NBA honours David Stern with commemorative black band on team uniforms
Saturday 4 January 2020 07:24, UK
NBA players and referees will wear a commemorative black band on their uniforms honouring former commissioner David Stern, who died Wednesday.
The league said Friday the bands will be worn throughout the rest of the 2019-20 season, including the playoffs.
Stern, 77, suffered a brain haemorrhage on December 12 and collapsed at a New York City restaurant. He underwent emergency surgery later that day.
Stern was NBA commissioner from 1984-2014 and greatly increased the stature of the league during his tenure.
Longtime lieutenant Adam Silver replaced Stern as commissioner.
"David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads. But over the course of 30 years as Commissioner, he ushered in the modern global NBA," Silver said in a statement.
"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."
