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Neil Olshey
Neil Olshey
Neil Olshey
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Neil Olshey (born January 10, 1965) is an American basketball executive who most recently served as the general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Prior to that, he was general manager and vice president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Olshey is a graduate of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York where he played on the D3 lacrosse team. Neil grew up in Flushing, Queens, but attended Xavier High School in Manhattan.[1][2][3]

Career

[edit]

Olshey originally sought to become a professional actor following his graduation from college, and moved to New York City to pursue this career. He appeared in television commercials and print advertisements, and had roles on All My Children, One Life to Live, and Loving before moving to Los Angeles.[4]

Olshey later served as director of player development for SFX Sports Group, Inc., where he created, organized and conducted NBA pre-draft training camps that produced 15 lottery picks, 25 first-round selections and 57 current NBA players.[4] He was also an assistant coach at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, where he coached future UCLA and NBA player Jason Kapono.

Prior to the start of the 2003–04 season, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers as director of player personnel and became an assistant coach at the beginning of the 2004–05 season. Prior to the start of the 2008–09 season, Olshey was elevated to the position of assistant general manager.[5] He was named general manager on March 9, 2010, upon the firing of Mike Dunleavy Sr.[6] In June 2012, he became the general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers.[7]

He appeared as himself on the IFC series Portlandia in episode 7 "Trail Blazers" of season 4.[8]

After a month-long investigation into allegations of the Trail Blazers organization being a toxic environment created by Olshey, the team fired him on December 3, 2021.[9][10]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Neil Olshey

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Neil Olshey (born January 10, 1965) is an American basketball executive renowned for his roles in talent evaluation and team-building within the (NBA), most notably as general manager of the from 2010 to 2012 and as president of basketball operations for the from 2012 to 2021. Olshey grew up in Flushing, Queens, and attended Xavier High School in , where he lettered in baseball and tennis. He graduated from in , in 1987, earning the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award for his contributions to the team, where he appeared in over 45 games and recorded 48 points on 24 goals and 24 assists; he was inducted into the college's Gold Wave Hall of Fame as an honorary member in 2018. Following graduation, Olshey initially pursued a career in acting, moving to and appearing in background roles on soap operas before shifting his focus to . He began his professional basketball career at SFX Sports Group as director of player development, where he organized predraft and offseason camps that trained over 85 NBA players and contributed to the selection of 15 lottery picks and 57 eventual NBA draftees. Olshey joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2003 as director of player development, advancing to assistant coach in 2004–05, director of player personnel from 2005 to 2008, assistant general manager in 2008–09, and vice president of basketball operations from 2010 to 2012. Promoted to general manager in March 2010, he played a key role in acquiring point guard Chris Paul via trade in December 2011, a move recognized as the "Best Sports Transaction of the Year" at the 2012 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, which propelled the Clippers to their first playoff appearance in seven seasons during 2011–12. In June 2012, Olshey was hired by the Portland Trail Blazers as their general manager, becoming the franchise's 10th in history, and was promoted to president of basketball operations in 2015. During his nine seasons with the Trail Blazers, Olshey oversaw the drafting of Damian Lillard with the sixth overall pick in 2012 and shooting guard C.J. McCollum 10th overall in 2013, forming the core of a roster that achieved a franchise-record 54 wins in the 2013–14 season and advanced to the playoffs in seven consecutive years from 2014 to 2021. The team reached the Western Conference in 2019 under his leadership, compiling a regular-season record of 402 wins and 318 losses (.558 winning percentage) across 720 games, along with 15 playoff wins in 51 games (.294 winning percentage). His tenure ended on December 3, 2021, when the Trail Blazers fired him following an independent investigation that substantiated allegations of creating a toxic work environment, including berating and intimidating staff. Since leaving Portland, Olshey has worked as a consultant for the , focusing on college scouting since October 2023, and declined an interview for the ' position in May 2024.

Early life and education

Upbringing

Olshey was born on January 10, 1965, and grew up in , New York. Growing up in the bustling urban environment of , Olshey experienced the fast-paced rhythm of , including frequent subway rides that contributed to his energetic and direct personality. This setting, with its proximity to iconic venues like —located just 19 blocks from his high school—fostered an early passion for sports, particularly , which he played throughout his youth in the borough. Olshey attended Xavier High School, a Jesuit institution in , graduating in the class of 1983. There, he engaged in extracurricular activities centered on athletics, including and varsity sports like and , where he earned letters. These experiences highlighted his competitive drive and laid the groundwork for his lifelong involvement in sports. This foundation transitioned into college athletics at , where he pursued .

College years

Olshey enrolled at , a Jesuit institution in , where he pursued a degree in English, graduating in 1987. During his time there, he was drawn to the school's academic focus and its emerging athletic programs, aligning with his background in sports from high school. As one of the original members of Le Moyne's Division III men's team, established in the early 1980s, Olshey was a four-time letter winner from 1984 to 1987, contributing significantly to the program's foundational years. Over 45 career games, he recorded 48 points, including 24 goals and 24 assists, with his senior season standing out as he tallied 38 points on 21 goals and 17 assists, helping to build the team's early competitiveness. His efforts on the field earned him recognition as a key contributor to the Dolphins' early development in the sport. In acknowledgment of his lacrosse achievements and overall athletic performance, Olshey received the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award upon graduation. This honor highlighted his dedication as a student-athlete at a Division III program emphasizing balanced development. In 2018, he was inducted into the Le Moyne College Gold Wave Hall of Fame as an honorary member.

Executive career

Entertainment beginnings

Following his graduation from Le Moyne College in , in 1987, Neil Olshey relocated to to launch a career in . His background in communications from college equipped him with skills in public speaking and media that facilitated his entry into the entertainment field. In the city, Olshey took on various side jobs, such as bartending at night, while auditioning for roles during the day. Olshey's early acting credits included appearances in television commercials and print advertisements, which provided steady but modest work in a competitive industry. He also landed roles on prominent soap operas, securing "under-five" parts—limited to fewer than five lines per episode—on shows such as , , and Loving. These appearances, though brief, marked his foothold in and exposed him to the rigors of scripted performance under tight production schedules. Encouraged by connections like actor , Olshey moved to in the early 2000s to pursue broader opportunities in film and television. There, he continued auditioning and taking commercial gigs, but by around 2003, facing the uncertainties of , he chose to pivot his professional path away from . This decision reflected a strategic shift, drawing on his lifelong interest in to explore new avenues.

Los Angeles Clippers

Olshey joined the prior to the 2003–04 season as director of player development, working under head coach and focusing on talent evaluation and . He briefly served as an assistant coach during the 2004–05 season before returning to front-office duties. From 2005 to 2008, Olshey held the role of director of player personnel, overseeing operations and draft preparations. In 2008, Olshey was promoted to assistant general manager, where he managed salary cap compliance, negotiated with other teams, and continued to lead scouting efforts. On March 9, 2010, following a contentious split between the Clippers and then-general manager Mike Dunleavy, Olshey was elevated to and of basketball operations. In this role, he emphasized building a competitive roster around emerging stars like , whom the team had drafted first overall in 2009. As , Olshey made pivotal decisions to reshape the franchise, including selecting forward eighth overall in the and acquiring guard eighteenth overall in the same draft. His most transformative move came on December 14, 2011, when he orchestrated a blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire , sending , Aminu, a first-round pick, and cash considerations in return. This deal paired Paul with Griffin and center , forming the core of the high-flying "Lob City" era, known for its dynamic plays and athleticism. Under Olshey's leadership, the Clippers improved dramatically, finishing the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season with a 40–26 record and securing their first playoff appearance since 2006 by defeating the in seven games in the first round before falling to the in the conference semifinals. This postseason run marked the inception of the Lob City identity, which elevated the team's profile and fan engagement in . Olshey's strategic focus on complementary talent around the core duo provided essential for the franchise's turnaround from perennial contenders. Olshey's tenure ended in June 2012 when he departed for the ' general manager position after contract negotiations with the Clippers stalled; he had worked the entire 2011–12 season without a formal contract. His time with the Clippers stabilized the front office through consistent personnel decisions and laid the groundwork for sustained contention, leaving a legacy as the architect of the team's most successful period in decades. His prior experience in the entertainment industry offered a distinctive perspective on evaluating player charisma and marketability alongside on-court skills.

Portland Trail Blazers

Neil Olshey was hired as the general manager of the on June 4, 2012, becoming the 10th GM in franchise history after serving in a similar role with the . In 2015, he was promoted to president of basketball operations, a position he held while overseeing the team's personnel decisions. On May 24, 2019, following a successful season, Olshey signed a contract extension that kept him with the organization through the 2023–24 season. During his tenure, Olshey prioritized drafting young talent to complement the existing foundation, notably selecting Damian Lillard with the sixth overall pick in the , guard C.J. McCollum with the 10th overall pick in the , and forward at No. 10 overall in the . These selections helped solidify a young core centered on Lillard and McCollum, emphasizing skill and long-term growth over immediate veteran additions. Olshey's trade activity focused on acquiring established players to bolster the team's competitiveness, including a February 2017 deal that sent center and a protected first-round pick to the in exchange for center Jusuf Nurkic, who became a reliable starting big man. In free agency, he signed guard to a four-year, $70 million contract in July 2016, aiming to add playmaking and size from the wing. These moves, combined with extensions for Lillard and McCollum, reinforced the backcourt duo as the franchise's cornerstone while integrating complementary pieces around them. Under Olshey's leadership, the Trail Blazers achieved sustained success, making eight consecutive playoff appearances from 2014 to 2021. The team reached the Western Conference Finals in 2019, defeating the and before falling to the . That season marked their best regular-season performance, finishing with a 53–29 record and securing the third seed in the West. Olshey also influenced coaching stability, extending head coach ' contract through the 2021–22 season on May 24, 2019, to maintain continuity after the playoff run. Following Stotts' departure in June 2021, he hired as head coach on a five-year deal, drawing on Billups' playing experience and assistant coaching background to inject new energy into the team. Throughout his nine-year run, Olshey's roster management philosophy emphasized building a contending team around high-upside youth while navigating constraints through strategic trades and restrained spending, often avoiding implications to preserve flexibility. This approach, informed by his prior talent evaluation work with the Clippers, allowed Portland to remain competitive in a deep Western Conference without overcommitting to short-term fixes.

Philadelphia 76ers

In October 2023, the officially hired Neil Olshey as a operations , though he had begun working with the team in an advisory capacity since early June of that year. Reporting directly to president of basketball operations and , Olshey's role is open-ended and designed to leverage his prior executive experience in talent acquisition and roster building from stints with the and . Olshey's primary responsibilities with the 76ers center on college scouting and talent evaluation, providing advisory input on draft selections, trades, and free agency decisions to support the front office's efforts around core players like . He contributed to the team's preparations for the and subsequent free agency period, including potential influence on undrafted free agent signings such as . This advisory work extended into the 2024 NBA Draft, where the 76ers selected players like in the first round, though specific recommendations from Olshey remain undisclosed in public reports. In May 2024, Olshey declined an interview for the ' general manager position. As of November 2025, Olshey continues in his position with no reported changes, assisting with ongoing free agency consultations and roster evaluations amid the 76ers' competitive push in the Eastern Conference. His involvement has focused on enhancing the team's infrastructure without assuming a full executive leadership role.

Controversies

Workplace allegations

In November 2021, reports surfaced alleging that Neil Olshey, the ' president of basketball operations, had fostered a at the team's practice facility through , , and . Employees described experiences of frequent profanity-laced tirades, threats of job loss, and belittling comments, such as calling staff "stupid" or questioning their loyalty in aggressive outbursts. These allegations, drawn from accounts by multiple current and former non-player personnel, highlighted unequal treatment and a that caused significant mental and physical stress over the course of Olshey's nearly decade-long tenure. The claims extended to specific incidents, including one former employee's recollection of Olshey launching into a tirade filled with obscenities after learning of their job search elsewhere, underscoring a pattern of that affected staff across various levels. Sources indicated that the environment was marked by a lack of recourse for those targeted, with one anonymous staffer noting, "You tried not to be around him," reflecting the pervasive anxiety induced by such conduct. In response to these reports, which emerged publicly around November 5, 2021, the Trail Blazers promptly hired the Los Angeles-based law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the workplace environment concerns. The firm began interviewing employees off-site shortly thereafter, expanding the scope to include both current and former staff. This probe, initiated in late November 2021, lasted approximately four weeks.

Dismissal from Portland

On December 3, 2021, the Portland Trail Blazers announced the firing of Neil Olshey as general manager and president of basketball operations, effective immediately, following the completion of an independent investigation into workplace concerns. The team stated that the probe, conducted by the law firm O'Melveny & Myers, had uncovered violations of the organization's code of conduct, though specific details of the breaches were not publicly disclosed. The investigation's findings substantiated reports of a within the front office, leading to Olshey's termination after nearly a decade in the role. In response, Olshey did not issue a public statement at the time, though sources indicated he might contest the "for cause" nature of the dismissal, which reportedly voided the remaining terms of his contract and eliminated any severance payout. This left him without NBA employment for nearly two years, until 2023. The dismissal prompted immediate organizational changes for the Trail Blazers, with assistant Joe Cronin elevated to interim GM on the same day. Cronin, a long-time team employee who had risen through the ranks since starting as an intern in 2008, was later promoted to permanent on May 10, 2022, signaling a shift toward internal leadership amid the franchise's ongoing roster rebuild. Olshey's firing contributed to heightened scrutiny of in NBA front offices, underscoring the league's growing emphasis on addressing cultures among executives previously insulated by their roles in player personnel decisions. It highlighted how independent investigations could enforce conduct standards, influencing discussions on executive oversight across the league.

References

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