Now broadcast in a staggering 215 countries in 46 languages, with a plethora of exhibitions games played on foreign soil, the NBA has consolidated its position as one of the world’s leading sporting brands.
The question on everyone’s lips therefore, is what next for the NBA? And that was exactly the question we put to Mr. Stern this week as he took some time out of his busy schedule to talk exclusively to Sport360°.
Having overseen huge development in the game, what does the future hold for the NBA?
We are now responding to this enormous global appetite for our game, especially in the Middle East. We are excited to be involved in opportunities with companies as competent as Flash Entertainment with respect to Jamfest 2010 Abu Dhabi.
We’re also moving forward digitally with NBA websites which appeal to local audiences such as our Arabic language site in the Middle East.
In addition, we are excited to be opening an academy in Egypt, while we are also looking at junior NBA academies that look to get kids physically involved.
So we are working on two very different fronts. On one hand, we are a cultural institution that focuses and has the ability to focus kids on lifestyle opportunities to be physical active and healthy which is a serious concern globally.
At the same time we are stressing the values of the game such as teamwork, discipline and hard work, while there is a commercial opportunity such as infrastructure improvements for arenas and destinations – like what we are seeing develop on Yas Island.
Does that mean we can expect to see NBA exhibition games played in the region one day?
This year we had friendlies in Italy, England, France, Spain, China and Mexico, so I would say as we get more established and have more of a presence, we will be looking to stage exhibition games in the Middle East in the future.
What is your view on the growth of the game in this region?
Like in Europe, there has been great development in local club teams and local leagues, and more importantly the development of national teams in the Middle East.
For the first time teams are the cracking into the top 40 of FIBA in the basketball world, so the game itself is very much on the rise.
The overall goal is, I assume, to one day produced an NBA star from this region?
Oh, absolutely. And we have a very long time frame in which to achieve this. There is no rush.
We start with the academies and improving the conditions by opening clinics to help players and coaches alike, as well as support local teams and leagues.
With an NBA academy due to open shortly in Cairo, can we expect one to open in the UAE in the near future?
We have such an unlimited appetite to tap into the Middle East market that this project is very much long-term.
We are aware that finding high quality and consistent sports programmes for kids is a challenge therefore while the NBA academy in Egypt is the first one, we certainly don’t expect it to be the last.
Returning to the current NBA season – who has impressed you so far this season?
I would say the two teams that have impressed me the most and surprised me in many ways are the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets, who have both got off to great starts.
I was actually at a game on Tuesday night between the New York Knicks against the New Jersey Nets and they were both considerably better than last year.
A lot of teams’ fortunes have improved which has led to much more bunching of the teams this season which is good for us as the league becomes more competitive.
Finally, who has been your favourite player in all the years you have been involved in NBA?
Boy, that’s a tough one! I grew up with Magic (Johnson), Larry (Bird) and Michael (Jordan).
But I have to say I loved the smile on Magic‘s face when he played the game.
To me it was him saying that “I just love this game and that I would actually be playing this game in the schoolyard if I wasn’t playing in glamorous arenas.” He also, like all the great ones, made his team-mates better.
Interview by Chris McHardy
DAVID STERN – FACTS & FIGURES
1984 – Stern became the fourth commissioner in NBA history on February 1, replacing Larry O’Brien.
7 – new franchises Stern has overseen during his tenure – Hornets, Timberwolves, Heat, Magic, Grizzlies, Raptors, and Bobcats.
5 – MVP awards won by Michael Jordan during Stern’s time in the NBA.
28 – state-of-the-art arenas built – ten in last 11 years.
1996 – launches the Women’s National Basketball League.
7 – different NBA champions since Stern took charge with LA Lakers the most successful with eight.
