Former National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern, who oversaw the explosive growth in the popularity of the game during his tenure, has died at the age of 77, the league said on Wednesday. “Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David’s vision, generosity and inspiration,” current commissioner Silver said in a statement. David Stern was the most important non-player/non-coach who ever passed through the NBA and it’s not really close. “David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads,” current commissioner Silver added in his statement, adding that Stern “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.”NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman statement after the passing of NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern.

Source: National Post January 01, 2020 21:33 UTC