Denver's Mark Warkentien named NBA Executive of the Year

Mark Warkentien, Denver Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations, has been named the recipient of the 2008-09 NBA Executive of the Year award.

The Nuggets just completed their fifth 50-win season in the team's NBA history, while qualifying for the postseason for the sixth consecutive year. Denver won its sixth division title since joining the NBA in 1976, including the second in the last four seasons. The Nuggets finished the 2008-09 regular season tied for the second best record and earned the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs by owning tiebreakers over both San Antonio and Portland.

Since his arrival in Denver in the summer of 2005 as Director of Player personnel, the Nuggets have orchestrated numerous transactions while maintaining a high level of success. On Nov. 3, 2008, Warkentien netted four-time All-Star and Denver native Chauncey Billups via trade with Detroit, giving the Nuggets an established floor leader and seasoned postseason performer. During Warkentien's tenure, the Nuggets also signed two-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony to a contract extension, re-signed Nenê and J.R. Smith, signed free agent Chris Andersen, and acquired Renaldo Balkman.

Warkentien received nine of a possible 30 votes from a panel of his NBA Executives throughout the NBA. Cleveland's Danny Ferry finished second with seven votes, Orlando's Otis Smith finished third with six votes, the Los Angeles Lakers' Mitch Kupchak and Chicago's John Paxson were tied for fourth with two votes apiece, and Denver's Rex Chapman, Houston's Darryl Morey, Utah's Kevin O'Connor, Oklahoma City's Sam Presti each received one vote.