RC Buford wins Executive of the Year (finally)

[Mugen]

It's obviously a lifetime achievement award which is more than fine with me tbh. RC has deserved it and is the Executive of the Century by far.

But any other GM that brings in a tiny toothed loser like Ayres should have been fired

[FromWayDowntown]

The history of the NBA needed RC to get this award at least once to recognize just how remarkably good the Spurs front office has been for a generation (regardless of what many Spurs fans think of it). Parts of the quiet greatness of this franchise during this era has already been lost with Bruce Bowen having never gotten the Defensive Player of the Year award he so richly deserved (and Tim Duncan likely retiring without ever having won that award either).

I believe that accolades genuinely don't mean much for these guys, but it's good to know that their mark on the NBA's history is now permanent and undeniable.

[ginobilized]

Congrats to RC and the Spurs!!!

I think he deserves it this year for NOT changing the team radically. That's an executive decision that seems to be paying dividends.

[mudyez]

I'm still bitter Bird won it that one yearjust to make him MVP/COY/EOY.

[SupremeGuy]

He should honestly have at least 2-3 of them, tbh.

[TheGoldStandard]

RC did something that takes a lot of guts. He overpaid a scrub that hindered the Spurs in Jeff Ayres and made the team stronger by overcoming that obstacle.

[Old School 44]

I think one of the reasons why RC hadn't won in the past, is that Pop, as team President and Head Coach, is perceived in the media to make all the decisions.

[wildbill2u]

I don't think RC gets enough credit for training a lot of FO guys in the league who have turned out to be successful GMs after a stint with the Spurs. They may add their own wrinkles to the Spurs system of management, but the result speaks for itself. Other teams want Spurs FO alumni.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't think RC gets enough credit for training a lot of FO guys in the league who have turned out to be successful GMs after a stint with the Spurs. They may add their own wrinkles to the Spurs system of management, but the result speaks for itself. Other teams want Spurs FO alumni.

Also, those alumni are now voting for this award, since the Executive of the Year is voted upon by the other league general managers and not by the media. Having old friends with votes (and likely an understanding that this award is long overdue) helps.

[xmas1997]

Congrats on RC and Pop winning their just due awards this year, well deserved.
Eat this, Pop and RC haters!

[dg7md]

Great news and well-deserved.

Something terrible though, I got the notification on my phone from the Spurs app and saw "Breaking news", then "RC Buford", and I immediately thought he passed away or something.

Very glad to read "Executive of the Year" after that little scare.

[ElNono]

Congrats RC!

Who's gonna do damage control though?

[Seventyniner]

Larry Bird actually won the same award the same season he signed Ayers

Ayers = EoY? Who knew? That might increase his trade value.

If the Pacers would have finished the season as strong as they started, Bird would have won in a landslide. There is something to be said for chemistry and continuity, and that Granger/Turner trade is looking like a disaster.

[TampaDude]

An additional ring would be a nice touch to the award.

^ this

[Spur|n|Austin]

Larry Bird actually won the same award the same season he signed Ayers

wow

[Jimcs50]

3 major awards in one year:

COY- Pop

EOY- RC

Finals MVP- TP

[urunobili]

on the year all laughed at him for renewing Tiago and Manu at such amounts

[Brazil]

Congrats RC!

Who's gonna do damage control though?

dat $14M 2 years bargain contract sealed the deal for R.C tbh

I hope he will give you credit

[Brazil]

on the year all laughed at him for renewing Tiago and Manu at such amounts

I never thought Tiago's contract was a bad one on the contrary, it was the market price and it is an adequate amount...

For ElNono client contract, I must admit Manu is telling me during these POs shut the up got tbh

[DPG21920]

I am shocked he won it this year. He's been fantastic so I am thrilled for him and the Spurs. Having COY/EOY in the same year is very cool.

[Robz4000]

Congrats RC, long overdue.

[BatManu20]

This is more of a lifetime achievement award than anything. Which is fine. Congrats R.C.

[Kawhi]

Larry Bird actually won the same award the same season he signed Ayers

This is true, doubt anyone can this fact

[Arcadian]

Niiiiice....we just had a thread last month about how he never won it

[Skull-1]

TOOK LONG ENOUGH!