Madison Square Garden fills up for almost every Knicks home game even though the product on the court hasn’t been much to brag about for a while. The franchise can thank David Stern for that.
Under his 30 years of leadership as NBA commissioner, Stern turned the once-struggling league and all that goes with it into a global attraction, making iconic venues like the Garden a destination for basketball fans around the world even when the Knicks aren’t winning.
Stern, who died Wednesday at age 77, helped create the aura of the NBA and venues like the Garden with a visionary approach that turned the league into a multi-billion dollar industry.
“It was David Stern’s vision that created the modern NBA,” the Knicks said in a statement. “He understood the incredible talent of our athletes, the passion of our fans and the extraordinary marketing opportunity of this league, and all of us are reaping the benefit of his courage, leadership and business acumen.”
If you like the NBA, then you can thank David Stern. And if you hate the NBA because it is player-driven, then credit David Stern for that, too. Current and former players who benefited from the Stern era took to Twitter to offer their condolences after news spread he had died Wednesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 12.
“Today I lost a friend and mentor,” Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins tweeted. “They say it takes 3 generations for you to create a true legacy, David Stern did it in one”
Pau Gasol offered: “Today the #NBA Family lost a legend, a leader that changed our game for the better. A father, a husband, a friend.”
And this from Stephen Curry: “Thank you and your family for your leadership and commitment to growing the game of basketball around the world. Forever grateful…RIP Commissioner Stern!”
NBA players owe a debt to Stern. He made the NBA about the players. They are the stars. They are the brand. Stern was smart enough to exploit that.
It’s something the NFL is reluctant to do. NFL players are hidden by helmets, relegated to being known mostly by their number and a last name on the back of their jerseys. Fans don’t always know the faces. Most of them know only the jersey. That’s why the NFL is all about protecting the shield. Do anything or say anything to tarnish the shield, and NFL players can find themselves searching for employment elsewhere: see Antonio Brown.
Stern, however, put NBA players front and center when he took over as commissioner in 1984, especially those who were in prime television markets. It was about Larry Bird and Magic Johnson as much as it was about Lakers and Celtics; and then it was about Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, Kobe, Shaq and LeBron.
He turned All-Star Weekend into a celebrity-filled event and made the Dream Team into Olympic rock stars. Through it all, salaries skyrocketed as did revenue. Franchise eventually became worth billions.
“Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David’s vision, generosity and inspiration,” said current NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Stern also made sure women were treated with respect in the locker room and started the WNBA to help grow the sport.
“His steadfast commitment to women sports was ahead of its time and has provided countless opportunities for women and young girls who aspire to play basketball,” said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
The Knicks played Portland on Wednesday night at the Garden. It was New Year’s Day. The Knicks entered with just nine wins in 33 games, while the Trail Blazers were 14-20. But the Garden was packed nonetheless and there was anticipation in the air. Former Knick Carmelo Anthony was in town playing for the Trail Blazers. A marquee name was filling the building again, just the way David Stern envisioned.