SACRAMENTO ---- The Sacramento Kings today named Pete D'Alessandro as the team's general manager, according to Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadivé. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"We are thrilled to welcome Pete D'Alessandro to the Sacramento Kings," said Ranadivé. "In our GM search, we sought to secure the best and brightest in the game, and after an extensive search, we found the perfect individual. Pete is exactly the type of leader we need to help build a championship team in the 21st century NBA."
"I'm excited about returning to Northern California, particularly at this time in the history of Sacramento," D'Alessandro said. "I want to thank Vivek for giving me this opportunity to be part of guiding the Kings back to greatness. I'm anxious to begin working towards building this exciting new era for the franchise."
D'Alessandro comes to the Kings from Denver, where he spent the last three seasons helping develop the Nuggets into one of the NBA's elite teams by assisting in the development of all basketball operations strategies as well as the management of day-to-day basketball activities.
Promoted to the Nuggets' vice president of basketball operations prior to the 2012-13 season, D'Alessandro focused on trade and free agent negotiations, salary cap management and collective bargaining agreement rules and regulations. As a result of his efforts, the Nuggets posted their best record in franchise history last season (57-25), as well as the most home wins (38).
Widely considered one of the rising young minds in basketball, D'Alessandro initially worked for the Golden State Warriors from 2004-08 as director of basketball ops, and was later promoted to assistant general manager shortly after the 2006-07 season.
D'Alessandro began his career in basketball from 1986-90 when, as a student at St. John's University, he served as video coordinator for the men's basketball team under Hall of Fame Coach Lou Carnesecca. He graduated from Nova Southeastern University School of Law in May of 1994 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1995. From 1994-96, he briefly entered the political arena, ultimately serving as the campaign manager for New York State Congressman Rick Lazio's successful re-election to the House of Representatives.
D'Alessandro returned to the sports world in 1997, working for a sports agency based in Washington, D.C. For seven years, he represented both NBA and International basketball players, including former Kings guard Jason Williams, before being hired in 2004 by then Warriors basketball chief and current Hall of Famer Chris Mullin.