Oklahoma City Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti was named the 2024-25 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year on Tuesday.
It is the first honor for Presti, 47, who previously finished second in 2009-10, 2019-20 and 2023-24.
The Thunder led the NBA with a 68-14 record this season, the best mark in franchise history and tied for sixth-best in league history. Oklahoma City also set an NBA record for scoring differential, outscoring opponents by 12.9 points per game.
“An award such as this is really the result of our players and their commitment to our program,” Presti said. “They push themselves in all capacities for the good of the team. I’m fortunate to work with this particular collection of men and I do not take their professionalism for granted.”
Oklahoma City swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs before losing to the Denver Nuggets in Monday’s Game 1 of the best-of-seven conference semifinals.
Presti has been the Thunder GM since 2007. Before that he spent seven years in the San Antonio Spurs’ front office.
Presti received 10 first-place votes and 74 total points in the voting by fellow NBA executives. Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman was second and Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon finished third.
“I’m extremely humbled to be recognized by my peers,” Presti said. “It is a privilege to be a member of such a talented group of basketball executives that work in the NBA today and I’m thankful for the relationships I’ve enjoyed with many of them over the years.”
–Field Level Media
