Michael Jordan
From Edmonton to Atlanta: the executive who rose through the Spurs and Warriors to lead the Hawks front office.
Onsi Saleh is an American‐Canadian basketball executive who is currently the president of basketball operations of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Prior to joining the Hawks, Saleh worked for the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors. He moved to the Atlanta Hawks in 2024 as assistant general manager and was promoted to general manager the following year.
- Role
- President of Basketball Operations
- Affiliation
- Atlanta Hawks
- Status
- Active
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Saleh's path to the Hawks presidency began in Edmonton, Alberta, where he was raised after being born in Austin, Texas. He played basketball at Ross Sheppard High School before earning a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and an after-degree in history from the University of Alberta. He later earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in 2017. His executive career started with the San Antonio Spurs in 2019, where he served as director of strategy and process and chief of staff. He then joined the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2023 season as vice president of basketball strategy and team counsel in 2022–23, and basketball strategy/assistant team counsel in 2021–22. In 2024, he joined the Atlanta Hawks as assistant general manager. On April 21, 2025, after former general manager Landry Fields was fired, Saleh was promoted to general manager. On May 27, 2026, he signed a contract extension and was promoted to president of basketball operations.
In Their Own Story
On April 21, 2025, the Hawks fired general manager Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh to the role. Just over a year later, on May 27, 2026, Saleh signed a contract extension and was elevated to president of basketball operations. His rise through the organization mirrors his earlier career moves: from the Spurs' director of strategy and process and chief of staff, to the Warriors' vice president of basketball strategy and team counsel, and finally to Atlanta's front office leadership.
Reader's Guide
Onsi Saleh is of Jordanian descent. He was born in Austin, Texas, but raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he attended Ross Sheppard High School and started playing basketball. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and an after-degree in history, then earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in 2017. His executive career began with the San Antonio Spurs in 2019, where he served as director of strategy and process and chief of staff. He joined the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2023 season, holding roles as vice president of basketball strategy and team counsel in 2022–23, and basketball strategy/assistant team counsel in 2021–22. In 2024, he became assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks. On April 21, 2025, after Landry Fields was fired, Saleh was promoted to general manager. On May 27, 2026, he signed a contract extension and was promoted to president of basketball operations.
Did You Know?
- Saleh earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in 2017.
- He was born in Austin, Texas, but raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- He attended Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton.
- Saleh graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and an after-degree in history.
- He was promoted to president of basketball operations on May 27, 2026.