“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I’m a long way from playing in the national championship. Now I’m just trying to find a Detroit shoe shiner for Arn’s friend.’” That’s how Josh Bartelstein summed up his early days in the business world. Fast forward to now, and at just 35 years old, he’s the CEO of both the Phoenix Suns and Mercury–making him one of the youngest top executives in NBA/WNBA history.

Bartelstein wears a lot of hats. He runs the show on both the business and basketball operations sides for the Suns, the Mercury, and their G League team, the Valley Suns. From pulling off blockbuster trades like bringing in Bradley Beal to securing the NBA All-Star Game for Phoenix, he’s made a big splash. He oversees over 500 employees and manages the teams’ full revenue portfolio. Even the person who books every event at Footprint Center answers to him. It’s a huge job, but clearly one he’s built for.

But lately, Bartelstein’s name has popped up in a few controversies. This article won’t be diving into that. Instead, we’ll focus on the foundation that helped him rise–his family.

Who are Josh Bartelstein’s parents?

Josh is the son of Mark and Sheri Bartelstein. And if the name Mark Bartelstein rings a bell–it should.

Mark Bartelstein is one of the most well-known names in the sports agency world. A former investment banker, Mark founded Priority Sports back in 1985. Fast forward to today, and it’s one of the top NBA and NFL athlete representation agencies out there. According to Forbes’ 2022 agent rankings, Mark has negotiated nearly $1 billion in active NBA contracts, brokering massive deals for stars like Bradley Beal, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Gordon Hayward. However, little is known about his mother.

What ethnicity are Josh Bartelstein’s parents?

Though the family name Bartelstein can be traced back to German origins, there is nothing concrete to suggest that Mark and Sheri are a part of any specific ethnic group. We can only speculate a Caucasian background.

Who is Josh Bartelstein’s Wife?

Bartelstein married his wife, Sydney Cox, in August 2022. Details about how the couple met or what Sydney does professionally remain unclear at the moment. However, the couple reportedly welcomed their first child, a son, in 2024. That same year, Josh would also thank his wife for all the support during an interview with Phoenix magazine.

“This job is incredibly demanding. It’s the best job ever, but it’s long hours, high-stress and -pressure, and public-facing. And I travel a lot,” he said. “Me and Sydney have done it together, and she’s a huge reason why I love what I get to do.” 

Who are Josh Bartelstein’s Siblings?

Other than the fact that Josh Bartelstein has three sisters, little is known about them publicly. Their names and professional backgrounds haven’t been disclosed yet. We’ll be sure to update this section if and when more information becomes available.

Details About Josh Bartelstein’s Alleged Affair

A lawsuit filed by former Suns Director of Security, Gene Traylor, surfaced with some serious allegations on May 20th, 2025. One of the claims points to an alleged affair between Josh Bartelstein and former Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham. According to Traylor, Cornelius Craig — the team’s VP of Security — was allegedly spreading the rumor, saying, “Josh Bartelstein is f—— Sophie Cunningham.” That was at most the mention of the now-alleged affair.

The Suns, hence, came forward to deny any claims around the matter. “The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,” the statement reads. “Let’s absolutely be clear about the origins of these claims.” There has been no official statement from either Josh Bartelstein or Sophie Cunningham.