Celtics' Brad Stevens Wins 2025-26 NBA Executive of the Year Award, Full Voting Results Revealed

After finishing with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season in what was originally thought to be a gap year, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been named the 2025-26 NBA Executive of the Year.

Stevens received 11 of 28 first-place votes and received 69 total points, finishing ahead of Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh and Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon.

This marks Stevens' second time receiving the award in the last three seasons. He becomes the 12th person in NBA history to be named Executive of the Year multiple times.

The combination of an expansive luxury tax bill and Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles in the playoffs last year had the Celtics seemingly primed to take a step back.

Stevens' offseason activity included trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday as part of a series of moves that saved the Celtics $301 million in payroll and tax payments.

Even with those roster moves primarily aimed at saving money and Tatum not being available for most of the regular season, the Celtics still spent most of the year among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Jaylen Brown had the best season of his career that could earn him his first All-NBA first-team selection. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard remain supercharged role players.

Tatum returned to game action on March 6, less than 10 months removed from his Achilles injury. His shooting efficiency wasn't all the way back, but his overall impact on the game had a profound impact.

The Celtics went 13-3 in Tatum's 16 starts during the regular season to secure the No. 2 seed in the East. Stevens and Danny Ainge are the only Celtics executives to win this award since it was introduced in the 1972-73 season.

Saleh's second-place showing is impressive after he had to reshape the Hawks' roster during the season. Trae Young had been the face of the franchise for seven years, but Jalen Johnson clearly became their best player this season.

The Hawks traded Young to bring in CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, handing the keys to the offense to Johnson. Saleh also made one of the best offseason signings with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who received the Most Improved Player award.