Breaking news from the NBA: Brad Stevens, the mastermind behind the Boston Celtics, has clinched the prestigious 2023-24 Executive of the Year award. This accolade, unlike most, is not determined by the media but by the collective wisdom of the league’s general managers. Stevens’ victory is particularly noteworthy as it’s the first time a former head coach has claimed this honor since the 2019-20 season, when Lawrence Frank led the Los Angeles Clippers to victory.
While coaching the Celtics from 2013 to 2021, Stevens garnered over 350 wins despite never leading his team to the NBA Finals. However, his track record since moving up to the front office has been nothing short of phenomenal. Throughout only three seasons with Stevens at the wheel, Boston has reached the NBA Finals, lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, and this year currently holds the number one seed in the league following a remarkable 64-18 season.
Since transitioning to the front office, Stevens has been a game-changer for the Celtics. He has personally orchestrated the acquisition of almost every player on the team’s roster in the past three years, with the exceptions of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard. Despite some considering his moves risky, they have proven to be instrumental in the Celtics’ success this season, leading them to one of the best regular seasons in league history.
One of Stevens’ strategic moves was the trade of team leader Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies. This complex deal, involving three teams, ultimately led to the acquisition of center Kristaps Porzingis. The addition of Porzingis was a game-changer for the Celtics, addressing their long-standing issue of poor late-game scoring abilities and providing a top-tier rim protector who can score on all three levels.
Three months after the Porzingis deal, Boston was granted some good fortune when the Milwaukee Bucks conducted a blockbuster deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, sending Jrue Holiday to Oregon for Damian Lillard. The deal allowed the Celtics to conduct a separate trade with Portland, effectively swooping in and landing Holiday. Together, Boston boasts the NBA’s best defensive backcourt with Holiday and Derrick White.
With those two acquisitions and the 2022 deadline addition of White, alongside Tatum and Brown, the Celtics have officially established one of the most fearsome and impressive starting lineups ever presented in the NBA. The Celtics have since positioned themselves well on their way to returning to the finals, once again making a deep run. With the impeccable roster that Stevens has constructed, there is now a good chance that Boston will ultimately bring home the 18th championship trophy in franchise history.
The Celtics are holding a series lead of 3-1 over the Miami Heat in the first round of the Finals. However, teammates, coaches, and fans eagerly await further news on the extent of Porzingis’s calf injury, which he suffered in game 4.
