David Stern: The Global Commissioner

On 10 October 2013, a couple of hours prior to tip-off of the duel between the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers in Manila as part of NBA Global Games 2013, NBA Commissioner David Stern, who had flown in earlier in the day, sat down with members of the media to answer a few questions. Though the range of questions was very wide, it was clear from his answers that Commissioner Stern thinks of the NBA as a global league, one with international impact and influence, and one that he believes will become even more and more widespread in the years to come, even when he is no longer at its forefront.

After thanking some of the parties that helped make the event possible, and the Filipino basketball fans in particular, the well-organized and orderly question and answer session began. Rafe Bartholomew, author of the book Pacific Rims, inquired as to how the Philippines fits into the NBA’s global strategy going ahead, and Commissioner Stern said that the country is already a big part of it, with NBA events happening quite often and a local TV partner in place, and that the goal is to cover the Southeast Asian region in the next few years. He acknowledged the importance of the Philippines in the NBA’s plans and called it “the most intense and robust and knowledgeable basketball market.”

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When asked about his legacy to the league, Commissioner Stern, while implying that he already got the “digitalization” and globalization of the league underway and expects these two aspects to grow even more moving forward, said that it is the people of the NBA. He called the people who work for the league “this extraordinary force of people” of the teams and the league office and the international offices, who all contribute to the success and growth of the NBA.

The Commissioner discussed how the international events the league stages are “marginally profitable”, but “quite extraordinarily difficult to undertake.” The NBA strives to hold them since the goal is to “grow the game, for people to see the game in action, for there to be clinics around the game, and to give support to markets surrounding them in the same time zone.” He stressed that “we’re serious about bringing the sport to the greatest number of people.” He also pointed out that when the season opens late this month, there will already be twenty localized NBA.com sites, for fans in particular countries to appreciate.

When asked if he thought a Filipino could play in the NBA, he replied, “You tell me!” He then mentioned that the Philippines had made the FIBA World Cup on both the men’s and juniors levels, and explained that there is always the possibility of a player of making it to the NBA, but it would depend on how committed that player is to making the next step of reaching the NBA. He also acknowledged that the NBA is open to international investors, that he is “always selling and we’re always shopping, and we’re always looking for investors who are interested in the NBA.” He sees “international entrepreneurs of high net worth” as potential investors in NBA teams and, while this already started, he expects an increase in the future.

While answering more questions, Commissioner Stern more often than not connected his answers to the globalization and international relations of the league. He talked about the number of games the NBA has held outside the US, how many visits and clinics it has conducted on other missions such as the NBA Cares program, the difficulty of holding a regular season game or All-Star game in a distant location, and the response of the fans all over the world to all the efforts the league has made to reach them.

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I asked Commissioner Stern what quality or qualities he thought someone should possess to become a successful pro league commissioner, and he immediately responded, “Oh, I have no idea,” which caused everyone to laugh. He said that he “learned on the job”, but that if one were “relatively intelligent” and prepared to “work around the clock”, and ready to do anything necessary to “fight off the people who would damage your league”, that would help. He also said you have to love the game and be determined to see it grow, “not only in your own country but around the world.” If somebody fits the description, then he would be ready to be commissioner. He also pointed out that his being a lawyer with “issue-spotting skills” helped, but that now, he understands the media and globalization, and attuned himself to the players’ needs, to help them grow as persons. He pointed out the importance of international travel in the players’ growth and education, for them to understand their impact all over the world.

Commissioner Stern also touched on developing the “smaller market” teams in the league and how winning really takes them out of the smaller market category. He talked about possible expansion in the NBA. He speculated briefly on what he thinks incoming Commissioner Adam Silver will do in the coming years and intimated that even in his retirement, he will be very willing to help the league, particularly in its international expansion endeavors. When asked if he thinks basketball could ever supplant football (soccer) as the most popular sport in the world, he candidly said he doubts it. He said that football “has a grip on the world that should be both admired and respected”, but said that “it’s okay to be number two all over the world.” He still saw this, however, as a chance for the growth of the game in many markets where basketball is not as popular as the Philippines or the US.

During the 2013 NBA Rookie Draft, his last, Commissioner Stern was hailed as the man who brought the NBA to the world. His innovations, creativity, and persistence, amidst certain crises that beset the league during his tenure, have taken the league far beyond what he envisioned thirty years ago when he first took its reins. Someone asked how he thinks he would see the league ten years from now, and he really couldn’t say. What he said is that with all the technology and development, “anyone who sort of projects something is going to be wrong.” While it may be difficult, if not impossible, to speculate on the status of the NBA in the years to come, it is not far-fetched to think that it will be even bigger, brighter, and more far-reaching, impacting lives and uniting people. Commissioner Stern was at the helm at the starting line, in a race course that may never end.

You can follow Charlie on Twitter @CharlieC.