David Stern
David Stern
David Joel Stern is the former commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984, succeeding Larry O'Brien. He is credited with increasing the popularity of the NBA in the 1990s and 2000s...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusiness Executive
Date of Birth22 September 1942
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I would say to Byron let me make that decision and he should focus more on basketball. And if you see him, tell him that. We're going to be back.
I would say that the city is making it pretty clear of what they want us to do, and we'll accommodate them.
He will be functioning as usual for the next eight months. But we agreed that it was appropriate to let the board of governors know his plans as far in advance as possible.
He has probably traveled more on our behalf than any other ballplayer.
We're getting to a place where we have to make a decision relatively soon. I would hope by the end of next week we'll have something to say.
What he said was he had a conversation with a referee. I found that unacceptable and (also) his declining to identify him. ... He accepted the fine and acknowledged the statement that he got a call from an NBA referee was, shall I say in error, inaccurate. That makes it over.
We're going to Las Vegas because we think it's a great destination city. They have removed the All-Star events from the betting line, and we think that we have no problem with people who want to go there and gamble.
The only record we have are your notes and your recollection.
The perception problem was there, and therefore it was real, ... We were focusing on that issue even before the brawl, but it certainly was an exclamation point in terms of perceptions of NBA players. We've got to do a better job of both acknowledging it and working to correct it.
We are pleased to have these renowned franchises represent the NBA in the most ambitious international competition in league history.
We've got an extraordinary number of good cops at the NBA.
Usually I come into the office and say, 'Will someone please time the last three minutes of this game that took 22 minutes and tell me why? I'm not sure that we're showing our fans our best basketball.
Unfortunately, the arena owners have not offered any constructive response to these efforts and recently advised us that they are satisfied with the status quo. Accordingly, we have advised both parties that we have withdrawn from the process.
We'll look at it. Even in figure skating, there is some quality of mercy that maybe should be allowed. Maybe it's one or two (misses). Maybe it's three.