NBA Announces Former Commissioner David Stern Has Passed Away at 77
By Michael Luciano
Even though David Stern never played a minute of NBA basketball, he remains one of the most influential names in the history of the sport in America. And there's sadly terrible news to pass along about the former NBA commissioner.
Stern, 77, passed away on New Year's Day, just weeks after he underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage in December.
David Stern has passed away, the league announced.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 1, 2020
Stern, the fourth commissioner in the history of the NBA, was named to that position in 1984, and helped oversee record viewership and profit numbers. Perhaps his greatest achievement is the steps he took to grow the game of basketball and the NBA as a whole internationally, as even the likes of the NFL can't hold a candle to the NBA abroad.
After retiring and leaving his position to Adam Silver in 2010, Stern was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.
David Stern — the Hall of Fame ex-NBA Commissioner — has died at 77 years old. He oversaw tremendous growth in his 30 years as commissioner, retiring in 2014. Stern had been hospitalized since a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 17.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 1, 2020
Before Stern, the NBA was barely treading water as a league. After Stern, it has become the second-biggest league in American sports. Our sincerest condolences go out to Stern's family during this extremely difficult time.