David Stern Quotes

Powerful David Stern for Daily Growth

About David Stern

David Stern, born on October 19, 1942, in Newark, New Jersey, is an influential American lawyer, writer, and former commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Known for his transformative impact on the NBA during his tenure from 1984 to 2004, Stern's legacy reaches far beyond basketball courts. Stern's interest in law was sparked during his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, where he earned a B.A. in political science and history. He then attended Columbia Law School, graduating in 1966. After a stint in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, Stern began his legal career, working for several law firms before joining the NBA as counsel in 1966. In 1978, Stern was appointed the league's first deputy commissioner by then-commissioner Lawrence O'Brien. When O'Brien retired in 1984, Stern was chosen to succeed him. During his tenure, Stern introduced numerous reforms that transformed the NBA into a global entertainment brand. These included the adoption of the three-point line, expansion of international games, and the creation of the NBA Development League (now G League). Stern's influence extended beyond basketball, as he was instrumental in promoting social issues such as AIDS awareness and combating racism. In 2006, after stepping down as commissioner, he authored "Dream Courts: How Basketball Ignited a Global Social Movement," detailing the impact of basketball on communities worldwide. Today, Stern is recognized as one of the most influential sports executives in history. His innovative leadership and commitment to social justice continue to resonate beyond the boundaries of basketball.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The NBA is a league of superstars."

The quote by David Stern, "The NBA is a league of superstars," reflects the exceptional talent and individual brilliance that characterizes the National Basketball Association. It suggests that the NBA attracts and cultivates some of the most outstanding players in the world, creating a competitive environment where these exceptional talents shine. This statement highlights the unique appeal of the NBA, as it showcases not only teamwork but also individual skill, making each game an exciting spectacle of athleticism and prowess.


"Everyone wants to be number one, but nobody wants to let number two beat them."

The quote by David Stern reflects a common human tendency in competitive situations: people strive for top positions or achievements, but they also resist losing that position to others. It suggests a fear of losing status or recognition, and the desire to maintain one's standing against potential competition. This psychological dynamic often fuels ambition, resilience, and determination in people, but it can also lead to unhealthy or unproductive behaviors like jealousy, backstabbing, or unnecessary rivalry.


"You can't have a successful basketball team without a point guard."

This quote emphasizes the critical role of the point guard in a basketball team's success. The point guard is often the team's primary ball handler, facilitator, and leader on the court. They manage the team's offense, make strategic decisions, and create opportunities for scoring. A strong point guard can effectively distribute the ball, make good shots, defend, and communicate with their teammates, making them a key player in a successful basketball team.


"There are going to be some changes in the NBA. Change is always difficult, but it ultimately leads to growth and progress."

The quote emphasizes that change, although challenging, is an essential catalyst for growth and advancement. In the context of basketball, as well as broader life applications, this quote suggests embracing new ideas or modifications may lead to improvement, progress, and ultimately a stronger, more evolved version of the NBA (or any system). It encourages us to adapt and evolve with time, recognizing that change is not just necessary but beneficial in the long run.


"I never want to see us become so concerned with our image that we lose sight of what makes this league special - competition, passion, and personalities."

This quote by David Stern emphasizes the importance of preserving the unique qualities that make a league stand out from others – namely, competition, passion, and individual personalities. In other words, he is advocating for prioritizing the raw, authentic aspects of the game over cultivating a polished or sanitized image. The essence of any league lies in its competitive spirit, emotional intensity, and the distinct characters that add color and charm to the sport, making it relatable and engaging for fans. When a league becomes too focused on maintaining an idealized public persona, it risks losing what truly captivates people – the human element at play.


You walk into the playgrounds in Shanghai and Beijing, and you see youngsters who are shorter, shaking and baking and having attitude. And Jeremy Lin is going to inspire all of them.

- David Stern

Going, Youngsters, Having, Baking

Smart drafting is a wonderful thing. A smart free-agent signing is a wonderful thing. Smart trades are a wonderful thing, and that's a function of management.

- David Stern

Management, Drafting, Trades

You will ultimately be defined by the sum total of your responses to circumstances, situations and events that you probably couldn't anticipate and indeed probably couldn't even imagine. So just keep your eyes on the course and be ready to move in different directions depending upon the crises and opportunities with which you are faced.

- David Stern

Eyes, Your, Sum, Anticipate

By nature, I'm a person who always says that whatever I've done, I could've done better. But I don't dwell on it because I'm waiting for the next time something happens and try to believe that my past experience will have helped to educate me in terms of how I deal with future ones.

- David Stern

Waiting, Next, Deal, Next Time

I'm aware that the World Cup is probably the greatest spectacle in the world of sport, and that's despite the referees that have been found to have fixed games specifically.

- David Stern

World Cup, Been, Spectacle, Fixed

I grew up in an age where women's tennis did not have similar prizes to men, and they played in complete obscurity, really, compared to the men's game.

- David Stern

Game, Similar, Grew, Obscurity

We have a broad array of teams. And if somebody asked me whether a team is a good buy, my response is, 'You'd better hurry up, they're going like hot cakes, and they're going to be even more valuable when we get a system that is even more sustainable.'

- David Stern

Hot, Buy, Sustainable, Array

It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon that really let people see that athletes were OK, and black athletes were OK. Defying a previous wisdom - not only that black athletes wouldn't sell in white America, but that the NBA as a predominantly black sport could not sell in white America.

- David Stern

Sell, Could, Previous, OK

Our officials want nothing more than to be at the top of their professional game and make the correct call. That's what they do; that's their living, that's their pride, that's their joy. They don't achieve that because they happen to be human.

- David Stern

Game, Living, Happen, Officials

My own basketball background was ripping up my ACL in a lawyer's league.

- David Stern

Basketball, Own, My Own, Ripping

I've never found NBA owners to be deferential. I never considered them to be reliant. All that I do is knock myself out to represent their interests the best way I can and sometimes tell them, as part of my job, what they don't like to hear.

- David Stern

Knock, Best Way, Considered, Represent

I would say the referees have the toughest game to call. I would say that there's a lot of officiating done by announcers, local announcers. Sometimes you should listen to a game from both feeds, and you'd think you were listening to completely different games.

- David Stern

Game, Sometimes, Local, Feeds

I regret the 1998 - 99 lockout. I regret that we didn't work harder to educate our players and our owners about what the damage would be. I never can quite come up with the answer on what else we should have done, but I always blame a part of the problem on us and some part on the players.

- David Stern

Regret, Some, Damage, Educate

Free speech is against governments, not against the NBA. So the players and coaches and indeed owners have been fined for their speech, which is costly rather than free. I sort of acknowledge that there is not free speech when you agree to work in the NBA.

- David Stern

Against, Been, Rather, Costly

All I can say is you don't know what's going to be on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper. So I take no joy in what happens to another sport, whether it's about a perfect game or an issue of conduct.

- David Stern

Game, Newspaper, Perfect, Front Page

I'm persuaded that sports is the one place where the rules are pretty well set out, where fans are equal. And if you got game or you're a good official, you make it here, whether you're white or you're black.

- David Stern

Game, Here, Official, Persuaded

I'm not big on looking back beyond the moment in which decisions and events occur. I'm always pushing forward.

- David Stern

Big, Always, Which, Events

I think it's... I don't want to become a social crusader on this issue, but I think sports, male sports, has traditionally not been an inviting environment for gay men to identify themselves. But eventually... we will get to a place where it is not an issue in sports.

- David Stern

Been, I Think, Eventually, Inviting

Everyone knows that if you can keep on making money, everyone's happy.

- David Stern

Money, Everyone, Making, Making Money

I think that players play, and they compete, and it's not about incentives.

- David Stern

Play, Think, Compete, Incentives

We couldn't get enough Jeremy Lin material in the NBA store fast enough. And when we did, it was just gone in minutes.

- David Stern

Enough, Store, Minutes, NBA

We need a system where all of our teams have the opportunity to compete and to make a few dollars. That's not a bad desire for collective bargaining for a sports league, and it's great for our fans.

- David Stern

Desire, Compete, Teams, Collective

I think anyone who doesn't say that they'd like people to think that they're doing the right thing is wrong. I mean, I'd like it to be that way, but I've never allowed it to influence my actions.

- David Stern

Doing, I Think, Allowed, Actions

I believe that everyone should participate in democracy and enjoy doing it.

- David Stern

Doing, Everyone, Should, Participate

I actually don't hope for a legacy. I think that it impedes your ability to make the hard decisions if you sit around saying, 'How will this affect my legacy?'

- David Stern

Legacy, Think, I Think, Affect

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