The NBA lost a titan and the Kings an advocate Wednesday when commissioner emeritus David Stern died "as a result of the brain hemorrhage he suffered approximately three weeks ago," the league announced. He was 77.
For 30 years, Stern worked tirelessly to create the product we currently see on the court. Credited with the expansion of the league to 30 teams, the globalization of the brand, the development of the WNBA, and astronomical increases in television revenue, league revenue and player salaries, Stern left the NBA in a much better place than when he got it.
After three decades at the helm, Stern retired on Feb. 1, 2014, handing the reins to longtime deputy Adam Silver.
"David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads," Silver said in a statement released by the league. "But over the course of 30 years as [commissioner], he ushered in the modern global NBA. ... Because of David, the NBA is a truly global brand -- making him not only of one of the greatest sports commissioners of all time but also one of the most influential business leaders of his generation."
Before leaving the league, Stern left a legacy in Sacramento.
Stern presided over two full-blown relocation attempts by the Maloof family -- one to Anaheim, and one to Seattle -- over a two-year span, beginning in 2011.
In the fight to keep the Kings in California’s capital, Stern sided with former NBA player and then-Mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson, who helped garner corporate sponsorships, created an arena plan and found alternative ownership groups.
On Stern’s recommendation, the NBA’s board of governors shot down the partial sale of the Kings to Henry Samueli in 2011. Samueli, owner of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, along with the Maloofs, planned to rename the Kings “the Anaheim Royals” and move them into Honda Center.
Without league support, though, the Maloofs were forced to acquiesce and chose to re-enter negotiations with Sacramento on a potential new arena.
“If there was a vote now, there would be no support for a move, and I believe the ownership that says they're planning to stay there,” Stern told reporters at the time.
The Maloofs showed no real interest in an honest discussion about a new arena in Sacramento. Within 18 months of being shot down on their first relocation attempt, they entered into an agreement with Seattle businessman Chris Hansen to sell and relocate the Kings to the Emerald City.
Stern again pushed the board of governors to turn down the sale to Hansen and his group, and he also helped find an ownership group for Sacramento. After a series of negotiations, the Maloofs sold the Kings to Vivek Ranadivé and his ownership group, which promised not only to keep the team in Sacramento but to build a new arena with a 30-year lease.
It’s a complex story that took years to fully settle, but Stern was the guiding hand that kept the Kings in Sacramento on multiple occasions.
“There were skeptics in my office, and I would tell them, ‘You know, guys, I used to do this when you were kicking the slats out of your crib,’ “ Stern told Ailene Voisin in 2016 about the Seattle relocation as he flew to Sacramento for one last visit. “ 'We’re going to keep this team in Sacramento. Between the mayor and the new owners, we’re getting that arena built. And stop, because now you’re pissing me off.’ “
Following the completion of Golden 1 Center in 2016, the Kings, in conjunction with the city, named the walkway outside the arena in Stern’s honor. When you walk up to the main entrance, you’re strolling on David J. Stern Walk.
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“David will always be remembered as Superman in Sacramento," Ranadivé said in a statement Wednesday. "His impact on the league will leave a lasting imprint around the world and his fierce support of the team and this community is the reason why the Kings stayed in Sacramento. David’s enthusiasm for our city and belief in our fans will never be forgotten."
Stern holds a special place in Sacramentans’ hearts. He was a visionary leader, an innovator and a businessman. He was snarky, quick-witted and at times condescending. He made a few mistakes in his 30 years as leader of the NBA, but he also was an overwhelming success.
It was an honor to sit in a room and cover a Stern press conference. It was an honor to chase him down a hallway packed with reporters hoping for one more quote. He was missed the moment he walked away from the league, and even more so now that he has passed.
Kings fans owe Stern a debt of gratitude, which they try to repay every night when the doors to Golden 1 Center open. A moment of silence would be a fitting tribute, but Stern chose Sacramento because of the roar of the crowd.