David Stern, former NBA commissioner, dead at 77

David Stern, the former NBA commissioner who turned the league into a powerhouse over three decades, died Wednesday at the age of 77, the league announced.

Stern had been hospitalized after undergoing surgery in December after he suffered a brain hemorrhage at a Manhattan restaurant.

He served as commissioner for 30 years, growing the game exponentially into a multibillion-dollar business, before stepping down in 2014 and being replaced by Adam Silver.

“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action,” Silver said. “He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends.

“Because of David, the NBA is a truly global brand — making him not only one of the greatest sports commissioners of all time but also one of the most influential business leaders of his generation,” Silver said.

Stern, a Hall of Famer, was born in New York and raised in Teaneck, N.J. He is survived by his wife, Dianne Bock Stern, and their two sons, Eric and Andrew.

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