NEW YORK, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Russ Granik has decided to step down as the NBA's deputy commissioner and chief operating officer at the end of the season.
He made the move on Tuesday.
In his new position, Granik will be the league's principal representative with USA Basketball and chairman of the board of the Basketball Hall of Fame. The move was not unexpected.
"Russ discussed with me his desire to step down as deputy commissioner once our collective bargaining negotiations were concluded, but I persuaded him to stay on for an additional season," said Commissioner David Stern. "He will be functioning as usual for the next eight months, but we agreed that it was appropriate to let the Board of Governors know his plans as far in advance as possible."
Granik has been with the league for the last 30 years, spending the past 22 in his current position since 1990, when he was elected Deputy Commissioner by the NBA Board of Governors.
