Former NBA commissioner David Stern, who died Wednesday as a result of the brain hemorrhage he suffered three weeks ago, was, well, stern. He ruled with an iron fist and acerbic wit. All the while, he oversaw the exponential expansion of a league he inherited without a salary cap or a serious national TV deal. He secured those and spread the game globally, transforming the NBA into a multi-billion-dollar corporation with the help of guys named Magic, Larry, Michael, Kobe, Shaq and LeBron.
His tenure from 1984-2014 saw countless controversies, from Latrell Sprewell choking out his coach to Ron Artest fighting fans and Gilbert Arenas brandishing a gun in the locker room.