The Motor City Cruise today announced updates to its front office, naming Max Unger as the team’s new general manager. In related news, Ben Carloni, the Cruise’s general manager from 2022-24, has been transitioned to a basketball operations role with the Detroit Pistons as director of basketball administration.
Unger is now entering his second season with the Cruises. He served as the team’s assistant general manager last season, working hand-in-hand with Carloni. Unger helped facilitate a trade with the Osceola Magic that brought former University of Michigan point guard Zavier Simpson to the Cruises last season. Simpson went on to set Cruise franchise records for points (938) and assists (388) in a season.
During the 2023-24 season, Cruise tied the league record for NBA call-ups with five, including Simpson, Tosan Evbuomwan, Stanley Umude and Buddy Boeheim.
“I am extremely excited to continue the success of Motor City Cruise and lead our players, coaches and staff with the same values and principles established by Trajan Langdon and his team this offseason,” Unger said in a press release announcing his promotion. “We look forward to a successful upcoming G League campaign and supporting the Detroit Pistons in the growth and development of our players.”
Unger was instrumental in other additions to Cruise’s roster last season, including the arrival of Nathan Knight and Jayce Johnson, who were key pieces of head coach Jamelle McMillan’s rotation. Unger also helped bring in Sam Peek and Devon Higgs, who played with the Pistons’ Summer League team in July.
Unger, 31, began his NBA front office career with the San Antonio Spurswhere he served as a basketball operations quality assurance assistant for two seasons (2019-21). He then joined the Pistons as their college recruiting coordinator, a role he held before being promoted to assistant general manager of the Cruise last season.
He will manage Cruise’s roster going forward, navigating the fluid nature of G League roster construction due to NBA call-ups, players signing overseas contracts and injuries. Cruise’s roster currently consists of Evbuomwan and Daniss Jenkins, both of whom are on two-way contracts with the Pistons.
The cruise will be organize local player trials next monthwho has produced several G League players in the past, Peek and Malique Jacobs. Unger will have plenty of transactions to make as Cruise fills out his roster for the 2024-25 season, including the G League Draft scheduled for Oct. 26.
Motor City Cruise has announced that Max Unger has been named general manager of the franchise.
Unger is entering his second season with Cruise, where he was assistant general manager last season. #DetroitBasketball @detroitbadboys
— Blake (@blakesilverman) August 26, 2024
