Age: 47
Title: General Manager, San Antonio Spurs
Pro: The quiet architect of the Spurs dynasty, which has claimed four of the last 9 NBA titles. Convinced the team's skeptical head coach and then-GM, Gregg Popovich, to draft skinny French point guard Tony Parker back in 2001.
Con: Buford and the Spurs are all business, but NBA fans want a little show. As the recent Finals ratings attest, people tune his team out.