Los Angeles (AFP)
Former NBA boss David Stern was urgently operated in New York on Thursday after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage, the North American Basketball League announced.
"NBA Commissar Emeritus David Stern suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage earlier in the day for which he underwent emergency surgery, and our thoughts and prayers are with David and his family," the statement said. NBA.
Mr. Stern, 77, collapsed in a New York restaurant and was rushed to a hospital, according to ESPN.
The NBA did not give further details about the health of its former leader. But according to another media, ABC7 NY, the city's fire department responded to an emergency call for cardiac arrest at around 2:00 pm.
David Stern led the league from 1984 to 2014, when he was replaced by his longtime assistant Adam Silver.
During his 30-year reign, this New York grocer's son and law graduate flourished the NBA and made it a global brand. At the time, this body was plagued by serious financial problems and was far from having the media exposure of the NFL (American football) or MLB (baseball).
During his tenure, seven franchises were created and have joined the League to 30 clubs, others have moved, all have significantly increased their revenues.
The players too. Their average salary went from $ 250,000 in 1984 to $ 5 million in 2014. Players, some of whom became global stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and later Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, were before by David Stern, aware that they would help to metamorphose and popularize the NBA.
For having made the NBA one of the most powerful sports leagues in the world, Stern was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. He received the title of "Commissioner Emeritus" after his retirement.
© 2019 AFP