NBA Executive of the Year History
The NBA Executive of the Year Award recognizes the front-office
executive judged to have done the most outstanding job during the
season. The award was first presented following the
1972-73 season.
Joe Axelson of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings became
the first recipient of the award. Since then, the honor has recognized
general managers, team presidents and other basketball executives who
helped build successful NBA teams.
Unlike many of the NBA's major individual awards, Executive of the
Year voting is conducted by basketball executives from NBA teams.
NBA Executive of the Year Winners
| Season |
Winner |
Team |
| 2025-26 | Brad Stevens | Boston Celtics |
| 2024-25 | Sam Presti | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2023-24 | Brad Stevens | Boston Celtics |
| 2022-23 | Monte McNair | Sacramento Kings |
| 2021-22 | Zach Kleiman | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2020-21 | James Jones | Phoenix Suns |
| 2019-20 | Lawrence Frank | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2018-19 | Jon Horst | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2017-18 | Daryl Morey | Houston Rockets |
| 2016-17 | Bob Myers | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015-16 | R.C. Buford | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2014-15 | Bob Myers | Golden State Warriors |
| 2013-14 | R.C. Buford | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2012-13 | Masai Ujiri | Denver Nuggets |
| 2011-12 | Larry Bird | Indiana Pacers |
| 2010-11 |
Gar Forman |
Chicago Bulls |
| 2010-11 |
Pat Riley |
Miami Heat |
| 2009-10 | John Hammond | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2008-09 | Mark Warkentien | Denver Nuggets |
| 2007-08 | Danny Ainge | Boston Celtics |
| 2006-07 | Bryan Colangelo | Toronto Raptors |
| 2005-06 | Elgin Baylor | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2004-05 | Bryan Colangelo | Phoenix Suns |
| 2003-04 | Jerry West | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2002-03 | Joe Dumars | Detroit Pistons |
| 2001-02 | Rod Thorn | New Jersey Nets |
| 2000-01 | Geoff Petrie | Sacramento Kings |
| 1999-00 | John Gabriel | Orlando Magic |
| 1998-99 | Geoff Petrie | Sacramento Kings |
| 1997-98 | Wayne Embry | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1996-97 | Bob Bass | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1995-96 | Jerry Krause | Chicago Bulls |
| 1994-95 | Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1993-94 | Bob Whitsitt | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1992-93 | Jerry Colangelo | Phoenix Suns |
| 1991-92 | Wayne Embry | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1990-91 | Bucky Buckwalter | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1989-90 | Bob Bass | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1988-89 | Jerry Colangelo | Phoenix Suns |
| 1987-88 | Jerry Krause | Chicago Bulls |
| 1986-87 | Stan Kasten | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1985-86 | Stan Kasten | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1984-85 | Vince Boryla | Denver Nuggets |
| 1983-84 | Frank Layden | Utah Jazz |
| 1982-83 | Zollie Volchok | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1981-82 | Bob Ferry | Washington Bullets |
| 1980-81 | Jerry Colangelo | Phoenix Suns |
| 1979-80 | Red Auerbach | Boston Celtics |
| 1978-79 | Bob Ferry | Washington Bullets |
| 1977-78 | Angelo Drossos | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1976-77 | Ray Patterson | Houston Rockets |
| 1975-76 | Jerry Colangelo | Phoenix Suns |
| 1974-75 | Dick Vertlieb | Golden State Warriors |
| 1973-74 | Eddie Donovan | Buffalo Braves |
| 1972-73 | Joe Axelson | Kansas City-Omaha Kings |
Executive of the Year Facts
-
Joe Axelson of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings won the
first NBA Executive of the Year Award in 1972-73.
-
Jerry Colangelo won the award four times with the
Phoenix Suns: 1975-76, 1980-81, 1988-89 and 1992-93.
-
Jerry West won with two different franchises,
earning the honor with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1994-95 and the
Memphis Grizzlies in 2003-04.
-
Wayne Embry won twice with Cleveland, while
Geoff Petrie won twice with Sacramento.
-
R.C. Buford won twice with San Antonio, and
Bob Myers won twice with Golden State.
-
The 2010-11 award was shared by Gar Forman of Chicago
and Pat Riley of Miami.
-
Brad Stevens won the award with Boston in both
2023-24 and 2025-26.
-
Stevens became the 12th executive in NBA history to win the award
multiple times.
Explore NBA Awards
