NEW YORK: Former NBA commissioner David Stern was admitted to a New York City hospital Thursday afternoon after suffering a brain hemorrhage, the league announced.
“NBA commissioner emeritus David Stern suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage earlier today (Thursday) for which he underwent emergency surgery,” the NBA said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with David and his family.”
Stern served as NBA commissioner for 30 years from 1984 until 2014, before handing over the reins to Adam Silver in February 2014. Under his watch, the NBA added seven teams and relocated six other franchises. The league’s annual revenue from its television contract increased by 40 times, the average player salary jumped from $250,000 a year in 1984 to more than $5 million, and the value of franchises skyrocketed, ESPN reports.
The NBA took off globally under Stern, who oversaw the growth of the league into one whose games were televised in more than 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages, AP reports.
The league opened 13 offices worldwide, staged regular-season games outside the US – a first in professional sports. He also founded the WNBA in 1997. He had a hand in numerous initiatives that changed the league, including drug testing, the salary cap and implementation of a dress code, ESPN further reports.
