Former NBA commissioner David Stern, who oversaw a period of tremendous growth for the league, passed away on Wednesday. He was 77 years old.
The league released a statement with info on Stern's death.
"For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action," current NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in the statement. "He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.
"David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads. But over the course of 30 years as commissioner, he 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. Because of David, the NBA is a truly global brand — making him not only one of the greatest sports commissioners of all time but also one of the most influential business leaders of his generation.
"Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David's vision, generosity and inspiration. Our deepest condolences go out to David's wife, Dianne, their sons, Andrew and Eric, and their extended family, and we share our grief with everyone whose life was touched by him."
Stern collapsed at a restaurant in New York on Dec. 12 after suffering a sudden brain hemorrhage. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency brain surgery.
Stern joined the NBA in 1978 as general counsel, moving up to executive vice president in 1980 before becoming commissioner in 1984. He held the position until 2014, and during his tenure, the league expanded from 23 teams to 30 and grew immensely in popularity. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas captivated fans in the 1980s, followed by Michael Jordan in the 90s and Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in the 2000s and 2010s.
Stern oversaw the creation of the WNBA in 1997, which has since expanded from eight to 12 teams. He helped the NBA reach television markets across the world, oversaw the creation of all of the leagues' digital assets, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in February 2014 and the International Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
The Bulls and Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf also issued a statement on the passing of David Stern: