Brad Stevens named NBA executive of the year

Celtics

Stevens has served as the team’s president of basketball operations since 2021.

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, after positioning his team for a possible title run as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, was vote NBA Executive of the Year 2023-2024.

The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon along with the voting results. Fellow basketball executives across the NBA made that choice, selecting Stevens by a clear margin.

According to the voting, Stevens received 16 first-place votes, six second-place votes, and three third-place votes. His first-place vote total was four times that of his closest challengers (Sam Presti of Oklahoma City and Tim Connelly of Minnesota).

Based on the total points awarded corresponding to the “place” for which an executive was elected, Stevens accumulated 101 points. Presti finished second with 47.

Stevens, 47, has shaped (and reshaped) Boston’s team since assuming his current position as head coach in 2019. Among his most notable decisions over the past year are had the decision to acquire Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team trade involving the Grizzlies and Wizards.

As part of the deal, Stevens dealt longtime Celtic (and fan favorite) Marcus Smart. Yet despite a potentially polarizing decision, Stevens has so far been vindicated by the decision. Boston compiled a league-best 64–18 regular season record.

Stevens is the third Celtics executive to win this award, following Danny Ainge (2008) and Red Auerbach (1980).