Rod Thorn is a legendary basketball figure who has had a long and successful career in the sport. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and began his basketball career at the University of West Virginia, where he was a three-time All-American. After college, he was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 1964 and played for the team for four years.

Thorn then moved on to the Detroit Pistons, where he was a key contributor to the team's success, helping them reach the playoffs in each of his four seasons. After his stint with the Pistons, he moved on to the Seattle SuperSonics, where he was a key member of the team's championship run in 1979.

Thorn then moved on to the Chicago Bulls, where he was the team's general manager from 1985 to 1989. During his tenure, the Bulls drafted Michael Jordan, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. Thorn also drafted Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and John Paxson, all of whom were key contributors to the Bulls' six championships in the 1990s.

After his time with the Bulls, Thorn moved on to the New Jersey Nets, where he served as the team's president from 2000 to 2010. During his tenure, the Nets reached the NBA Finals twice, in 2002 and 2003.

Thorn then moved on to the NBA league office, where he served as the league's president of basketball operations from 2010 to 2012. During his tenure, the league implemented a number of changes, including the introduction of the NBA Development League and the implementation of the NBA Draft Lottery.

Throughout his career, Thorn has been a key figure in the NBA and has had a major impact on the sport. He has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball minds of all time.

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