(ATR) Former NBA Commissioner David Stern, the man responsible for growing the league and basketball to a global level, is dead at age 77.
When Stern became NBA commissioner in 1984, he inherited a league that still wasn’t showing all of its playoff games on live network TV. But thanks to players like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the NBA would begin a surge in popularity. Under Stern’s leadership, the league would grow to a more than $5 billion a year industry and was arguably the world’s second most popular sport behind soccer by 2014, when he stepped aside for Adam Silver.
"Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today. He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon, creating opportunities that few could have imagined before," Jordan said.
"I wouldn’t be where I am without him."
The international breakthrough was fueled in part by the inclusion of NBA players to national teams. Working alongside Borislav Stankovic, the FIBA Secretary General at the time, Stern's efforts paved the way for his league's superstars to compete at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The 1992 USA team, nicknamed the Dream Team, included Jordan, Bird and Johnson.
Johnson, who had retired the year before because he had contracted HIV, returned to the game with Stern’s backing.
"When I announced in 1991 I had HIV, people thought they could get the virus from shaking my hand," Johnson said. "When David allowed me to play in the 1992 All Star Game in Orlando and then play for the Olympic Dream Team, we were able to change the world."
During Stern's tenure, the NBA would play nearly 150 international games and be televised in more than 200 countries and territories, and in more than 40 languages.
"The international basketball family is deeply saddened by the loss of David Stern. FIBA will be forever grateful to a great basketball leader who showed unwavering commitment to the globalization of our sport and continuous support to national team competitions." said Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General.
Stern was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. He had been serving as NBA Commissioner Emeritus since 2014.
Stern suffered a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 12 and died on January 1 with his wife Dianne and their family at his bedside, according to the NBA.
Written by Gerard Farek
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