Warriors react to the passing of NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern

Member of the Golden State Warriors weighed in on the passing of NBA Commissioner Emeritus, David Stern.

NBA Commissioner Emeritus, David Stern has died at age 77 on New Year’s Day from a brain hemorrhage that he suffered back in mid-December.

The NBA would not be the product it is today without the influence of Stern, his laundry list of accomplishments as commissioner is unprecedented for its time.

During Stern’s tenure, the basketball world launched things like the Draft Lottery, the G League, NBA TV, NBA Cares and the WNBA. Stern was influential in the NBA’s expansion to broader media markets, along with marketing strategies that launched the new wave NBA product that we know today. In his time, Stern turned the NBA from a basketball league to a global phenomenon.

After his passing was announced, several members of the Golden State Warriors weighed in on Stern’s legacy.

“I think David Stern probably made a bigger impact on the game than any non-player in the history of the NBA,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

Coach Kerr said everyone is debt to Stern for the vision he had to set the league on the course to where it’s at currently.

“We all, everybody in the NBA—we all owe him a great debt of gratitude, for his service, for his impact and for everything he’s done for our individual lives.” Kerr stated in a video tribute.

Stern’s praise from the Warriors didn’t stop with Kerr, as President of Basketball Operations, and General Manager, Bob Myers spoke about the late commissioner’s influence on the NBA.

“He formalized and structured what we see now in the NBA,” said Myers. “He modernized the NBA—he had a strong sense of conviction—kind of a force of nature type personality to move the league in a direction where he wanted it to go.”

Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer, Rick Welts said it’s hard to imagine a world without Stern.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that he is the single most important individual in the history of the NBA,” said Welts. “His 30-year term as commissioner’s work before really created the foundation that we have enjoyed to this day, as this special NBA that we are.”

In a statement regarding the passing of Stern, the Warriors called the Hall of Fame Commissioner Emeritus and “icon.”

Stern is survived by his wife Dianne, their two sons, Andrew and Eric, along with the entire NBA fraternity.