Brad Stevens named NBA Executive of the Year after leading Boston Celtics to 56-win season 

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has once again been recognized among the league’s elite front-office minds, earning the 2025–26 NBA Executive of the Year Award. The honor, announced by the National Basketball Association in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29 (Philippine Standard Time), marks the second time Stevens has received the distinction, having previously won in the 2023–24 season.

With this latest recognition, Stevens joins an exclusive group—becoming just the 12th executive in NBA history to win the award multiple times since its inception in the 1972–73 season. His sustained success reflects not only sharp roster construction but also a consistent organizational philosophy that has kept Boston firmly in contention.

The 49-year-old executive secured 11 first-place votes, finishing with 69 total points in the voting. He comfortably outpaced runner-up Onsi Saleh of the Atlanta Hawks, who tallied 41 points, while Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons placed third with 40 points.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

Stevens’ selection comes as little surprise given the Celtics’ impressive 56–26 record during the 2025–26 regular season, good for the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference. What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that Boston maintained its elite level of play despite the prolonged absence of franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum, who missed 66 games due to injury.

Rather than falter, the Celtics remained competitive throughout the campaign, a testament to Stevens’ roster-building approach. His offseason acquisitions and depth-focused strategy paid dividends, allowing the team to stay in the title hunt while maximizing contributions from across the roster.

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been named the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year.

Stevens earns the honor for the second time, having previously received it in 2023-24.

He is the 12th executive to win the award multiple times. pic.twitter.com/dNcZhOk8tR

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 28, 2026

Stevens has long been known for blending analytics with intangible qualities such as competitiveness and team-first mentality. Speaking earlier this month, he shed light on the philosophy that continues to shape Boston’s success:

“Everything is information, so there’s an analytical side of it where maybe the numbers are popping in low minutes. Some people value possessions more than they value some of the perceived weaknesses. We do tend to look at the fact that if you have the right competitive characters and you’re more about the team, those are huge qualities,” Stevens said.

“Everybody’s in the NBA for a reason. If we can figure out how to maximize the reason they are here and not focus on the things that people see as a detriment, then we can build a team, as long as you have the cornerstones, and we have got the cornerstones,” he added.

Beyond roster construction, Stevens’ leadership style and background as a former head coach have helped foster strong relationships within the organization. His ability to bridge the gap between front office strategy and on-court execution has proven invaluable, particularly in his collaboration with current Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Mazzulla, who previously worked under Stevens, emphasized the advantage of that shared perspective:

“We also have a unique relationship because I worked for him and there’s not many of those former coaches in a GM role that can see from a GM perspective and a coach perspective. And I kind of know how he thinks and the language that he speaks and how he sees the game,” Mazzulla said.

As the Celtics push deeper into contention, Stevens’ second Executive of the Year award further cements his reputation as one of the NBA’s most effective and forward-thinking decision-makers—one who has successfully built a resilient, adaptable roster capable of thriving under any circumstances.

👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate sports fans.