The San Antonio Spurs promoted general manager R.C. Buford to CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment and assistant general manager Brian Wright to GM, the team announced Tuesday.
“RC Buford is one of the most highly-respected leaders in professional sports,” SS&E Chairman Peter J. Holt said in a statement. “His vision, innovation and drive have helped shape our values and culture. We are thrilled to have RC leading the organization into the future.”
A two-time NBA Executive of the Year (2014 and 2016), Buford first became a member of the Spurs organization in 1988, when he was hired as an assistant coach on Larry Brown’s staff. After stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and Florida, he returned to the Spurs in 1994, when Gregg Popovich was the GM.
After working in various roles in the front office, Buford was hired as GM in 2002, then promoted to president of sports franchises in 2008.
The Spurs won NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014 during Buford’s regime.
Wright, who was named assistant GM of the Spurs in 2016, worked his way up from an intern with the Orlando Magic in the mid-2000s to assistant general manager with the Detroit Pistons. He will manage the Spurs’ day-to-day basketball operations.
