David Stern Forum

With all of the Knicks fans booing David Stern every time he stepped up to the mic. RIP Commissioner.

Russ Granik, Adam Silver, and Rod Thorn had it easy back then in the second round.

Maybe it was because I didn't follow NBA like I did the other sports, but I never got why people hated Stern so much.  I understand why people didn't like Selig or Bettman, and even the NFL commish (drawing a blank at his name, I'm getting old), but it seemed Stern had the NBA's interest at heart and was actually making the league better.  I can't say the same for Silver.  Tagliabue was the same in the NFL, I don't think he did anything wrong when he was commish.

Maybe people just have more angst against authority figures these days, or maybe the ones in charge really aren't doing a good job, but David Stern to me was one of the good guys, it was sad to hear of his passing.

A lot of it was how he carried himself...very heavy handed at times. Regulating what the players are allowed to wear- not on the court, but just coming to and from the games- was largely seen as racist. The relocation of Vancouver, Charlotte and especially Seattle, all for politcally backed reasons, played a large role. The fact that he knew of Donald Sterling's atrocities and covered it up - even from Adam Silver- is just bad. The fact that certain teams and players got preferential treatment and everyone knows it- it all adds up.

I was not a fan of him, to be honest, but I am still sad that he died...he did do good things as well. The WNBA would not have happened without him. Expansion into Charlotte, Miami, Orlando, Minnesota, Toronto, Vancouver...and then Charlotte a second time when the original Charlotte team was moved to New Orleans...all occured under his aegis. Memphis and Oklahoma City also gained NBA teams, albeit at the expense of Vancouver and Seattle...The NBA's massive television presence and international influence truly does have him to thank, as when he took over the NBA Finals were aired tape-delayed at Midnight! (at least in some places- He took over the league a few months before I was born so I didn't experience that first hand). He played a major role in getting true athletes into the Olympics, making them truly a contest of the best athletes in the world. Since he retired from being commisioner, he has lately been championing loosening the NBA's harsh rules about marijuana...which he put in place. 

He was truly a complex person, and his mark on the sport will continue to be felt for generations to come. That's unquestionable.  

Very well summed up, Billy.

For all of his scandals & shortcomings, it's fair for me to say that - being situated on the other side of the world - I would not be a basketball fan, an NBA fan, an Orlando Magic fan, or a basketball card collector without David Stern. 

It probably wasn't long at all after cracking open my first pack of NBA cards about 26 years ago that I learned who Stern was & that he was basically the face of the sport globally, aside from the players of course.

Even here in Australia, and I'm sure in many other countries, his legacy will be a part of the sport forever. 

Every commissioner in every sport gets booed.   It's the nature of the beast.   I believe only Giamatti in baseball didn't get booed largely to his unfortuately short term as commissioner.    It's a job everyone would like and everyone thinks they can do better.

To me he was clearly the best commissioner of any major sport I can remember.

I honestly don't know much about him other than I liked the NBA a lot better when he was in charge.  I don't like the direction the NBA has been going.  NBA awards show...really?

It is Phoenix Suns lore to dislike him though for suspending Amare and Diaw in the 2007 Playoffs against the Spurs for leaving the bench after Robert Horry checked Nash into the scorers table.  (I must admit that Nash may have flopped a tad for a more dramatic impact)  I am pretty sure Duncan left the bench too and some other Spurs players, but only the Suns got punished.  This is all added to the fact that Tim Donaghy was being a crooked ref during that series as well.  

Sad to see that he passed though.  My basketball still has his name on it...shows you how little I play anymore.  The ball is in great shape haha.