Why did Brad Stevens win NBA Executive of the Year for the second time?

Roster Assembly Amid Constraints

Stevens orchestrated a competitive Celtics roster for the 2025-26 season despite significant financial and personnel challenges. The team was expected to have a 'gap year' after operating above the second tax apron. Stevens made cost-cutting moves by trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and allowing Luke Kornet and Al Horford to leave in free agency. Despite these losses, the Celtics remained competitive with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard leading the way, supplemented by modestly paid contributors like Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, and Jordan Walsh.

Performance and Injury Resilience

The Celtics won 56 regular season games in the 2025-26 season, securing the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and a top-two playoff seed for the fifth consecutive season. This achievement was remarkable given that Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tear during the 2025 playoffs but eventually returned in March. Stevens completed additional salary-motivated trades at the deadline to get Boston's team salary below the luxury tax line while maintaining competitiveness.

Voting and Recognition

Unlike most NBA end-of-season awards voted on by media members, the Executive of the Year award is voted on by the league's general managers. Stevens received 11 of 28 possible first-place votes and finished with 69 total points, beating runner-up Onsi Saleh of the Hawks who received 41 points. Stevens becomes the 12th executive in NBA history to win the award multiple times since its inception in 1972-73.