by NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced its 2024 NBA Team Sales & Marketing Awards at the league’s annual NBA Sales & Marketing Meeting in Miami.
The Sacramento Kings received the NBA Team of the Year Award for their achievements across team business operations, including ticketing, partnerships, marketing and strategy & analytics. The Kings were also recognized with the NBA Team Innovation Award, which honors the execution of unique ideas that have generated a positive business impact.
The Minnesota Timberwolves accepted the NBA Inclusion Leadership Award, which recognizes a team’s excellence in creating programming that promotes inclusion, while the Utah Jazz were presented with the first-ever NBA Team Viewership Innovation Award, which recognizes new initiatives that drive game viewership and consumption. Additionally, Golden State Warriors Senior Director of Guest Experiences Alison Wright and Phoenix Suns Senior Director of Live Presentation Shawn Martinez took home the Pete Winemiller Guest Experience Innovation Award and the Values of the Game Award, respectively.
All 30 teams had the opportunity to submit a nomination in each category for awards recognizing leaders and innovators across key areas from Oct. 2022 – Oct. 2023, with a committee of league and team executives choosing the winners.
NBA Values of the Game Award: Shawn Martinez, Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns Senior Director of Live Presentation Shawn Martinez received the NBA Values of the Game Award, which recognizes an individual who embodies the NBA’s mission of inspiring and connecting people through the game of basketball.
Martinez helped lead the Suns’ efforts to recognize the local Native American community in unique ways, headlined by the ORIGINATIV program, which celebrated the cultures and traditions of the 22 Tribal Nations of Arizona. As part of the initiative, the Suns featured Native American performers and authentic in-game programming during 10 ORIGINATIV themed nights designed to honor Arizona’s Indigenous communities. In November 2023, Martinez was presented with the Man of the Year Award by the Phoenix Indian Center for his commitment to uplifting and serving the community.
