SAN ANTONIO – Spurs Sports & Entertainment today announced that Russ Bookbinder has resigned from his position as the organization’s Executive Vice President/Business Operations.

“When I first joined the Spurs as an owner 12 years ago I didn’t know the difference between a basketball and a tractor,” said Peter Holt, the Chairman and CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “Russ Bookbinder taught me a lot about the NBA and the business of professional sports. I give him a great deal of credit for the success that Spurs Sports & Entertainment has enjoyed as well as for my own personal growth. I wish him, and his family, well and I will miss him tremendously.”

Bookbinder first joined the Spurs in January of 1988 as the team’s Executive Vice President. At that time the Spurs had 25 employees, averaged just over 8,000 fans a game at the HemisFair Arena and had never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. Since that time the Spurs have become a model franchise in professional sports. In the last 10 years the team has won four NBA Championships and over the last six seasons, since moving to the AT&T Center in 2002, the Spurs have averaged 18,387 fans per game. The organization has transformed into Spurs Sports & Entertainment, with over 200 full-time employees. Today SS&E owns and operates four professional sports teams – the Spurs, the Rampage, the Silver Stars and the Austin Toros – and also manages the AT&T Center.

“There are a number of factors that go into making a decision of this magnitude,” said Bookbinder. “This is a unique business. The passion it takes, the time you have to give and the day-to-day stress - being emotionally attached to four different teams - takes a toll. For me it is the right time to take a step back, take a deep breath and reflect. On the personal side I look forward to spending some time with my family, especially my wife, Tammy, who is my inspiration as she continues to live with Multiple Sclerosis, while on the professional side I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”

Bookbinder has worked in professional sports since graduating from the University of Florida in 1974. Prior to joining the Spurs he served in management positions for the Denver Nuggets, the San Diego Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks.

He is a member of the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Sports Foundation and the Valero Alamo Bowl – a game he helped create in 1994 - and is the Vice Chairman for the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce.

Bookbinder and his wife, Tammy, have two children, Josh and Jessy.

“I’m grateful for the amazing support we’ve received from our fans, our corporate partners and our owners,” said Bookbinder. “The Spurs belong to the entire community of San Antonio and I’m proud, honored and humbled to have been with the franchise for 21 years. I am extremely grateful to Peter Holt who has listened to my feelings and helped make this transition so smooth. I want to thank everyone – staff, players, current and past ownership, fans, and corporate partners – for an amazing ride. The hardest part for me is saying goodbye to our staff, the wonderful team of people that I’ve been attached to for the last two decades. They are the reason for our success.”