The NBA's transition of power from Commissioner David Stern to Deputy Commissioner & COO Adam Silver when Stern retires on Feb. 1 is the subject of a cover story in the latest edition of BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK, and the magazine's Ira Boudway writes the NBA currently "resembles a multinational corporation," and the "seamlessness of its executive transition should be the envy of most of them." Along with basketball operations, Silver will "oversee marketing, finance, legal, security, and merchandising departments, among others." Stern and Silver’s personalities "reflect the changing nature of the job." Stern is "famous for his disarming wit and flashes of anger; for better or worse, he’s incapable of being anything other than his fulsome self." But Silver "is smoother, more corporate." Stern "promises not to cast a long shadow." He said, “My feeling of the issue is, when you’re gone, you’re gone. So my new office will not be at the NBA. And that’s it.” Stern's "official title will be commissioner emeritus," and Silver said that he will be "calling Stern for advice." Silver: "I can’t imagine a scenario in which we won’t be talking on a regular basis. It would be foolhardy for me not to be constantly checking in with David.” Boudway notes Silver is "not concerned about any appearance that Stern is still pulling the strings" (BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK, 1/20 issue).
REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW: Stern during a press conference prior to Thursday's Nets-Hawks game in London was asked if he had any regrets during his three decades as commission. He said, "I wish the WNBA was 24 teams, rather (than) 12. That will take us some time. I wish the American team at the Athens Olympics had won gold rather than bronze. But I'm very happy with where we are, and I'm looking forward to perhaps traveling a bit with the NBA and enjoying watching its continued growth" (ESPNNY.com, 1/16).
