The fourth commissioner of the NBA and by far the most impactful, shepherding the league and sport into unprecedented growth while also courting near constant controversy with his policies
FEATURED LISTS
An offer he couldn’t refuse: 16 controversial moments involving David Stern
We take a look back at the most controversial moments of David Stern’s long, successful, momentous career as an NBA league executive.
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- Alleged 1985 draft lottery tampering
- Allowing Seattle SuperSonics to re-locate to Oklahoma City
- Forcing Ted Stepien to sell the Cleveland Cavaliers
- Opposition to allowing NBA players to participate in Olympics
- Passed away in 2020
- Player dress code
- Punishing Timberwolves for Joe Smith contract
- Raising draft eligibility age to 19 (2006)
- Role in 1998 and 2011 lockouts
- Stepping down as commissioner
- Substance abuse policy
- Tim Donaghy scandal
- Vetoing Chris Paul trade to Lakers (2011)
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Media matters: A history of the NBA in 12 television rights contracts
Just as the NBA itself has morphed, grown, and shifted over the years, so has the league’s contract agreements to broadcast games nationally.
Heart of the deal: 10 notable NBA franchise ownership changes
An NBA franchise changing hands in ownership is often a seamless and relatively mundane event but in these 10 cases, it was a watershed moment, either by virtue of its novelty, its sale price, and/or its impact on the future of the franchise and the league itself.
Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team
It’s the 30th anniversary of their triumphant gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the Dream Team continues to fascinate basketball fans of all ages. This includes plenty of enduring conspiracies, mistruths, and half-truths, 19 of which are debunked here.
In memoriam: 20 prominent basketball people who passed away in 2020
It was an unfortunately robust year for deaths in the basketball community, as we lost the most impactful commissioner in NBA history, a Jazz coaching legend, a Bullets MVP and Finals MVP, a Harlem Globetrotters icon, two NCAA championship coaches (and two others that reached the Final Four), two playing/coaching luminaries in the Celtics organization, and, of course, Kobe and Gianna.
The court is flat: 11 significant NBA games played outside the United States
As rumors continue swirling that Mexico City may receive a franchise in the near future, we take a look at back at 11 global NBA games that were notable in one way or another.