April, following a strategic pivot that included the trade of Trae Young to Washington in January.

These achievements earned Saleh second place in the Executive of the Year vote, behind Brad Stevens, President of the Celtics. Meanwhile, Nickeil Alexander-Walker won the Most Improved Player award, following the same honor earned by Dyson Daniels the previous season — two consecutive winners from the same franchise.

The Atlanta Hawks are signing general manager Onsi Saleh to a long-term contract extension and promoting him to President of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Saleh – runner up for 2026 league executive of the year – took over as Hawks GM last offseason after joining… pic.twitter.com/9DrBUDxTnF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 27, 2026

A Promising Future for Atlanta

On the basketball side, Saleh has built a new core around rising star Jalen Johnson, surrounded by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu. He also acquired Jonathan Kuminga during the season. The franchise heads into this summer in an enviable position, holding two first-round picks in the upcoming Draft, including the 8th and 23rd overall selections.

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Saleh’s appeal was not limited to the Georgia franchise: the 76ers had sought to speak with him about their vacant President of Basketball Operations role following the firing of Daryl Morey. The Hawks quickly blocked any discussions, a clear sign of the absolute confidence they place in their key man.

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With this promotion, Atlanta sends a clear message: Onsi Saleh is the architect of the Hawks project for years to come, and the franchise intends to build on the momentum of a NBA 2025-26 season that brought smiles back to an entire city.