TSR Take A Moment: Roommates, join us in sending thoughts and prayers to the family and fans of former NBA Commissioner David Stern who has passed away at the age of 77, according to multiple reports.
David Stern, who was the NBA commissioner for 30 years, between 1984 and 2014, died after he suffered a brain hemorrhage back in December, the league announced today, according to CBS Sports.
Fans of the NBA who are familiar with David Stern’s work credit him for transforming the NBA to what it is today, presiding over a period of immense growth for professional basketball at a time in which its popularity was significantly lower than what it is today.
An example of his vision is the NBA Finals, which at the beginning of his tenure were still being aired on tape delay. By the time he stepped down, basketball became one of the most widely viewed sports in the world.
Among his greatest accomplishments as commissioner was the grooming of his eventual successor, current NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is among the most popular executives in the history of sports.
The financial foundation that Stern helped create has allowed Silver to pursue a number of creative initiatives that the league didn’t have the resources to consider back in the days, including a mid-season tournament that could be instituted in the near future.
Silver released the following statement on Stern’s legacy within the league.
“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.”
“David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads. But over the course of 30 years as a Commissioner, he ushered in the modern global NBA. He launched groundbreaking media and marketing partnerships, digital assets and social responsibility programs that have brought the game to billions of people around the world. Because of David, the NBA is a truly global brand — making him not only one of the greatest sports commissioners of all time but also one of the most influential business leaders of his generation.”
“Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David’s vision, generosity and inspiration. Our deepest condolences go out to David’s wife, Dianne, their sons, Andrew and Eric, and their extended family, and we share our grief with everyone whose life was touched by him.”
Stern, who is arguably one of the most important figures in the history of professional basketball, joined the league as its general counsel in 1978,. He was vocal in instituting the league’s salary cap before being promoted to commissioner in 1984.
