It was June 23, 2011 and the basketball world came together, as they do each summer, for the NBA Draft. I’ll always remember this day as I was fortunate enough to meet Commissioner David Stern. He was extremely cordial and took the time to stop for a picture and a few words with my brother and me. While I was just a young, rabid basketball fan, I knew that “…Stern was the guy…”, but didn’t have a sense of how impactful he was, and was to be, for the game. With age and maturity, I’ve begun to realize the complexity and challenges that come with developing and effectively managing a professional sports league. Commissioner Stern was not only able to increase the excitement and exposure for the game inside the 94x50 court, but he mastered all that which was required “outside the lines” and created a global brand and entertainment colossus.
On January 1st, the NBA rang in the New Year in the most somber way possible with the passing of Commissioner Emeritus David Stern following complications from a brain hemorrhage he suffered less than a month ago.
To the common basketball fan, David Stern’s presence was likely most prominent during his rare television appearances and when he announced the first round of the annual NBA draft; the Commissioner’s handshake has long been a symbol for each draftee’s dream becoming a reality. And, that reality allows us to be consumed nightly by highlights which summon us to thank the talented athletes who sink deep three pointers, throw down gravity-defying dunks, and will in the most impossible game-winning shots.
When Stern became Commissioner on February 1, 1984, the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird was in its heyday and, in June of that year, the league introduced more superstars—the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley. Stern was able to capitalize on the wealth of talent coming into the league by marketing not just the game, but the faces and likeness of its superstars. He wanted the players’ highlights and images to be broadcast as part of the league being promoted. The result: NBA players are some of the most recognizable and influential athletes in the world.
The NBA has blossomed from the seed Stern planted to become a multi-billion-dollar television and media enterprise and is one of the most popular entertainment spectacles in the world. Prior to opening night of the 2019-2020 season, 108 international players had a spot on an NBA roster (nearly a fourth of the entire league!). Stern ushered in the league’s first international teams, the WNBA, and the NBA’s developmental league. With Stern’s direction, the NBA opened offices in 15 international cities and have agreements to televise games in more than 200 countries (per NYT’s Marc Stein). It is only fitting that a day after Stern’s passing, the league announced that the two leading fan vote getters for this February’s All-Star Game in Chicago were two international superstars—Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.
It is clear to me that a singular post cannot nor will ever do Stern justice; a book and/or a documentary would be a fitting testimonial to all that Stern achieved for the game, the league, and its owners, players and fans.
Today, and every day moving forward, we owe it to the game to thank David Stern.
You did a wonderful job of describing Commissioner Stern. As a leadership consultant I have seen a lot of leaders and few have had the positive impact he had on the organization he led. Nicely done Ben.