John Black, who led the Los Angeles Lakers’ Public Relations Department for more than 27 years before being replaced recently has been named the recipient of the Brian McIntyre Trophy as the 2017 Splaver/McHugh “Tribute to Excellence” Award winner.

The award, presented today during the NBA’s PR Meetings, is given by the NBA Public Relations Directors Association to a current or former member of the NBA public relations family who has demonstrated an outstanding level of performance and service during his or her NBA career.

Black began his NBA career in 1989 as the Lakers’ Public Relations Director after spending more than four years promoting special events for California Sports Inc. He remained with Los Angeles until February 2017, most recently serving as Vice President of Public Relations.

During his tenure with the Lakers Black oversaw public relations efforts for five NBA championship teams. He coordinated communications for several overseas trips by Los Angeles, including the 1991 McDonald’s Championship in Paris and NBA Global Games in Barcelona, London and China.

Black also embraced the role of mentoring the Lakers’ public relations staff. The list of those who worked under Black includes Golden State Warriors Vice President of Communications Raymond Ridder; Detroit Pistons VP of Public Relations Kevin Grigg; Lakers Media Relations Director Alison Bogli; General Manager Nick Mazzella of the NBA G League’s South Bay Lakers; VP of Public Relations Josh Rupprecht of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers; and Senior VP of Communications and Broadcasting Mike Altieri of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

The Splaver/McHugh Award is named in memory of two of the most highly respected public relations executives in NBA history, Marc Splaver and Howie McHugh. Splaver was the Public Relations Director of the Washington Bullets for five seasons in the 1970s. McHugh served for more than 40 years as the original Public Relations Director of the Boston Celtics.

The award’s trophy was named in honor of longtime NBA executive Brian McIntyre in 2015. McIntyre, the 2012 winner of the award, directed the NBA Communications Department and later the Basketball Communications Department from 1981-2010. In 2011, McIntyre received the John W. Bunn Award, the most prestigious honor presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame outside of enshrinement.