David Stern inducted to Hall of Fame; says future of NBA is 'incredibly bright'
Former NBA commissioner David Stern was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night and had nothing but positive things to say about the game and it's future.
"I think the future is incredibly bright," the former commissioner said at the Springfield Symphony Hall. "The reason I am here is because of thousands of people over the years who have done so much. The league is in spectacular shape going forward under the extraordinary leadership of Adam Silver."
Stern took the stage along side Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Bill Russell. Magic had this to say about Stern's tenure.
"David Stern not only changed my life but he also made HIV and AIDS acceptable around the world," Johnson said in an interview on NBA TV. "He should really be winning a Noble Peace Prize for what he did in terms of teaching people and educating people and the sports world and the world all at the same time when you think about Orlando, the All-Star Game, and from there the Dream Team and the Olympics. But also how he stepped up front and he didn't waver and said, 'Hey, I am going to support Magic Johnson and this league is going to support Magic Johnson.'"
Stern was named NBA commissioner in 1984 and stepped down in February of this year, handing over the reigns to Adam Silver. Stern was best known for increasing television revenues from $10-million to $900-million, crafting a new collective bargaining agreement that created labor peace and a salary cap, as well as new drug policies.
You can see a David Stern Career Retrospective below.
Alonzo Mourning, Mitch Richmond, Nolan Richardson, Gary Williams, Bob Leonard, Nat Clifton, Sarunas Marciulionis and Guy Rodgers were also inducted Friday night.