Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson expressed shock over the departure of general manager David Griffin, likening him to Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein.
"He's the Theo Epstein of basketball," Jefferson told ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin on Tuesday. "He ended the curse. Not just for a team, but for an entire city."
The Cavaliers announced Griffin would not return Monday. Griffin was the team's general manager each of the last three seasons, helping lead the Cavaliers to three straight NBA Finals appearances and the 2015-16 title.
"On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Griff for his leadership and many contributions during his time here, including most recently, his role in the franchise’s first NBA championship," owner Dan Gilbert said in a statement.