NBA Names Longtime Deloitte Exec Byron Spruell As President Of League Operations

The NBA named Deloitte Vice Chair & Central Region Market Leader BYRON SPRUELL President of League Operations. Spruell will begin on Aug. 1 and will report to NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER. In addition to his department, Spruell will also oversee the league's basketball and referee operations departments. Spruell will also work with USA Basketball and FIBA to promote the global growth of the game. NBA Exec VP/Referee Operations MIKE BANTOM and Exec VP/Basketball Operations KIKI VANDEWEGHE will report to Spruell (NBA). USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt notes Spruell’s role is similar to that of longtime NBA exec ROD THORN "before he stepped aside as president of basketball operations in August" (USATODAY.com, 6/30). Spruell played football at Notre Dame, but he "called himself a lifelong NBA fan" (AP, 6/30).