NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2021 – The National Basketball Association announced today that Kiki VanDeWeghe has decided to transition from his position as the league’s Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations to a new role as a special advisor to Byron Spruell, the NBA’s President, League Operations.
VanDeWeghe has been integral in modernizing the league’s Basketball Operations department, including improving transparency and enhancing collaboration with teams and key stakeholders. He has held the EVP role since August 2015, when he was promoted to replace the retired Rod Thorn.
“It has been a privilege to lead NBA Basketball Operations,” VanDeWeghe said. “I am proud of our staff and what we accomplished together, including the fundamental improvements to the game and unprecedented business success of our league. I am grateful for the opportunity to transition to this special advisor role, which will keep me engaged with and connected to League Operations while also giving me the freedom to pursue other areas of interest.”
“I am pleased that Kiki will continue as a special advisor so that we can further leverage his depth of experience and the institutional knowledge he gained as a player, coach and team and league executive over the past four decades,” Spruell said.
VanDeWeghe joined the league office in April 2013 as Vice President, Basketball Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations later the same year. During his eight years, he has been involved in a broad range of basketball matters, including the development of playing rules and interpretations, game analytics and policies and procedures relating to the operation of NBA games.
Before his time with the league office, VanDeWeghe served as the general manager of the New Jersey Nets from 2008 to 2010 and the general manager of the Denver Nuggets from 2001 to 2006. His tenure in New Jersey included a stint as interim head coach during the 2009-10 season. He also worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports.
VanDeWeghe’s NBA playing career spanned 13 years, with the Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks and LA Clippers. He averaged 19.7 points per game, earned two All-Star selections and helped his teams reach the playoffs 12 times.
