According to foreign media reports, on January 1, local time, former NBA President David Stern (DavidStern) died at the age of 77.
Previously, several media reported that David Stern was hospitalized for surgery due to sudden cerebral hemorrhage.
David Stern was the president of NBA from 1984 to 2014. During his 30 years in charge of the league, he led NBA to become one of the most successful sports organizations in the world.
He called Yao Ming into the league
when it comes to what makes fans remember most, I’m afraid Yao Ming participated in the NBA draft in 2002. David Stern, then the president of the League, announced himself, yao Ming was selected by the Rockets in the first round. This also became a window for Yao Ming to enter the alliance.
Then, in the summer of 2003, young faces took turns to the stage of NBA draft conference, and their names were read out from David Stern’s mouth in turn. LeBlanc-James, Dakota-Milisic, Cameron-Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne-Wade and so on, these players spread their youth on the court……
In February, 2014, David Stern was elected to the Hall of Fame and officially entered the Hall of Fame on August 8 of that year. He was directly selected as a basketball contributor.
David Colangelo, chairman of the Hall of Fame committee, said at that time that the Hall of Fame intended to design special areas for Stern to show his great achievements over the past 30 years.
“He deserves such grand recognition,” Colangelo said at that time.
He once knocked on China’s “gate” like this
In addition to the stadium, a period of Stern’s “past” has repeatedly appeared on the Internet in recent years, because of this, only Chinese fans can officially “bond” with NBA “.
In 1989, David Stern carried the video tape and waited for 40 minutes in the wind before knocking on the door of CCTV. During the talks, he patiently explained to CCTV leaders what NBA is, and even sent a free NBA video to Beijing every week, I have also asked CCTV’s broadcast team to live broadcast the Star competition and the finals out of my own pocket for many times. Then, the Chinese market opened its arms and had a close connection with NBA.
When Yao Ming retired, he once sent a blessing
in July 2011, Yao Ming announced his retirement decision at the press conference. At the ceremony, David Stern also delivered a retirement speech to Yao Ming.
Stern spoke highly of Yao Ming’s contribution to NBA at that time.
He wrote in the letter: Yao Ming has been a “player who has changed the league” since he entered the NBA as the first star show in 2002 “. Yao Ming’s outstanding performance inside and outside the stadium has greatly promoted the global development of NBA. His commander-in-chief, modest attitude on the court and his unremitting efforts towards charity, he has become a popular player in the world. He has built an extraordinary bridge for Chinese and American fans.
At the end of the speech, Stern congratulated Yao Ming on his outstanding achievements in NBA career and sincerely wished him more brilliant achievements in the next stage of his life. He said Yao Ming had made great contributions to Chinese basketball and looked forward to continuing to popularize and develop basketball in China with him in the future, let more Chinese fans feel the unique beauty of basketball.
Netizens shed tears and expressed their indifference
after learning the news of David Stern’s death, netizens expressed their condolences one after another, “return my youth”, content such as “don’t believe it is true” shows that you don’t want to give up……