Glen Grunwald
Encyclopedia
Glen Grunwald is currently the senior vice president for basketball operations of the New York Knicks
of the NBA
. He is best known as the former general manager
of the Toronto Raptors
, a role he filled from March 1998 until April 2004.
, Illinois
, Grunwald was a high-school All-American basketball player from East Leyden High School
in Franklin Park, Illinois
. He is the only player selected All-Chicago area four times, and was player of the year in the state his senior year, 1976. He was injured prior to his freshman
year at Indiana University
, and although he was a team captain in 1981 when Indiana won the national title, and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 5th round of the NBA Draft
, he never played professional basketball.
Grunwald instead focused on his education, earning a law degree, an MBA and an Honours business degree in marketing. He went on to become a successful corporate attorney for major law firms, business founder and operator, and legal counsel to a television network, before joining the basketball world again as a VP of the Denver Nuggets.
for the Toronto Raptors, he replaced the recently resigned General Manager after Thomas' majority ownership bid had failed. He would oversee some of the Raptors' greatest years of success, including orchestrating a trade for Vince Carter
, drafting Tracy McGrady
, and their first, and to date only, trip to the NBA conference semi-finals
. They also managed three straight playoff berths from 2000–2002, record attendance, and Grunwald's moves earned praise from NBA Commissioner David Stern
.
However, the injury-plagued Raptors missed the playoffs in the 2002–03 season and Grunwald shook up the roster. During the 2003–04 season, despite inconsistency, they went 25–25 and were on track to return to the playoffs. Grunwald traded away starting center Antonio Davis
in December, which led to tension with coach Kevin O'Neill, who publicly complained about the lack of a starting center and roster depth. Two weeks before narrowly missing the playoffs by three games, Grunwald was fired on April 1, 2004, and replaced by Jack McCloskey
as interim GM. Rob Babcock
was later appointed as the permanent replacement.
and CEO of the Toronto Board of Trade
, the largest local business organization in Canada, and is heavily involved in both the business and social communities of Toronto. In addition to his work at the Board of Trade, he sits on the Board of Governors at George Brown College, the Board of Directors at the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, and the Board of the Toronto City Summit Alliance. He is further involved with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as well as Canada Basketball.
An accomplished speaker, Mr. Grunwald has addressed a wide range of organizations including the Rotary Club, the Canadian Property Tax Association, the Toronto Industry Network
, the American Business Awards, and the Canadian Society of Club Managers.
under Isiah Thomas
. Officially, his title was senior vice president of basketball operations. Glen Grunwald was promoted to the interim GM for the New York Knicks on June 4, 2011, to take over for Donnie Walsh.
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He is best known as the former general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, a role he filled from March 1998 until April 2004.
Early life
Born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Grunwald was a high-school All-American basketball player from East Leyden High School
East Leyden High School
East Leyden High School is a secondary school located in Franklin Park, Illinois which educates grades 9-12.Together with West Leyden High School in Northlake, Illinois, they serve the suburban communities in Franklin Park, Northlake, Rosemont, Schiller Park, River Grove, Melrose Park and...
in Franklin Park, Illinois
Franklin Park, Illinois
Franklin Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,800 at the 2004 census.-Geography:Franklin Park is located at ....
. He is the only player selected All-Chicago area four times, and was player of the year in the state his senior year, 1976. He was injured prior to his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
year at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, and although he was a team captain in 1981 when Indiana won the national title, and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 5th round of the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
, he never played professional basketball.
Grunwald instead focused on his education, earning a law degree, an MBA and an Honours business degree in marketing. He went on to become a successful corporate attorney for major law firms, business founder and operator, and legal counsel to a television network, before joining the basketball world again as a VP of the Denver Nuggets.
Toronto Raptors
Shortly after Grunwald was hired by Isiah Thomas as assistant General ManagerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for the Toronto Raptors, he replaced the recently resigned General Manager after Thomas' majority ownership bid had failed. He would oversee some of the Raptors' greatest years of success, including orchestrating a trade for Vince Carter
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....
, drafting Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons.Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto...
, and their first, and to date only, trip to the NBA conference semi-finals
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
. They also managed three straight playoff berths from 2000–2002, record attendance, and Grunwald's moves earned praise from NBA Commissioner David Stern
David Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
.
However, the injury-plagued Raptors missed the playoffs in the 2002–03 season and Grunwald shook up the roster. During the 2003–04 season, despite inconsistency, they went 25–25 and were on track to return to the playoffs. Grunwald traded away starting center Antonio Davis
Antonio Davis
Antonio Lee Davis is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association .-College career:...
in December, which led to tension with coach Kevin O'Neill, who publicly complained about the lack of a starting center and roster depth. Two weeks before narrowly missing the playoffs by three games, Grunwald was fired on April 1, 2004, and replaced by Jack McCloskey
Jack McCloskey
John William "Jack" McCloskey is a retired American basketball player, coach and executive in the NBA. He served in World War II as a lieutenant commanding a landing ship for Marines. He played one game for the Philadelphia Warriors during the 1953 season, scoring 6 points in that game...
as interim GM. Rob Babcock
Rob Babcock
Rob Babcock is an assistant general manager with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. He is most notably remembered as the former general manager of the Toronto Raptors. Brothers Pete and Dave are also employed by the NBA....
was later appointed as the permanent replacement.
City work
Grunwald later became the PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and CEO of the Toronto Board of Trade
Toronto Board of Trade
The Toronto Board of Trade is Toronto's chamber of commerce, the largest local chamber of commerce in Canada, representing more than 10,000 business and individual members with about 500,000 employees across Canada and annual revenues of more than $200 billion .It is a non-profit organization with...
, the largest local business organization in Canada, and is heavily involved in both the business and social communities of Toronto. In addition to his work at the Board of Trade, he sits on the Board of Governors at George Brown College, the Board of Directors at the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, and the Board of the Toronto City Summit Alliance. He is further involved with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as well as Canada Basketball.
An accomplished speaker, Mr. Grunwald has addressed a wide range of organizations including the Rotary Club, the Canadian Property Tax Association, the Toronto Industry Network
Toronto Industry Association
The Toronto Industry Network is a group of manufacturers and manufacturing associations with operations in the City of Toronto. Collectively the Network employees approximately 35,000 people directly and another 100,000 indirectly through suppliers and customers.Operating since 2001, TIN provides...
, the American Business Awards, and the Canadian Society of Club Managers.
NBA return
On September 28, 2006, Grunwald accepted a job as an assistant GM of the New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
under Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
. Officially, his title was senior vice president of basketball operations. Glen Grunwald was promoted to the interim GM for the New York Knicks on June 4, 2011, to take over for Donnie Walsh.