Tigers#1
05-14-2003, 05:38 PM
Dumars wins TSN's Executive of the Year
May 11, 2003
Sean Deveney
Sporting News
Pistons forward Clifford Robinson says he was surprised a year ago. Teammate Jon Barry says the same. As Michael Curry puts it, "Joe Dumars was Executive of the Year for last year, in my mind. I know he did not win it, but he should have. And he better win it this year."
Have no fear, Michael, because Dumars did, indeed, get the nod as the League's top executive from the Sporting News, finishing well ahead of the Jazz's Kevin O'Connor and the Kings' Geoff Petrie in voting by team executives.
It's just the third year on the job for Dumars, but after going 32-50 in his first season running the team, the Pistons went 50-32 last year and duplicated that mark this season. That sort of consistency gets noticed. Just as he was when he played for the Pistons, Dumars deflects praise to those who support him. "This is a great honor for me and the Detroit Pistons organization," he says. "Whenever you win an award such as this, there are a lot of people who play an important role in making it happen."
Getting those people into the fold was Dumars' first task as the Pistons' boss. He completely revamped the front office and praises his behind-the-scenes staff. "I have to mention John Hammond, Scott Perry, George David and Will Robinson. Those guys bust their butts all year and are a great staff to work with," Dumars adds.
The revamping of the front office eventually led to a revamping of the roster, with only one player -- Curry -- still around from the days before Dumars took over. The team Dumars has assembled does not have marquee names but is among the league's elite. This year, he pulled off the risky trade of star Jerry Stackhouse for Richard Hamilton, signed Turkish rookie Mehmet Okur, drafted Tayshaun Prince and signed Chauncey Billups as a free agent.
"Obviously, Rick Carlisle and the entire coaching staff have done a great job this year and of course this only happens when you have players that show up every night and get it done," Dumars says, "and that's what these guys did this year."
May 11, 2003
Sean Deveney
Sporting News
Pistons forward Clifford Robinson says he was surprised a year ago. Teammate Jon Barry says the same. As Michael Curry puts it, "Joe Dumars was Executive of the Year for last year, in my mind. I know he did not win it, but he should have. And he better win it this year."
Have no fear, Michael, because Dumars did, indeed, get the nod as the League's top executive from the Sporting News, finishing well ahead of the Jazz's Kevin O'Connor and the Kings' Geoff Petrie in voting by team executives.
It's just the third year on the job for Dumars, but after going 32-50 in his first season running the team, the Pistons went 50-32 last year and duplicated that mark this season. That sort of consistency gets noticed. Just as he was when he played for the Pistons, Dumars deflects praise to those who support him. "This is a great honor for me and the Detroit Pistons organization," he says. "Whenever you win an award such as this, there are a lot of people who play an important role in making it happen."
Getting those people into the fold was Dumars' first task as the Pistons' boss. He completely revamped the front office and praises his behind-the-scenes staff. "I have to mention John Hammond, Scott Perry, George David and Will Robinson. Those guys bust their butts all year and are a great staff to work with," Dumars adds.
The revamping of the front office eventually led to a revamping of the roster, with only one player -- Curry -- still around from the days before Dumars took over. The team Dumars has assembled does not have marquee names but is among the league's elite. This year, he pulled off the risky trade of star Jerry Stackhouse for Richard Hamilton, signed Turkish rookie Mehmet Okur, drafted Tayshaun Prince and signed Chauncey Billups as a free agent.
"Obviously, Rick Carlisle and the entire coaching staff have done a great job this year and of course this only happens when you have players that show up every night and get it done," Dumars says, "and that's what these guys did this year."