New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has been named the NBA's Executive of the Year for the 2013-14 season.
Buford received nine first-place votes and a total of 58 points from a panel of team executives throughout the NBA, edging Phoenix's Ryan McDonough for the honor. McDonough earned five first-place votes and 47 points in the balloting.
Portland's Neil Olshey was third in the voting with five first-place votes and 34 points, followed by Toronto's Masai Ujiri with 28 points. Ujiri was last year's winner with the Denver Nuggets.
Buford assembled a roster that featured six players averaging double-figure scoring, leading to an NBA-best 62-20 record. San Antonio was the only team with at least 30 wins at home and on the road, and reached 50 wins for an NBA- record 15th straight season.
In his 23rd season with the San Antonio franchise, Buford has served in many different roles. He was an assistant coach, head scout, director of scouting and assistant general manager before taking over the top spot in July 2002.
Buford is the third different Spurs executive honored, following Angelo Drossos in 1977-78 and Bob Bass in 1989-90.
[SportsNetwork.com]
