Brian Wright took over as San Antonio Spurs general manager in 2019, and what a time it’s been since. His first season on the job was upended by the pandemic, and nothing has been quite normal since.
From the front office, Wright is helping to lead the franchise during its current transitional phase. There have been movements in its ownership group and Wright took over as GM from R.C. Buford, the vaunted executive who moved up to CEO. He is helping legendary coach and team president Gregg Popovich steer the organization through a rebuild after two decades as a title contender.
Wright, 39, took the time to speak to The Athletic recently as part of its 40 under 40 series about what he’s learned during his time as the GM, what he looks for in players, and his experience working with Popovich.
You were named GM at 36. Now that you’re in your third season on the job, how have you evolved as a general manager?
Obviously, it was unique times for that to happen. Midway through that first season with the introduction of a pandemic, it drastically changed the nature of the job. So you have to learn on the fly really quick, not just how to make transactions or how to try to bring a group together and how you want to scout and how you do all of those things, but how do you keep people safe in a time where nobody really knows what exactly is going on? I think in the broadest context, it’s just been maturity, just on a holistic level and less specialized on the day-to-day. But thinking big picture. And obviously had great leadership here with Pop and R.C. that helped us do that. But I would just say, just from that standpoint, just overall maturity to understanding the big picture and what this thing is all about, and how you help create an environment that’s conducive to success over time.
To that end, over the last few years, it’s been kind of a time of change for the organization, it seems, from the ownership group on down to the management level. Including yourself. What has it been like leading that? You mentioned the maturity aspect of that — has that been a growth part for you as well?
I think until you actually do the job, you don’t necessarily know what it entails — and the things you enjoyed about your previous stops along the way, you don’t necessarily get to do all of the time. But one of the things that I’ve kind of enjoyed in this new role is just seeing the development of the staff and understanding there’s so many people in various roles throughout basketball ops that have to be doing well for the organization to do well and for us to be trying to do the right things and just seeing the growth and the development and being a part of that for those members of basketball ops, whether it’s the front office or wherever, it may be throughout the organization is an area that I’ve really enjoyed and learning every day on how to continue to provide an environment and structure and resources to not just grow the organization, but all the individuals that helped make this thing happen.
In the time leading the front office there, what types of players have you been looking for? What type of attributes have you been looking for in players that kind of signify a Spurs type of player?
I think if people listen closely to Pop when he talks to the media, it’s pretty simple. Guys who are wanting to do something, participate in something that’s larger than themselves. That have gotten over themselves. That are willing to put team in front of the individual. And obviously, there are characteristics that you look for on the basketball court, but I think the biggest thing is it starts there. It starts with the character of the person. We’ve seen 20 years of the Spurs franchise doing that, and that’s not something we ever want to deviate from. So, in looking for players to join the group, that’s first and foremost where we start, and then it’s an evaluation of everything else behind that.
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Because you mentioned Pop, how’s it been working alongside him? And was he as ornery to you as he has been to some of us media members?
He’s an unbelievable human being who deserves all the praise that he dislikes getting. He’s just been an incredible mentor, but someone that you just look to. You learn from him on a day-to-day basis, on not just the big things that are public and seen, but the little things. Whether it’s in practice going over and putting his arm around somebody or how he interacts with players during the game. Or postgame and family members and just the attention to detail, the care and thought. Pay attention and there’s so much to learn every day, and it’s just a blessing and very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from him. And also R.C. Men that have done this for such a long time and focused on the things that truly matter and understanding that this is a game and we’re all fortunate to be in these roles and in these organizations but keeping it in the context of life in general. And it’s just been an incredible experience to learn from both of them every step of the way.
(Photo of Lonnie Walker and Brian Wright: Reginald Thomas II/San Antonio Spurs)
Mike Vorkunov is the national basketball business reporter for The Athletic. He covers the intersection of money and basketball and covers the sport at every level. He previously spent three-plus seasons as the New York Knicks beat writer. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeVorkunov
