Duke basketball champion elevated to extremely coveted role in NBA
Duke basketball champion Mike Dunleavy has a lot more pressure on him.
One of the most coveted jobs in the NBA is being the general manager of the Golden State Warriors and that title now belongs to Duke basketball champion Mike Dunleavy.
The organization made the announcement last week.
Dunleavy, after seeing his playing career end following the 2017 season, was hired by the Warriors as a pro scout in 2018 and was promoted to assistant general manager just one year later in 2019.
The Warriors promoted the former Blue Devil once again in 2021 to vice president of basketball operations.
OFFICIAL: Mike Dunleavy Jr. has been promoted to General Manager.
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 16, 2023
Mike enters his sixth season in the Warriors' front office, serving as Vice President, Basketball Operations for the past two seasons after two years as Assistant General Manager.
He originally joined the front… pic.twitter.com/ZR6uDFzDaD
Mike Dunleavy replaces Warriors general manager Bob Myers after his contract was not renewed following the season despite guiding the organization to four NBA Championships and winning two NBA Executive of the Year awards.
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Dunleavy was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and spent four and a half seasons with the franchise before he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in the middle of the 2006-07 season.
The Oregon native would also spend four and a half years with the Pacers before spending two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his final year as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.
Duke basketball champion has major decisions looming
Mike Dunleavy averaged 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game during his 16-year career while shooting 44.1-percent from the field.
His only championship in the NBA came as an executive in 2022 when the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics.
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The decisions only grow and become more stressful for Mike Dunleavy as the Warriors, who were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals this season, hold the No. 19 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft and must determine the future of core superstars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Future Hall of Famer Steph Curry remains under contract with the organization through the 2025-26 season.
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