David Stern — NBA Commissioner and Architect of the Modern League (1984–2014)
Profile of David Stern, NBA commissioner from 1984–2014, who expanded the league, secured major TV deals, globalized the game, and shaped modern professional basketball.
David Joel Stern (September 22, 1942 – January 1, 2020) was an American attorney best known for his long leadership of the National Basketball Association. His tenure as commissioner shaped the modern NBA and lasted from 1984 until 2014.
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Career
Stern began working with the league in the 1960s as outside counsel and moved into full-time roles in later decades. He joined the NBA staff in 1978 as general counsel, was promoted to executive vice president in 1980, and became commissioner in 1984, succeeding Larry O'Brien. He remained in that role for three decades before leaving office in 2014.
During his time as commissioner, Stern oversaw league expansion, negotiated major television contracts, and promoted the NBA and its marquee players on a global scale. Observers commonly cite these efforts as central to the league's large growth in popularity from the 1980s through the 2000s.
Illness and death
On December 12, 2019, Stern was hospitalized in New York City after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He died on January 1, 2020, at the age of 77.
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AlegsaOnline.com David Stern — NBA Commissioner and Architect of the Modern League (1984–2014) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/117383
Sources
- tvguide.com : "David Stern Celebrity"
- sportsillustrated.cnn.com : "From Corned Beef To Caviar"
- espn.com : "Ex-NBA commissioner David Stern hospitalized after brain hemorrhage"
- sports.yahoo.com : Former NBA Commissioner David Stern Dies at 77
- nytimes.com : "David Stern, Transformative N.B.A. Leader, Dies at 77"