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Thunder's Sam Presti receives prestigious honor.

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On May 6, 2025, Sam Presti, executive vice president and general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, was named the NBA Executive of the Year. This award underscores his significant contributions to the organization, leading the team to an impressive season with 68 wins, the best in the league.

Significance of the Award

This marks the first time Presti has received this honor, and it is particularly noteworthy as it is the first instance since 1994 that the franchise, originally the Seattle SuperSonics, has had its top executive recognized in this capacity. The previous recipient from the organization was Bob Whitsitt.

Voting Process and Results

The NBA Executive of the Year award is determined by a committee of 30 team executives. In this year’s voting, Presti secured 10 first-place votes and appeared on a total of 22 ballots. He outperformed Koby Altman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who received six first-place votes, contributing to a strong season where the Cavaliers achieved 64 victories. Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons also achieved six votes, reflecting an improvement in his team’s performance.

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Other Executives Recognized

Rafael Stone from the Houston Rockets finished with four first-place votes, while several executives, including Lawrence Frank of the Los Angeles Clippers and Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers, each received one first-place vote. Pelinka's recognition came after a key trade that took place during the season.

Comparison with Other NBA Awards

The voting process for the Executive of the Year award differs from other NBA accolades, which are typically determined by a wider circle of sports writers and broadcasters. Recent notable awards include Kenny Atkinson from Cleveland being named Coach of the Year and Dyson Daniels from Atlanta winning Most Improved Player. More high-profile awards, such as MVP and All-NBA selections, are set to be announced as the playoffs progress.

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Elena Petrova Published 1 month ago.

Sam Presti Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Executive of the Year Seattle SuperSonics Bob Whitsitt Koby Altman Cleveland Cavaliers Trajan Langdon Detroit Pistons Rafael Stone Houston Rockets Lawrence Frank Los Angeles Clippers Rob Pelinka Los Angeles Lakers Kenny Atkinson Coach of the Year Dyson Daniels Atlanta Most Improved Player MVP All-NBA

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