David Stern, the longest tenured commissioner in the history of the NBA, has announced his intentions to step down in the year 2014.
Stern will retire on Feb. 1, 2014, exactly 30 years after he took charge of the league, and will be replaced by deputy commissioner Adam Silver.
His big announcement came at an NBA Board of Governors meeting Thursday and Stern told owners during their two days of meetings of his plans, and the board unanimously decided Silver would be his successor.
Stern, who turned 70 last month, became commissioner on Feb. 1, 1984. He has been the NBA’s longest-serving commissioner, establishing the league’s brand around the world, presiding over team expansion and overseeing the establishment of the WNBA.
“You’ll be remembered as the best of all time,” Silver told Stern, sitting to his left on a podium during a news conference.
Stern said he decided on his plans about six months ago, having guided the league through a lockout that ended nearly a year ago. He said the league is in great shape and he is confident in Silver, who has been the league’s No. 2 since 2006.
