Charlotte Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael Jordan announced today that former Golden State Warriors general manager Rod Higgins will assume a similar role for the Bobcats, effective immediately.

Higgins, who has more than 23 years of NBA experience as a player, coach and front office executive, spent the last three seasons in Golden State. He will now manage and oversee all player personnel matters, including professional and collegiate scouting, draft preparations, training camp, preseason scheduling and the team’s athletic training, equipment and conditioning programs.

“Looking at the course of what Rod has accomplished throughout his career, Bernie (Bickerstaff) and I felt we had to bring in someone who could help elevate this franchise to the next level,” Jordan said. “His success in Washington and Golden State is proof that he has the vision and work ethic to give us the type of information that will improve our product on the floor.”

Prior to his stint with the Warriors as general manager, Higgins spent three seasons as assistant general manager for the Washington Wizards. His responsibilities there included collaborating on all basketball decisions, including transactions and trades, working with player personnel and scouting. Before moving to the front office with the Wizards, Higgins was an assistant coach from 1994-2000 with the Warriors.

In 13 seasons as an NBA player, Higgins averaged 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 779 games spread between Golden State, Chicago, Seattle, San Antonio, New Jersey, Sacramento and Cleveland. Originally drafted by the Bulls in the second round of the 1982 NBA Draft, Higgins appeared in 33 playoff games, averaging 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

After spending one season with Sacramento in 1992-93 and another with Cleveland in 1993-94, the Monroe, Louisiana, native rejoined the Warriors and played the first five games of the 1994-95 campaign before moving to the bench as an assistant coach on November 19, 1994.

Higgins played four years at Fresno State University (1978-82), where he led the Bulldogs in scoring in each of his last three seasons and guided the team to two PCAA Championships. A First Team All-Conference selection as both a junior and senior, he earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from both the Associated Press and The Sporting News as a senior.

On April 14, the Bobcats posted the all-time best expansion team record in recent NBA expansion history after posting their 33rd win of the season against Milwaukee. The Orlando Magic posted a 31-51 record during their second season (1990-91), and no expansion team won more than 26 games in their third season until the Bobcats surpassed that mark on March 28 against Atlanta for their 27th win.