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Koby Altman

Koby Altman (born September 16, 1982) is an American executive serving as the president of basketball operations for the of the (NBA). In this role, he oversees all aspects of the team's basketball operations, including scouting, player personnel, and strategic decision-making, having been elevated to the position in January 2022 after previously serving as the team's since July 2017. Altman joined the Cavaliers organization in August 2012 as pro personnel manager, rising through the ranks to director of pro player personnel in 2013 and assistant in 2016. Prior to his NBA front-office career, he played at , where he earned a and was a three-year starter, and later obtained a in from the . He also worked as an assistant coach at Division III and managed USA Basketball's U17 and U19 national teams, contributing to a at the 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championship. Under Altman's leadership, the Cavaliers have achieved significant success, including four consecutive appearances from 2015 to 2018 and the 2016 NBA Championship as part of the front office. As and later president, he has executed 28 trades, notably acquiring All-Stars and , and drafting key players such as (2019, No. 5 overall) and (2021, No. 3 overall). His tenure has seen the team secure a franchise-record-tying 64 wins in the 2024–25 season, reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals (losing to the ), and earn him three NBA Executive of the Year finalist nods (2021–22, 2022–23, and 2024–25). In July 2025, Altman signed a multiyear contract extension with the Cavaliers through the 2029–30 season, reflecting his role in building a competitive roster around the "Core 4" of Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, and Allen. Beyond basketball operations, Altman serves on the national board of the and has spearheaded initiatives like the Global Peak Performance Center and the Cavaliers' bid for a WNBA franchise by 2028.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Koby Altman was born on September 16, 1982, in , New York. He was the only child of Deborah Altman, a social worker at , and an African American father who was absent from his life. Raised by his single mother in a lower-middle-class , Altman grew up in the diverse Prospect Heights neighborhood, where cultural and ethnic variety shaped his early experiences. Altman's Jewish heritage came from his mother, who provided a stable and loving environment despite the challenges of single parenthood. The Prospect Heights area, known for its mix of communities, fostered an appreciation for that influenced his worldview from a young age. From an early age, Altman developed a passion for , largely through his mother's influence as a devoted fan. Deborah Altman, a graduate and admirer of coach , instilled this love by sharing her enthusiasm; a vivid childhood memory involves her waking him as a toddler during the Knicks' excitement over the Lottery win that brought to the team. As a diehard Knicks supporter growing up in , Altman played on local blacktops and with makeshift hoops at home, honing skills that emphasized leadership and teamwork. During high school, Altman participated in the program, a nonprofit that supports urban youth through leadership training and full scholarships to top colleges, which ultimately facilitated his access to .

High school and college athletics

Altman attended in , where he emerged as a standout on the basketball team. He graduated from in 2004 with a in . At Middlebury, a Division III institution, Altman served as a three-year starting for the men's team, earning recognition for his leadership and competitive drive on the court. Following his undergraduate studies, Altman pursued a in from the , which he completed in 2009. This program provided him with advanced knowledge in sports administration, aligning with his growing interest in operations.

Pre-NBA career

Post-college professional roles

After graduating from in 2004, Koby Altman joined Friedman-Roth Realty Corp. in , where he worked in commercial real estate investment sales for three years. In this role, he handled multimillion-dollar deals, including his first sale of a $2 million apartment building shortly after starting, which provided financial stability but ultimately felt unfulfilling compared to his passion for . Altman's experiences as a college point guard reignited his interest in , prompting him to volunteer at a Xavier High School summer camp in during lunch breaks from his real estate job, where he assisted with coaching duties and realized he wanted a in the sport. To facilitate this shift, he left around 2007 and enrolled in a master's program in at the . During this period, he supplemented his studies with self-directed efforts to build expertise, including long nights watching game film to analyze players and strategies. As part of his transition, Altman took on support roles in basketball operations, such as serving as a team manager for Basketball's U-19 team in 2009, where he handled administrative and logistical tasks like equipment management and laundry for emerging talents including and . He also served as operations manager for the U-17 national team at the 2010 FIBA Under-17 in , , contributing to the team's gold medal win. These unpaid positions allowed him to gain practical exposure to international competition and player evaluation without formal coaching responsibilities, bridging his academic background to professional basketball involvement.

Coaching positions

While pursuing his master's degree at the , Altman served as a volunteer assistant coach for the men's team for two seasons from 2007 to 2009, helping guide the Division III program to a 48-11 record and the national runner-up finish in 2009. Following graduation, he worked as a coach at for the 2009-10 season. Altman then served as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team in the for two seasons, from 2010 to 2012, under head coach Kyle Smith. In this role, he functioned as a quantitative assistant coach, utilizing data analytics to support strategic decisions and program development. Altman's primary responsibilities at Columbia encompassed leading basketball operations, player development, and recruiting, where he helped build the program from its early stages by identifying recruits with strong work ethic and attitude suited to the environment. He also worked directly with the team's guards, prepared pregame scouting reports, and served as for Columbia's developmental basketball program. During his tenure, Altman gained hands-on experience in film breakdown for strategic , practice planning to enhance team execution, and overall team management to foster a cohesive unit. These duties allowed him to cultivate expertise in NBA-style , bridging collegiate with evaluation techniques.

NBA executive career

Entry into the Cleveland Cavaliers

Koby Altman joined the in August 2012 as manager of pro player personnel, working under vice president of basketball operations . In this initial role, he coordinated the team's domestic professional scouting efforts, evaluating all 450 NBA players in his first season, and assisted Chris Grant and with broader player personnel decisions. Altman was promoted to director of pro player personnel in September 2013, expanding his oversight of scouting and personnel evaluations. His responsibilities encompassed management during both rebuilding phases and contending periods, as well as day-to-day operations, including signings and asset allocation under the constraints of limited cap space. This work occurred amid ' return to Cleveland in 2014, where Altman helped maintain key relationships and execute moves to support the team's push toward appearances in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In September 2016, Altman advanced to assistant under , focusing on roster building and strategic planning for the Cavaliers' competitive efforts. His prior coaching experience at had equipped him with analytical skills essential for transitioning to NBA front-office duties.

Rise to general manager

On June 30, 2017, Koby Altman was unexpectedly promoted to general manager of the following the departure of David Griffin, who had led the team to an NBA championship just weeks earlier. At 34 years old, Altman had limited executive experience, having served primarily in scouting and assistant roles within the organization since 2012. The move came amid uncertainty after ' impending free agency and the front office's need for continuity during a transitional period. Altman's early tenure focused on navigating the post-LeBron rebuild, which began after James left for the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2018. Key decisions included a February 2018 trade acquiring guards Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr. from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and a first-round pick, providing young assets and salary relief. In March 2021, Altman orchestrated a trade acquiring center Jarrett Allen from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Caris LeVert and two first-round picks, bolstering the team's frontcourt. In the 2018 NBA Draft, Altman selected guard Collin Sexton with the eighth overall pick, emphasizing athleticism and scoring potential to build around emerging talent. These moves aimed to stabilize the roster while positioning the team for long-term growth. The 2018-19 season presented significant challenges, as the Cavaliers finished with a league-worst 19-63 record, marking their first season without James since 2010. Altman prioritized youth development and draft positioning, culminating in the selection of Darius Garland with the fifth overall pick in the , a move that highlighted his strategy of acquiring high-upside players through poor performance. His prior contributions as assistant GM, including scouting support for the 2016 championship roster, had earned him internal trust despite the steep .

Promotion to president of basketball operations

On January 12, 2022, the Cleveland Cavaliers promoted Koby Altman to President of Basketball Operations as part of a long-term contract extension through the 2027-28 season. In July 2025, he signed another multiyear extension through the 2029-30 season. In this role, Altman assumed oversight of all basketball operations, including scouting, analytics, player personnel, roster construction, trades, draft decisions, and coaching staff management, building on his prior experience as general manager. The promotion recognized his contributions to the team's turnaround, including the development of a young core from earlier drafts. A pivotal achievement in Altman's presidential tenure was the blockbuster trade acquiring five-time All-Star from the on September 1, 2022. The Cavaliers received Mitchell in exchange for guards and , forward , three unprotected first-round draft picks (2025, 2027, and 2029), and two pick swaps (2026 and 2028). This acquisition strategically paired Mitchell with the defensive anchors —drafted third overall by Altman in 2021—and center , obtained in a prior trade, forming a versatile core capable of contending in the Eastern Conference. Altman's leadership has driven sustained success, highlighted by the 2022-23 season's 51-31 record—the franchise's best since 2017—and the league's top-ranked defense, allowing a record-low 106.9 points per game. The team has since earned three consecutive playoff berths, reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals in both 2024 (48-34 regular season) and 2025 (64-18 regular season, East's No. 1 seed), where they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the latter after sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round. Central to this progress is Altman's emphasis on a rugged defensive identity, powered by elite shot-blockers like Mobley and Allen, alongside targeted youth development of players under 28, including Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen, to foster long-term contention.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Altman proposed to Rachael Emily Garson, a native of Orange, Ohio, on September 17, 2017, during a visit to Quicken Loans Arena. The couple announced their engagement in November 2017 and married in August 2018. Rachael Altman works as a certified nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic's Independence Family Health Center. The Altmans have two children, including a daughter, Sophie Jane Altman, born on December 27, 2017; Sophie was diagnosed prenatally with gastroschisis, a congenital condition requiring two surgeries and 47 days in neonatal intensive care before coming home in February 2018. Following his hiring by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012, Altman relocated from New York to the Cleveland area, where he and his family have since become part of the local community. Their household incorporates Jewish traditions, drawing from Altman's maternal heritage.

Community involvement

Koby Altman has been actively involved in Cleveland's Jewish community since joining the Cavaliers organization, participating in events that highlight in sports and . In 2017, he spoke at the Park Synagogue Men's Club annual and Steak Dinner, addressing around 200 attendees about his basketball career and , and participated in lighting the during celebrations at the . He continued this engagement in September 2021 by speaking at a Ben-Gurion Society Cocktails and Conversation event hosted by the Jewish Federation of , where he discussed the significance of being Jewish in . These appearances reflect Altman's commitment to fostering connections within Cleveland's Jewish community, drawing from his own mixed heritage as the son of an African American father and a Jewish mother. Altman's support for diversity initiatives is rooted in his experience as a scholar, which provided him a full to and emphasized recruiting diverse leaders from urban public schools. As a member of the 's national since at least 2018, he advocates for programs that promote equity and inclusion in education and , mentoring young scholars and participating in panels to expand access for underrepresented students. His involvement extends to hosting scholars at Cavaliers events, underscoring his dedication to diversity efforts informed by his biracial background. Through his role with the , Altman has contributed to local programs and broader outreach aligned with NBA Cares principles. As president of basketball operations, he oversees initiatives via the Cavaliers , which funds development in , including the Jr. Cavs leagues, camps, and clinics that serve thousands of children annually to promote , , and . In 2025, he provided remarks at the Foundation's record-breaking Wine & Gold Gala, which raised funds for programs focused on , , and . These efforts, continuing through 2025, emphasize impact beyond the court, with Altman guiding player appearances and partnerships to support underserved in .

Awards and honors

NBA championship

As director of pro player personnel for the in 2016, Koby Altman was part of the front office that guided the franchise to its first , along with four consecutive appearances from 2015 to 2018. These contributions included general support in scouting and personnel decisions under David Griffin. Facing a 3-1 deficit, the Cavaliers staged an unprecedented comeback to win the series 4-3, defeating 93-89 in Game 7 on June 19, 2016, at Oracle Arena. was named Finals MVP, averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game. The victory marked Cleveland's first professional sports championship since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964, ending a 52-year drought for the city.

Executive of the Year recognitions

Altman earned recognition as a three-time finalist for the award, highlighting his leadership in building competitive rosters. In the 2021-22 season, he finished as runner-up for orchestrating a 22-win improvement, guiding the Cavaliers to 44 victories and a playoff appearance after years of rebuilding. For the 2022-23 season, Altman placed second in voting, credited with assembling a squad that achieved 51 wins and the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference through strategic draft picks and trades. His decisions emphasized developing young talent like and while maintaining cap flexibility. In 2024-25, Altman again finished as runner-up to executive , recognized for roster stability and continuity that propelled the Cavaliers to a franchise-record-tying 64-18 record, including a strong 21-3 start early in the season. This approach avoided major offseason overhauls, focusing instead on optimizing the existing core around Mitchell, , , and Mobley.

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