Minnesota Timberwolves win PBWA’s 2023-24 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award

May 13, 2024 — The Minnesota Timberwolves’ basketball communications team has won the 2023-24 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award, presented each season to the NBA media relations staff that best exemplifies standards of professionalism and excellence, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.

The Timberwolves staff is led by chief communications officer Patrick Rees, along with Sara Perez, director of basketball communications; Aaron Freeman, senior manager of basketball communications and broadcast; and Derek Ahrnsbrak, coordinator of basketball communications.

Rees, Perez, Freeman and Ahrnsbrak, along with coach Chris Finch, consistently foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation with both local and national journalists who cover the league. Their commitment to those ideals has facilitated accurate, in-depth and nuanced coverage of the team.

The media relations staffs of the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic were all finalists for the award, based on nominations from PBWA members. A vote of the full PBWA membership determined the winner.

The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA on a regular basis for newspapers, online outlets and magazines.

This is the first time the Timberwolves have won the award, which is named for Brian McIntyre, the former longtime NBA public-relations director.

Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award winners

2006-07 Phoenix Suns
2007-08 Toronto Raptors
2008-09 Portland Trail Blazers
2009-10 Golden State Warriors
2010-11 Indiana Pacers
2011-12 Milwaukee Bucks
2012-13 Indiana Pacers
2013-14 Golden State Warriors
2014-15 Toronto Raptors
2015-16 Golden State Warriors
2016-17 Golden State Warriors
2017-18 Golden State Warriors
2018-19 Golden State Warriors
2019-20 Miami Heat
2020-21 N/A (pandemic)
2021-22 N/A (pandemic)
2022-23 Golden State Warriors
2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves