Ed Stefanski is a well-known figure in the world of basketball, having spent over four decades in the sport. He began his career as a player, but it was his work as a coach and executive that truly made him a household name.

Stefanski's first foray into coaching came in the late 1970s, when he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. He then moved on to coach at several other colleges, including Princeton and Rutgers, before making the jump to the NBA in 1999.

Stefanski's first NBA job was as the director of scouting for the New Jersey Nets, where he quickly made a name for himself as a talent evaluator. He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2001, and then to general manager in 2004.

During his time with the Nets, Stefanski was instrumental in building the team that made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. He was also responsible for drafting several key players, including Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic.

In 2007, Stefanski left the Nets to become the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. He inherited a team that had missed the playoffs for two straight seasons, but quickly set about rebuilding the roster.

Stefanski's biggest move as Sixers GM came in 2010, when he traded for All-Star forward Andre Iguodala. The move paid off, as the Sixers made the playoffs in each of the next two seasons.

Stefanski left the Sixers in 2011 to become the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors. He spent four years in that role, helping to build a team that won the Atlantic Division in 2014.

In 2015, Stefanski left the Raptors to become the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies. He spent three years in that role, helping to build a team that made the playoffs in each of his final two seasons.

In 2018, Stefanski left the Grizzlies to become a senior advisor for the Detroit Pistons. He was promoted to general manager in 2019, and has since overseen a rebuilding effort that has seen the team acquire several promising young players.

Throughout his career, Stefanski has been known for his ability to evaluate talent and build winning teams. He has also been praised for his professionalism and his ability to work well with others.

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