The Los Angeles Dodgers star-studded cast is largely responsible for their success and ascension toward becoming a dynasty, no doubt. But it is the architect of that roster and the man who keeps the ship running that are invaluable contributors. It is their leadership that makes all the pieces fit. 

That is why Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman were recently honored on The Athletic’s list titled, “We asked over 100 people in sports which leaders they most admire. Here are the top 40.” 

The Athletic’s Peak staff, which focuses on the mental side of sports, created the list. 

“In the end, our panel was intentionally diverse — though almost exclusively from North America — made up of Hall of Fame coaches from the collegiate and pro ranks and assistant coaches from all levels of college and professional sports; current and former professional players, leadership experts and executives,” it wrote. 

Roberts was named first, coming in at No. 32. 

“Based on the résumé alone, Roberts is becoming one of the most accomplished managers in MLB history,” it wrote. “The Dodgers won back-to-back World Series in 2024 and 2025, adding to a championship during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and two other World Series appearances in 2017 and 2018. A master of accountability and communication, Roberts may be baseball’s answer to Steve Kerr.” 

For context, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr landed at No. 1 on the list.  

Rashon Burno, the head coach of the Northern Illinois men’s basketball team, cast the vote for Roberts. 

“You can tell that players have a tremendous amount of respect for him,” Burno said. “I admire his ability to communicate, lead and give these guys the space to be themselves.” 

Meanwhile, Friedman landed at No. 36 on the list. 

“According to Friedman, building winners requires sharp decision-making and bold yet calculated risks,” the staff wrote. "It keeps his teams competitive year after year. He’s proven his leadership with three World Series championships, long-term consistency and a reputation as a forward-thinking architect of modern baseball.” 

Aditya Krishnan, former director of analytics in the NFL, cast his vote for Friedman. 

“He’s shown an ability to be successful in multiple different environments,” Krishnan said. “With very limited resources in Tampa, he was able to be very successful with the Rays beyond what he had available.”  

“And then when he moved to L.A., instead of just trying to run the same playbook back with a larger budget and more resources, he was able to adapt to a different strategy. He’s also shown an ability to be patient over time.” 

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