NBA News Wire
Blazers GM Olshey receives extension
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Portland Trail Blazers gave general manager Neil Olshey a multiyear contract extension on Thursday and added president of basketball operations to his title.
Olshey became Portland’s general manager before the 2012-13 season and is credited for draft picks and player acquisitions that resulted in the Trail Blazers reaching the playoffs last season for the first time in three years and reaching the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2000.
“Our team has made great strides under Neil’s leadership, and I am excited to extend his contract,” Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen said. “Neil has done an outstanding job as general manager by quickly rebuilding our team into a playoff contender. The franchise is clearly on the upswing, and I hope to see further improvements in the years to come.”
The Trail Blazers have a 27-8 record this season, which is second best in the Western Conference and tied with the Atlanta Hawks for second best in the NBA.
“This extension is a validation of the efforts of the entire Trail Blazers front office and an endorsement of the level of commitment expected of us by our owner Paul Allen,” Olshey said. “The level of passion for this franchise by our owner, season ticket-holders and fans drives us to build a team that this community can be proud of.”
