Some tragic news has recently surfaced. Bob Bass, a prominent figure in the NBA as a team executive, has recently passed at the age of 89.
Tom Osborne of the first broke the news on his report for My San Antonio.
“Bass was hospitalized Aug. 6 after suffering a stroke,” writes Osborne. “On Monday, he returned home to enter hospice care after suffering a second stroke, his granddaughter Blair Bass-Percle said.”
Bass had an illustrious career as a team executive that spanned over three decades. His longest stint was with the San Antonio Spurs organization, wherein he spent 15 years.
It was during his tenure as general manager that the Spurs drafted one of the greatest centers of all time. This was in 1987 when the team scooped up David Robinson as the first overall pick in the draft. Three years later, Bass was awarded as the NBA's Executive of the Year.
The Spurs won its first title in franchise history in 1999 behind the heroics of Robinson and the legendary Tim Duncan. This was five years after Bass had parted ways with the organization, but surely, his contributions in building the foundations of the team did not go unappreciated.
After his time with the Spurs, Bob Bass took the reigns as the head honcho of the Charlotte Hornets. In 1997, Bob Bass won his second Executive of the Year award. Notably, it was also during his tenure that the Hornets infamously traded away Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers after drafting him 13th overall in 1996.
Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Bass at this sad time.
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