Bob Bass, a two-time NBA Executive of the Year who spent 20 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and also served as general manager of the Charlotte Hornets, died Friday night at the age of 89, the Hornets announced.
Blair Bass-Percle, a granddaughter, told mysanantonio.com that Bass had suffered two strokes since Aug. 6.
After coaching in the ABA and in college at Oklahoma Baptist and Texas Tech, Bass joined the Spurs in 1974 and served as head coach until the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. He then joined the team's front office, helping build the foundation for the team's success while serving as general manager, vice president and assistant to the chairman.