Brad Stevens Collects Second NBA Executive of the Year Award in Three Seasons
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BOSTON — April — Brad Stevens has been chosen as the NBA’s Executive of the Year for the 2025-26 campaign, the league announced Tuesday. The president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics earns the honor for the second time in three seasons, adding his name to a short list of 12 executives who have won the trophy more than once.
League general managers, not media members, determine the winner. Stevens picked up 11 of a possible 28 first-place votes and finished with 69 points. Atlanta Hawks GM Onsi Saleh appeared on the same number of ballots but secured mostly second- and third-place nods, placing him second with 41 points.
Salary-Shedding Offseason, Competitive Results
Boston entered the year expecting a reset after exceeding the second tax apron and losing star forward Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs. Stevens trimmed payroll last summer by dealing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and letting Luke Kornet and Al Horford depart in free agency.
Despite those cuts, the Celtics remained in the hunt behind Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, along with lower-cost contributors Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh. The club posted 56 regular-season wins, even after Stevens executed additional deadline moves to slide the roster beneath the luxury-tax threshold.
Voting Breakdown
Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons received six first-place votes and finished third with 40 points, followed by Charlotte Hornets executive Jeff Peterson (five firsts, 37 points). Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti claimed three first-place votes and rounded out the top five at 25 points. Spurs GM Brian Wright collected the remaining two first-place selections. Six other front-office leaders appeared on at least one ballot.
The Celtics’ ability to stay competitive during what many predicted would be a transitional season ultimately persuaded peers to honor Stevens once again.
Source: Hoops Rumors
