Rod Thorn retiring as NBA president of basketball operations in August

NEW YORK -- Rod Thorn returned to the NBA league office in 2013 with a commitment to stay two years.

That ends in August, so Thorn will be on the move again.

Thorn said Monday he will retire as NBA President of Basketball Operations, ending a lengthy and successful career at the league and team level.

"When I came back it was just for a transition-type period anyway," he said. "When I came back I said I would stay for two years and two years is up in August, so that'll be it."

As a team executive, Thorn drafted Michael Jordan in Chicago and built the Nets into two-time Eastern Conference champions. He said Monday he has no plans to work for a team again, at least on a full-time basis.

The 73-year-old Thorn previously spent 14 years at the league before taking the Nets job. He traded for Jason Kidd and won the 2001-02 Executive of the Year award, when the Nets made their first of two straight NBA Finals trips. He spent 11 years as team president and later held the same position for the Philadelphia 76ers.

He then agreed to return to the NBA and stay on during the transition from David Stern to Adam Silver as commissioner.

Among Thorn's duties was to serve as the league's main disciplinarian. He said his job likely will be filled by senior vice president Kiki Vandeweghe.

"I've been around a long time, been incredibly fortunate to have been around as long as I have, and it's time for somebody else," Thorn said following a press conference to announce the NBA's new partnership with Pepsi.

Thorn was awarded the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's John Bunn award this year. Given to an international or national figure who has contributed greatly to the game of basketball, it's the Hall's most prestigious award outside of induction.

Thorn's plans were reported earlier Monday by Yahoo Sports.