The NBA announced Monday that San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford has won the NBA Executive Of The Year Award for the 2015-2016 season. The Spurs had another successful season under the reigns of Buford and head coach Gregg Popovich, going 67-15 and sporting the best home record in the NBA at 40-1, while finishing 2nd in the Western Conference.
The San Antonio Spurs announced Monday, Buford would win the award, after winning it back in 2013-2014:
San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford has been named the 2015-16 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the NBA announced today. Buford, in his 14th season as the team’s general manager, previously won the award in 2013-14.
Buford totaled 77 points and received nine of 29 first-place votes from a panel of fellow team basketball executives throughout the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers’ Neil Olshey finished second with 63 points (10 first-place votes), and 2014-15 winner Bob Myers of the Golden State Warriors was third with 38 points (five first-place votes). Executives were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.
R.C. Buford was responsible for the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge, which seemed impossible at the time because of the amount of cap-space available to them. Despite this, after maneuvering players salaries and re-signing Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli to lower paying contracts, he was able to get the All-star power forward. Buford was also responsible for re-signing Danny Green in the offseason and signing Andre Miller and Kevin Martin to bolster their bench. He signed Boban Marjonovic, undrafted rookie Jonathan Simmons and veteran David West to the roster to essentially make the Spurs look like the perfect team.
The Spurs have had their fair share of success over the past 20 years, but nothing like this season. Winning 67 games, sporting the best home record in the NBA, and Kawhi Leonard winning Defensive Player Of The Year are just some things caused by the offseason moves of R.C. Buford. Thanks to Buford and his relentless team, the Spurs are now in a position to advance to the Western Conference Finals. They face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2nd round, tied at 2-2 in the series, with Game 5 on Tuesday. Despite their current predicament, it’s time for the Spurs and the NBA to recognize the accomplishments of well-deserving Executive Of The Year, R.C. Buford.
