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Scott Perry

Former New York Knicks General Manager

About the speaker

Scott Perry is a basketball executive with over 25 years in professional sports leadership roles. Perry served as the general manager of the New York Knicks from 2017 to 2023, guiding the team through pivotal seasons and significant player acquisitions. By encouraging diversity of thought... More

Scott Perry is a basketball executive with over 25 years in professional sports leadership roles. Perry served as the general manager of the New York Knicks from 2017 to 2023, guiding the team through pivotal seasons and significant player acquisitions. By encouraging diversity of thought with a unity of purpose, Perry helped turn the franchise in a positive direction.

Perry’s extensive career in basketball began as a standout player. He was an All-Catholic and All-State basketball player at University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1981. Perry received a scholarship to the University of Oregon, where he played for one season before finishing his collegiate playing career at Wayne State University. At Wayne State, he was a team captain and an honorable mention All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer, leading his team to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wayne State.

Transitioning to coaching, Perry started his career in 1988 at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he spent five seasons. He later became an assistant coach at the University of Michigan, where he was instrumental in leading the team to the NCAA Division I Elite Eight in 1994 and securing top-ranked recruiting classes in both 1994 and 1995. Perry concluded his coaching career as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 1997 to 2000.

Perry’s executive career took off when he joined the Detroit Pistons as a front office executive in 2000. Under the leadership of Joe Dumars, Perry played a key role in assembling a roster that achieved six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances (2003-2008), two Eastern Conference Championships (2004, 2005), and the 2004 NBA Championship. He also served as the assistant general manager for the Seattle SuperSonics for one season (2007-08), contributing to the drafting of Kevin Durant.

Perry’s career continued to flourish with roles including vice president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons (2008-2012), assistant general manager for the Orlando Magic (2012-2017), and vice president of basketball operations for the Sacramento Kings in 2017 before being hired as the general manager for the New York Knicks. During his tenure with the Knicks, Perry oversaw key drafts and player acquisitions, working to rebuild and strengthen the team’s roster.

Perry’s father, Lowell Perry, was an All-American football player at the University of Michigan and later became the first African-American assistant coach in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Scott Perry remains a respected figure in the basketball community, known for his strategic vision, leadership, and commitment to the sport.

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