College Park Skyhawks Promote Silverstein to GM

Coming off a 14-22 season and gunning for their first NBA G-League postseason berth since the 2021-22 season, the College Park Skyhawks (Atlanta’s minor-league affiliate) recently shook up their front office, and longtime Hawks executive Ryan Silverstein stands to be a chief beneficiary.

On Sept. 2, Silverstein, who came aboard the Hawks organization in September 2017 as a front office assistant in basketball operations and for the past three years has been at the controls of cap strategy and player personnel functions, was named the Skyhawks’ fifth general manager. Though Silverstein will continue presiding over salary cap matters as Atlanta’s VP of cap strategy and player personnel — under his leadership, the Hawks have remained in a solid financial position with no player earning more than $31 million this upcoming season — he will supplant now-erstwhile Skyhawks GM Aaron Evans in the Skyhawks’ quest to shoot up the ranks of the G-League’s Eastern Conference (College Park finished in 13th place last spring) and return to the playoffs for the first time since current Hawks All-Star Jalen Johnson was a rostered player.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to serve as College Park’s general manager,” Silverstein remarked via a team-issued release shortly after the promotion. “Having been part of the Skyhawks during their inaugural season in College Park, I have witnessed firsthand the organization’s commitment to player development, excellence and innovation.”

A product of Southern California who received a BA in sports management from the University of Michigan before earning his JD, with a focus on sports and entertainment law, from Georgia State University College of Law in 2023,

Silverstein has extensive G-League knowledge and experience, having served as basketball operations coordinator and coaching assistant during the franchise’s first year of existence in 2019-2020. Silverstein’s one-year stint in the front office and on the sidelines for College Park was sandwiched between his early-career gig as a front office assistant for the parent club, whereby he helped the VP of salary cap administration with all cap-related projects; provided scouting videos for college and pro scouting departments; and supported the front office, coaching staff, and training staff in daily operations and his now six-year run handling salary cap matters in the Hawks front office.

“There are many people throughout the Hawks organization who have supported and guided me during my nine seasons here, and I am especially thankful to Onsi [Saleh] and the rest of the front office for the trust they have placed in me to lead our G-League program,” added Silverstein, who has notably forged a close relationship with Nick Ressler, son of Hawks owner Tony Ressler and the franchise’s vice president of strategic planning and alternate governor.

In addition to Silverstein’s promotion, the Skyhawks tabbed Sanjay Lumpkin, who played in 33 games for the Skyhawks during their inaugural season and was Atlanta’s 2026 NBA Summer League head coach, to be the team’s fifth head coach. Meanwhile, Reggis Onwukamuche, who was also on the Skyhawks’ roster during the 2019-20 season, will serve as College Park’s first associate head coach.

“I am excited to work alongside Coach Lumpkin, collaborate with our front office and continue building on the Skyhawks’ reputation as one of the premier development organizations in the league,” said Silverstein, who before coming over to the Hawks worked as an intern for Glushon Sports Management, an agency that represents many prominent NBA players, whereby he gained experience with the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and free agency landscape.

As Atlanta, in its first full season in the post-Trae Young era, looks to build on its stunning second-half turnaround last season and win its first playoff series since spring 2021, recently promoted president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh is hoping that Silverstein can ensure a pipeline of up-and-coming electrifying talent runs through College Park. Though the NBA G-League does not exactly represent a dotted line to the actual NBA — at least not when compared to the well-traveled road from Gwinnett to Atlanta that many Braves are accustomed to — last year’s Skyhawks roster showcased Asa Newell, Caleb Houstan, and Jacob Toppin, all of whom contributed to varying degrees at the NBA level, while Hawks veterans Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels have both had G-League stops.

“The Skyhawks are a significant part of our development program, and both Ryan and Sanjay exemplify the strong connection between the Hawks and Skyhawks,” said Saleh. “Ryan has been a valuable member of our front office for several years and has grown into a key contributor, particularly in our salary cap strategy and planning efforts … both have earned these opportunities, and we’re excited to see them continue to grow and make meaningful contributions to our program.”

In less than two months, the Skyhawks kick off their seventh NBA G-League season with a three-game homestand at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, starting with Opening Night against Raptors 905 at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6. The season-opening homestand concludes on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 10, with a matchup against the Long Island Nets, who last year sported two Jewish players, Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf.