David Stern was a trash commissioner in hindsight

[1987_Lakers]

I would say he was positive influence overall, but probably too hardcore. The dress code for example was ridiculous.

I didn't like the dress code at the time, but as an adult now I can see why Stern made that rule. It actually changed the NBA for the better.

He was a bit of a hard ass & dictator, but you can't deny how much more popular the league became once Stern took over. The NBA was in rough shape before he was commissioner.

[tontoz]

I didn't like the dress code at the time, but as an adult now I can see why Stern made that rule. It actually changed the NBA for the better.

He was a bit of a hard ass & dictator, but you can't deny how much more popular the league became once Stern took over. The NBA was in rough shape before he was commissioner.

How much credit for that should go to Stern?

I think more of it should go to Bird/Magic/MJ. Stern took over in 1984 the year Jordan was drafted and Bird/Magic faced off in the finals. Nice timing.

[rawimpact]

Dumb AF take

[Nowoco]

Stern did a lot of good but he lucked into most of his big successes. He inherited a league with a blossoming Lakers/Celtics rivalry and a rookie Michael Jordan. From there, no matter who was in charge, the NBA was going to explode. It also should be said that the ratings and interest dropped after MJ retired to an all-time low in the modern era. He couldnt stop the rot after his golden goose left the station. He also didnt understand the marketability of stars. Nike and others saw it long before he did. Don't forget that non white shoes werent allowed in MJ's rookie season.

He has a lot of black marks on his resume.

Fixing the 1985 draft to try and make the Knicks relevant
The WNBA has been an unmitigated expensive disaster
Nonsense rule changes like the shortened three point line
Torpedoed the Vancouver Grizzlies by hindering expansion teams by not allowing them high draft picks for years
Unable to prevent the lockouts
Bringing in the discriminatory if you're being nice, flat out racist if you're not dress code
Allowed Seattle to have their team taken away from them

Etc

[90sgoat]

Stern in retrospect deserves a lot of respect for keeping the players in line.

Silver has let Lebron take over the league and let the players show every negative instinct they have. The NBA stars are not really likeable in the public opinion like they used to be. Silver lucked into Curry, without Curry, the NBA would have had almost no likeable superstars.