NBA creates award for late Thunder employee Winemiller

NEW YORK (AP) – The National Basketball Association announced Thursday that it’s created an award in honor of Pete Winemiller, the late Oklahoma City Thunder senior vice president of guest relations.

The league said the Pete Winemiller Guest Experience Innovation Award will honor an NBA team executive who innovates to create a world class service experience for fans. It’s inspired by Winemiller, who recently died of lymphoma.

Winemiller worked for the franchise for more than 20 years, dating to its days as the Seattle SuperSonics. The league said he pioneered a comprehensive approach to guest relations that set standards for the NBA. Under Winemiller’s leadership, the Thunder earned several awards for guest relations.

The first recipient will be announced at the NBA League Meetings in Las Vegas in July.