NBA AWARDS - DENVER’S MARK WARKENTIEN NAMED 2008-09 NBA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

The Nuggets just completed their fifth 50-win season in the team’s NBA history, while qualifying for the postseason for the sixth consecutive year. Denver won its sixth division title since joining the NBA in 1976, including the second in the last four seasons.

NBA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

NEW YORK, NY USA

Saturday May 16, 2009

Mark Warkentien, Denver Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations, has been named the recipient of the 2008-09 NBA Executive of the Year award.

The Nuggets just completed their fifth 50-win season in the team’s NBA history, while qualifying for the postseason for the sixth consecutive year. Denver won its sixth division title since joining the NBA in 1976, including the second in the last four seasons. The Nuggets finished the 2008-09 regular season tied for the second best record and earned the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs by owning tiebreakers over both San Antonio and Portland.

Since his arrival in Denver in the summer of 2005 as Director of Player personnel, the Nuggets have orchestrated numerous transactions while maintaining a high level of success. On Nov. 3, 2008, Warkentien netted four-time All-Star and Denver native Chauncey Billups via trade with Detroit, giving the Nuggets an established floor leader and seasoned postseason performer. During Warkentien’s tenure, the Nuggets also signed two-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony to a contract extension, re-signed Nenê and J.R. Smith, signed free agent Chris Andersen, and acquired Renaldo Balkman.

Warkentien received nine of a possible 30 votes from a panel of his NBA Executives throughout the NBA. Cleveland’s Danny Ferry finished second with seven votes, Orlando’s Otis Smith finished third with six votes, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak and Chicago’s John Paxson were tied for fourth with two votes apiece, and Denver’s Rex Chapman, Houston’s Darryl Morey, Utah’s Kevin O’Connor, Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti each received one vote.

ALL-TIME NBA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

1972-73 Joe Axelson, K.C./Omaha

1973-74 Eddie Donovan, Buffalo

1974-75 Dick Vertlieb, Golden State

1975-76 Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix

1976-77 Ray Patterson, Houston

1977-78 Angelo Drossos, San Antonio

1978-79 Bob Ferry, Washington

1979-80 Red Auerbach, Boston

1980-81 Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix

1981-82 Bob Ferry, Washington

1982-83 Zollie Volchok, Seattle

1983-84 Frank Layden, Utah

1984-85 Vince Boryla, Denver

1985-86 Stan Kasten, Atlanta

1986-87 Stan Kasten, Atlanta

1987-88 Jerry Krause, Chicago

1988-89 Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix

1989-90 Bob Bass, San Antonio

1990-91 Bucky Buckwalter, Portland

1991-92 Wayne Embry, Cleveland

1992-93 Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix

1993-94 Bob Whitsitt, Seattle

1994-95 Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers

1995-96 Jerry Krause, Chicago

1996-97 Bob Bass, Charlotte

1997-98 Wayne Embry, Cleveland

1998-99 Geoff Petrie, Sacramento

1999-00 John Gabriel, Orlando

2000-01 Geoff Petrie, Sacramento

2001-02 Rod Thorn, New Jersey

2002-03 Joe Dumars, Detroit

2003-04 Jerry West, Memphis

2004-05 Bryan Colangelo, Phoenix

2005-06 Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Clippers

2006-07 Bryan Colangelo, Toronto

2007-08 Danny Ainge, Boston

2008-09 Mark Warkentien, Denver

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