The late former NBA Commissioner David Stern through the years
Stern's 30-year tenure from 1984 to 2014 as league Commissioner was the longest in NBA history.
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By Yash Matange
@yashmatange2694
Earlier today, former NBA Commissioner David Stern passed away at the age of 77 as a result of a brain hemorrhage he suffered three weeks earlier.
MORE: Current NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's statement on Stern's passing
Stern had become the Commissioner of the NBA on February 1 in 1984, succeeding Larry O'Brien and exactly 30 years after, he stepped down and was succeeded by Adam Silver, his deputy.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and to the FIBA Hall of Fame a couple of years later in 2016.
MORE: NBA Players react to Stern's passing
Here's a look at the late former Commissioner through the years with the NBA:
Stern with Hakeem Olajuwon, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft - Stern's first https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/c/1e/hakeem-olajuwon-and-david-stern_56fwoqr8drej15r5wdsjjdd13.png?t=1703917143&w=500 Stern handing Larry Bird his 1984 championship ring (Stern's first as Commissioner) at the ceremony prior to their 1985 home opener https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/d4/59/larry-bird-and-david-stern_gfetjwf7g50x1p4joegi26qux.png?t=1702120159&w=500 Stern at the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery in 1985 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/1b/59/david-stern_13fps3ia7iaq41pa3olwefwogq.png?t=1703165143&w=500 Stern with the No. 1 overall pick Shaquille O'Neal at the 1992 NBA Draft https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/fb/94/shaquille-oneal-and-david-stern_19q8q0kj2l3j71h1w8uuzvuhec.png?t=1703342159&w=500 Stern with Nelson Mandela as part of an Africa tour by NBA players in 1993 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/63/57/david-stern-with-nelson-mandela_1u3ubrcxu83v41kckesgvexhah.png?t=1704363015&w=500 Stern handing Michael Jordan the 1996 NBA MVP award Stern with the LeBron James , the No. 1 overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/64/45/stern-with-lebron-james-at-the-2003-nba-draft_1k1okp9o0jteq1uprotozeyrcg.png?t=1704841719&w=500 Stern with LeBron James and his four league MVP awards in 2010 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/94/c9/david-stern-with-lebron-james_3yt3h2home401kb19ruzyuu04.png?t=1705234095&w=500 Stern's final championship ring ceremony in Miami in 2013 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/4a/9e/david-stern-with-lebron-james-in-2013_hg9rwsrpp8mv1ff3lfc6908y3.png?t=1709761079&w=500 Stern with his final NBA draft announcement in 2014