Grizzlies' Kleiman named 2021-22 NBA Executive of the Year
Memphis Grizzlies vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman was voted as the 2021-22 NBA Executive of the Year, the league announced Thursday.
Kleiman earned the overwhelming majority of first-place votes with 16. Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman earned the second-most first-place votes with two.
Kleiman, 33, becomes the youngest Executive of the Year honoree since its inception in 1972-73.
Since taking over as the Grizzlies' lead decision-maker in April 2019, Kleiman has orchestrated an impressive rebuild. He's hired head coach Taylor Jenkins, selected budding star Ja Morant at No. 2 overall in 2019, traded for promising reserve forward Brandon Clarke, and drafted wing Desmond Bane in 2020, among other notable transactions. Kleiman has also signed Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. to multi-year contract extensions.
The Grizzlies matched their previous franchise record of 56 wins this season. Memphis currently trails the Golden State Warriors 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals. However, the Grizz are expected to be without Morant for the remainder of the postseason due to a bone bruise in his knee.