Former NBA commissioner David Stern is dead at the age of 77, the league announced on Wednesday.
Stern had been hospitalized since Dec. 17 after suffering a brain hemorrhage. His wife, Dianne, and their family were at his bedside.
"For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action," commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas, and on planes wherever the game would take us.
"Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals - preparation, attention to detail, and hard work."
Stern was the NBA's commissioner from 1984 through 2014. He succeeded Larry O'Brien in the role, and the league grew tremendously worldwide under his leadership.
Under Stern's watch, the Association established its first franchises outside of the United States, and exhibition and regular-season games have been played in Mexico, Europe, and Asia over the years.
"David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads," Silver said. "But over the course of 30 years as commissioner, he ushered in the modern global NBA. He launched groundbreaking media and marketing partnerships, digital assets, and social-responsibility programs that have brought the game to billions of people around the world.
"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."
