Brook Lopez had to do some research on Thursday when he learned that the Nets had hired Sean Marks to be their new general manager.

“I did the Wikipedia,” Lopez said as the Nets wrapped up practice.

Marks, 40, of Auckland, New Zealand, may not be a household name among casual basketball fans — or even among professional basketball players — but the Nets are heralding the hire as a new direction forward for the club.

For the last two seasons, Marks worked as the assistant general manager for the San Antonio Spurs. He spent five years in total with the Spurs in a variety of roles. He spent one season as both the team’s director of basketball operations and as the general manager of its Development League affiliate. He was an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich when the Spurs won a championship in 2014.

Marks played professionally as a power forward from 1998 to 2011, appearing on six teams in the N.B.A. and one in the Polish Basketball League. He won a championship as a player with the Spurs in 2005.