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David Stern died on January 1, 2020 at the age of 77, from a brain hemorrhage. He led the prestigious North American Basketball League (NBA) from 1984 to 2014. For three decades, he made the NBA a unique and extremely successful brand, contributing to its globalization as well as that of basketball. .
" Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today. […] Without him, I would not have arrived where I am. I send my sincere condolences to Dianne (his wife) and his family. These words are from Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time and one of the most immense stars of the sport.
Since January 1, 2020, tributes have multiplied towards the one who ruled the prestigious North American League from 1984 to 2014. All or almost all greet " a businessman and a visionary " (Magic Johnson), " the best commissioner [ "boss", Editor's note "from the NBA (Shaquille O'Neal)…
From grocer's son to master of the orange balloon
Nothing seemed to predestine David Stern to become one of the most significant leaders in the history of the sport. The son of a grocer, this New Yorker embarked on law studies. Became legal counsel, he worked among other things with the NBA, from 1966. It was in 1978 that he fully joined a league so far from being the juggernaut that we know.
Indeed, the NBA has certainly already seen many champions pass (Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc.) in its ranks. But she suffers from a very bad image (problems of racism and drugs) and the TV audiences as the crowds in theaters are not always there.
In 1984, David Stern rose to the highest position in the institution, that of "Commissioner". A few months later, he directed the draft, this annual session during which the teams took turns recruiting young basketball players wishing to join the NBA. A certain Michael Jordan is part of the lot.
The king of marketing
David Stern quickly understands the potential of this spectacular prodigy, obsessed with victory. Along with other artists like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, he has icons that can make the NBA incredibly successful. The results are quickly there. But the Commissioner already sees further.
In 1992, David Stern pushed for the best elements of his league to participate in the Olympic Games in Barcelona. Result: Team USA, usually made up of university players or second knives, turns into a Dream Team that will forever mark the history of the Olympic Games. These Games in turn offer incredible publicity to the NBA and its stars, outside the United States.
During the 1990s, it became a global brand. Basketball fans follow Michael Jordan's exploits all over the world, often despite the time difference. But David Stern still wants to take the next step. After internationalizing the NBA public, he wants to open it much more to foreign players. The end of the Jordan era and the beginning of the 2000s were thus marked by an influx of European talents (Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Gasol, Tony Parker, etc.), the Americas (Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, etc.) or d 'Asia (Yao Ming, etc.).
An authoritarian man…
Despite his immense work, widely praised, David Stern was not, however, free from all reproaches and criticisms. The man did not like the contradiction and had been particularly hard and uncompromising during negotiations with the NBA players union for the renegotiation of collective agreements. Negotiations which led to four social movements (lockout), two of which resulted in the cancellation of matches (1998-1999 and 2011-2012 seasons).
David Stern has also contributed greatly to the sanitization of the NBA and its players. The "boss" loved the player that was Dennis Rodman. But he appreciated the character much less: his misconduct, his madness, his tattoos, his piercings ... Thanks to a strict system of (heavy) fines, Stern managed to bring many generations of basketball players into line, making them polite and sometimes polished to the extreme.
… And progressive at the same time
But David Stern was not just a whipping father. He also knew how to be at the forefront on certain issues such as racism or exclusion. In particular, he gave his full support to Magic Johsnon when he revealed his HIV-positive status. " He made so much history , cowardly, moved, the former playmaker of the Los Angeles Lakers. 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 . ”
LeBron James, the current best basketball player in the world, concludes on Instagram: “ 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. "