The SLA periodically presents its Award of Excellence, the highest honor that can be bestowed by the association. More information on the award appears below, as well as a listing of prior recipients.
Nominations are accepted from active members of the Sports Lawyers Association and members of the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee is, at a minimum, composed of three representatives of the association. At the discretion of SLA's president, the Selection Committee can be expanded to include not more than seven members, and one member of the committee serves as chairperson.
The Award of Excellence is presented during the Sports Lawyers Association annual conference.
The Sports Lawyers Association engages in focusing attention on the award through its contacts with the sports media and sports broadcast industry.
1991: Alan I. Rothenberg
1992: Anita L. DeFrantz
1993: Lloyd E. Shefsky and John F. Wendel
1994: Gary Bettman and Jay Moyer
1997: Reuven J. Katz
2000: Stanley H. Kasten
2004: Marvin J. Miller
2005: Paul J. Tagliabue
2007: Alan H. (Bud) Selig
2008: Donna Lopiano
2009: Jerry Reinsdorf
2010: Jerry Colangelo
2011: Gene Upshaw
2012: Dick Moss
2013: Donald Dell
2014: Larry Lucchino
2016: Donald Fehr
2019: Ray Anderson
2021: Jim Delany
2022: Renee Montgomery