Kathy Behrens to Leave NBA Office After 26-Year Tenure

Kathy Behrens, who developed the NBA Cares program and oversaw the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, will depart the league at the end of the year.

Kathy Behrens, the NBA’s President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs, will step down from the league office at the end of 2026. According to an Associated Press report, Behrens informed colleagues of her decision on Tuesday, concluding a 26-year career with the organization. She has held her current presidential title since 2015.

During her tenure, Behrens developed the NBA Cares program, which launched in 2005. The initiative has since recorded more than 6.5 million hours of community service from league personnel and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in donations. Behrens also oversaw the establishment of the NBA Foundation and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the departure in a staff memo, noting that Behrens supported multiple generations of players in preparing for life after basketball. Behrens originally joined the NBA office in 2000 after serving as the executive director of the nonprofit New York Cares. Her final interview for the league was conducted by former Commissioner David Stern, Adam Silver, and then-deputy commissioner Russ Granik.