"The best job ever," NBA mourns David Stern

"A great man, husband, father, friend, businessman and visionary": with these emotional words, basketball legend Magic Johnson summed up the unanimous tribute of the NBA world to his former emblematic boss David Stern, died Wednesday at age 77. It is the body, which he headed from 1984 to 2014, which announced the dreaded news on Wednesday.

"Commissioner Emeritus David Stern died this afternoon of the brain hemorrhage he suffered three weeks ago" at a New York restaurant, the NBA said in a statement. “For 22 years, I was in the front row to see David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends, ”said his successor at the head of the North American League, Adam Silver.

I dont usually post on those things but from the bottom of my heart thank you. Thank for allowing a little kid from France to dream about making it to the NBA by making this game GLOBAL. The true goat. pic.twitter.com/hcGfeDj8eY

During his 30 years of reign, assured of an iron fist in a velvet glove, this son of New York grocer and graduate of law made the NBA prosper and transformed it into a world brand. At the time, this body was in the grip of serious financial problems and was far from having the media exposure of the NFL (American football) or the MLB (baseball).

“David has made the NBA one of the most popular leagues in the world with his revolutionary ideas. He made NBA finals of matches watched live on television and no longer delayed, "tweeted legendary Lakers Magic Johnson, whose rivalry with the Celtics of Larry Bird was thus greatly exposed.

He made the NBA a popular sport

“He made so much history. When I announced in 1991 that I had contracted HIV, people thought they would have AIDS by shaking my hand. When David allowed me to play the All-Star Game in 1992 and then participate in the Barcelona Olympics with the Dream Team, we were able to change the world, "he added.

Rest In Peace #DavidStern 🙏🏻
You will be missed immensely. #NBAfamily #grateful pic.twitter.com/aj66UALo1J

A world that Stern wanted without borders for the NBA, doing everything to popularize it with its best ambassadors, the players, who were going to become planetary stars. "Without David, the NBA would not be what it is today," said the most famous of them, Michael Jordan. “David loved basketball and demanded excellence from those around him, and I admired him for that. Without him, I would not have arrived where I am, "added" his Airness "whose exploits and sneakers have done more for the NBA than any other star of the orange ball.

NBA stars from Magic Johnson to Michael Jordan to Lebron James pay tribute to "visionary" David Stern, boss of the wealthy basketball league for 30 years, who died at 77 #AFP https: // t. co / wIzaobnuZR pic.twitter.com/smRUGIo0ar

"It's a huge loss for the sport in general because he is the one who + marketted the Jordan, Magic, Bird, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant ... He was able to bring these fan superstars, ”said Reggie Miller, the former Indiana Pacers shooter.

RIP Mr David Stern
The best commissioner to ever do it. pic.twitter.com/SgO0hMX3Ia

And he made them very wealthy: their average salary rose from $ 250,000 in 1984 to $ 5 million in 2014 ($ 7 today). Gains that have been supported by constantly growing turnover, during a mandate where seven franchises have been created, to increase the League to 30 clubs, and where others have moved.

A global vision of the League

“I think it's important to remember where this country was in terms of race relations. David Stern has made sure that this sport belongs to everyone, not just a minority, "said former Detroit player Isiah Thomas. “Your vision to make our game PLANETARY, only you could realize it. This is what you did. Make our sport the biggest sport in the world! It was an honor to know you personally, ”reacted LeBron James on Instagram.

The NBA owes David Stern a debt of gratitude. His courage, innovation intelligence, tenacity & his ability to manage our league that has become a global success. He charted a path for modern-day basketball. We all benefited from his vision and strong beliefs. #ripdavidstern

By leading the NBA to conquer the world, Stern has also opened the door to more and more non-American players, from the German Dirk Nowitzki to the French Tony Parker, pioneers of the current foreign stars that are the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP in title, or the Slovenian prodigy Luka Doncic, among the 108 international players listed this season in the NBA.

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