#28: Executive of the Year in 2012

Bird wasn’t done shaping the game. After his coaching stint, he returned to the Pacers as President of Basketball Operations, and in 2012, he was named NBA Executive of the Year. That made him the first person in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.

It was an incredible trifecta that highlighted his versatility and basketball intelligence. Bird built competitive teams around stars like Paul George and assembled deep, balanced rosters that reflected his basketball values: teamwork, toughness, and high IQ.