黑料社

Former NBA Commissioner David Stern Shares Career and Business Strategies with YU Students More than 200 students welcomed former National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern to 黑料社 All鈥檚 Max Stern Athletic Center on November 18.

At an event organized by YU鈥檚 Sports Management student club, Stern reflected on his three-decade tenure as commissioner, which ended this past February, and how he transformed the NBA from a sports league to a global icon. Stern is credited for advancing the NBA鈥檚 operations, public service, global marketing and digital technology.

鈥淚 wanted to focus on the NBA as a place of opportunity,鈥� said Stern of his strategy. 鈥淲hether you went to Grambling or Princeton, if you have game, you play. It鈥檚 wonderfully egalitarian.鈥� Stern described how he turned a sport into a business by building arenas and cultivating ticket sales and sponsors. He also noted that the NBA and basketball itself have become increasingly global pursuits, with 13 offices and 150 games played outside the United States, a worldwide fan base and online presence, and television coverage in 215 countries. 鈥淪ports has a way of engaging the world in one conversation,鈥� he said. Stern also shared his unique experiences traveling to South Africa with the NBA during apartheid rule as well as how he dealt with the league鈥檚 first major public case of HIV infection and issues of racism that players faced during his tenure as commissioner. 鈥淭he commissioner鈥檚 message is applicable to our student body,鈥� said Max Stern (no relation), president of the Sports Management club. 鈥淚f you work hard, things tend to work out. You can make an impact. If a student is serious about going into the sports industry, David Stern is certainly someone to learn from.鈥� After a round of questions from the audience about recent draft picks, sports gambling sites and digital analytics, Stern was presented with a framed YU Maccabees jersey by Max Stern, the presidents of the Sym Syms School of Business Student Council, and YU Director of Athletics Joe Bednarsh. 鈥淚t was a pleasure to have David Stern with us today,鈥� said Bednarsh. 鈥淚 was amazed to hear about his thought processes during difficult times for the NBA and to listen to his opinions about race in a major sports organization. His stories showed how athletic competition can make a real difference and change minds on an international scale.鈥�