Getty David Stern is hospitalized.
David Stern, the former Commissioner of the NBA who presided over a period of growth in revenue and franchises during a 30-year tenure, has been hospitalized with a medical emergency, a brain hemorrhage, according to a late-night statement released by the NBA.
The NBA released this statement: “NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage earlier today for which he underwent emergency surgery. Our thoughts and prayers are with David and his family.” Stern is 77 years old.
NBA’s statement on David Stern, who suffered a brain hemorrhage this afternoon in New York.
The medical emergency occurred at a Midtown restaurant on December 12, 2019. North Jersey.com reported that Stern was “dining at Brasserie 8½ in Manhattan on West 57th Street when he went into cardiac arrest around 2 p.m.,” attributing the information to the New York Fire Department.
According to Web MD, “A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke. It’s caused by an artery in the brain bursting and causing localized bleeding in the surrounding tissues. … Hemorrhage literally means ‘blood bursting forth.’ Brain hemorrhages are also called cerebral hemorrhages, intracranial hemorrhages, or intracerebral hemorrhages.”
An ABC News assignment editor, Morena Basteiro, wrote on Twitter, “Former @NBA Commissioner David Stern has been hospitalized in Manhattan, after being transported from a Midtown restaurant earlier this afternoon. @FDNY responded to a 911 call for a cardiac arrest, inside of Brasserie 8 1/2, around 2pm this evening. @ABC7NY.”
According to the NBA, “David Stern completed his 30-year tenure as NBA commissioner on February 1, 2014.”
“As commissioner, Mr. Stern built the model for professional sports in league operations, public service, global marketing, television distribution and digital technology. He oversaw the NBA’s extraordinary growth with seven new franchises, a more than 30-fold increase in revenues, a dramatic expansion of national television exposure and the launch of two leagues, the Women’s National Basketball Association and the NBA Development League. He negotiated the first anti-drug agreement in professional sports and introduced the salary cap system and revenue sharing to the NBA.”
Here’s what you want to know:
One Man Wrote That Stern Had Fallen Ill at His Job
Former NBA commissioner David Stern suffered a brain hemorrhage earlier today and underwent emergency surgery.
Prayers up.
Victor Tossas-Rivera wrote on Twitter: “The former commissioner of the NBA David Stern just had a heart attack at my job…doesn’t look good..?” He added, “Hearing now it might’ve been a stroke, nonetheless he wasn’t responsive when the EMS took him out.” Again, though, the NBA now says it was a brain hemorrhage.
People expressed concern. “Oh no. David Stern underwent emergency brain surgery today after suffering a hemorrhage, according to Adam Silver. League did not give an update on his status,” wrote New York Daily News sports journalist Stefan Bondy on Twitter.
@ShamsCharania David Stern is a Legend, everyone give up your prayers 🙏 to the goat 🐐
There would be no #NBATwitter without him! 🙏
“The NBA experienced tremendous global growth during Mr. Stern’s tenure, and that growth continues today: The NBA has 12 offices outside the United States; its games and programming are televised and streamed in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages; and it offers fans 19 international online destinations,” the NBA’s biography for Stern notes.
“The NBA was the first U.S. professional sports league to stage regular-season games outside North America, and the league has played more than 165 international preseason and regular-season games to date.”
The League’s digital presence occurred during Stern’s tenure also.
“Mr. Stern also oversaw the launch of the leagues’ digital assets, including NBA.com, WNBA.com, and NBADLeague.com; social media platforms; NBA LEAGUE PASS; NBA TV; and mobile applications, all of which reach hundreds of millions of fans every day,” the NBA explained.
Stern, who is also a lawyer, has a net worth estimated at around $135 million. His wife is Dianne Bock Stern. They have two sons.
This post is being updated as more information is learned about the condition of David Stern.