Former New Orleans Hornets GM Bob Bass dies at 89

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Bob Bass, a longtime NBA coach and executive who was the general manager of the Hornets when they moved to New Orleans in 2002, died last week at his home in San Antonio. He was 89.

Bass had suffered a pair of strokes earlier this month and was in hospice.

Bass was twice named NBA Executive of the Year, including in 1997 with the Hornets. After a 20-year run in San Antonio in a variety of roles, Bass joined the Hornets in Charlotte in 1995 and remained with the franchise through its first two seasons in New Orleans, both of which were playoff teams. He retired in 2004.

“Over the course of four decades, Bob Bass had a huge impact in both the ABA and NBA,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said in a statement. “BB was a true pioneer in the world of professional basketball. His knowledge, passion and dedication to the game were inspiring. We send our condolences to the entire Bass family.”

Bass joined the Spurs as coach while they were still a part of the American Basketball Association in 1974. When the ABA-NBA merger occurred in 1976, Bass moved into the front office. He remained in San Antonio through 1994 and joined the Hornets the next season.

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