Category: NBA

SANDERS NAMED NBA G LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

The NBA G League announced today that Raptors 905 General Manager Chad Sanders has been named the 2020-21 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year, as selected by his fellow NBA G League team basketball executives.  

“The Raptors organization couldn’t be more proud of Chad and this recognition from his colleagues in the NBA G League,” said Toronto Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster. “Since joining our program, Chad’s growth has been tremendous to watch and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him in the future.”

In his third season as general manager, Sanders constructed a team that posted a league-best 12-3 record during the 2021 season, powered by one of the most prolific offenses in league history.  Notable acquisitions included NBA veteran and Mississauga native Nik Stauskas (18.1 ppg, 3.6 apg), Alize Johnson (16.6 ppg, 13.3 rpg) and Matt Mooney (11.6 ppg, 5.7 apg) via trade with Canton.  He also acquired Henry Ellenson (21.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) last season from Long Island, who earned a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors at the end of the 2021 G League season. 

The Crestwood, KY native joined the Raptors organization as the Manager of Basketball Operations for the 2017-18 season, before being elevated to General Manager the following season. From 2011 to 2017, Sanders worked in the Dominican Republic. He served as the General Manager of the Men’s National Team beginning in 2014 after three years as the Director of Operations for the team. In addition to his work with the National Team, he was the General Manager of Leones de Santo Domingo, earning the league title in 2016. 

Sanders began his basketball journey as the Graduate assistant under John Calipari for two seasons at the University of Kentucky.  He also served as a basketball manager from 2006 to 2009 under coaches Tubby Smith and Billy Gillispie.

            Sanders, 34, graduated from Kentucky in 2009 and earned his Masters degree in 2011.   

-905-