R.C. Buford is a former basketball player and current executive who has had a successful career in the sport. Buford played college basketball at Oklahoma State University before beginning his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Kansas. He then moved on to become an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 1988, where he worked under head coach Gregg Popovich.
Buford quickly rose through the ranks in San Antonio, becoming the team's director of scouting in 1993 and then its vice president and assistant general manager in 1997. In 2002, he was promoted to general manager, a position he held until 2018. During his tenure as general manager, Buford helped lead the Spurs to five NBA championships and was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2014.
Buford is known for his ability to identify and develop talent, as well as his commitment to building a strong team culture. He has been instrumental in bringing players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili to San Antonio, and has also been involved in the team's successful draft picks and trades.
In addition to his work with the Spurs, Buford has also been involved in USA Basketball, serving as an assistant coach for the men's national team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2018, Buford stepped down as general manager of the Spurs and was named the team's CEO. He continues to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the team and is widely regarded as one of the most successful executives in the NBA.
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