David Stern, the former Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1984 to 2014, died on January 1, 2020 at the age of 77. Stern was born on September 22, 1942 in New York City, New York. He attended Rutgers University in New Jersey and, after graduating from Columbia Law School, was hired by Proskauer Rose, where he rose through the ranks to eventually become the firm’s general counsel. In 1978, he was hired by the NBA as the league’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President, which began a 30-year experience where he oversaw the dramatic growth of the league. He was appointed as Commissioner in 1984, a position he held for 30 years until his retirement in 2014. During his time as Commissioner, NBA revenues tripled and seven new teams were added. Under his direction, the NBA also started WNBA and NBADL. His emphasis on marketing the NBA to a global audience also increased the popularity of the sport, with games broadcast in 215 countries and territories and merchandise sales worldwide. Stern is survived by his wife, Dianne Bock Stern, their sons, Andrew and Eric, and their daughter, Jodi, as well as four grandchildren. He will be remembered for his leadership and accomplishments as NBA Commissioner.