David Stern, Who Reshaped NBA Into Global Powerhouse, Dies at 77

  • Longest-serving commissioner of any professional U.S. sport
  • Under his watch, the league grew, players’ salaries soared
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David Stern, who transformed the National Basketball Association into a global, multibillion-dollar powerhouse while serving as the longest-tenured commissioner of any professional sport, has died. He was 77.

Stern died Wednesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage approximately three weeks ago, the league said in a statement. His wife, Dianne, and their family were with him at his bedside.