Project B, a startup basketball league launching next winter, has hired Landry Fields to lead its men's basketball division, according to a league announcement.

Fields, 38, previously served as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks from 2022 through 2025. The former New York Knicks player has worked as president of league operations for Overtime Elite, a league for players ages 16 to 20, since January 2026.

"What drew me to Project B was the ambition," said Fields.

Fields represents the most prominent hire on the men's side of the league so far. Project B, backed by venture capital funding and founded by several Silicon Valley executives, is scheduled to begin play in January.

The league has already secured commitments from several prominent WNBA players for its women's division. Nneka Ogwumike, an 11-time All-Star and WNBPA president, became the first player to sign on.

Additional signees include 2026 No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd, Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones. Former WNBA star Alana Beard serves as the league's chief basketball officer.

No men's players have signed yet, though the league is working with Maverick Carter, a longtime business partner of LeBron James, who has advised Project B since last year. The league has expressed interest in recruiting talent from both the NBA and European leagues.

Co-founder Grady Burnett said the league plans to apply the same recruiting approach used on the women's side to build its men's division.

"We have a blueprint that we followed on the women's side that brought us those top players," said Burnett. "We're applying the same blueprint on the men's side that focuses on developing the best young talent in the world and extending the careers of established players."

Project B plans to host games internationally, touring cities across Asia and Europe in two-week stretches. Players who have signed thus far have received equity stakes in the league alongside their salaries.