One of the NBA's most popular figures and former commissioner for three decades, David Stern recently spoke about how unsurprised he was with Michael Jordan deciding to donate $2 million for community-police relations and taking a public stand about recent violence.
Stern lauded MJ's gesture especially because the great one wasn't known for speaking about social issues while he was still playing. The 74-year-old former commissioner always believed that players had the freedom to share their thoughts about today's troubled political climate.
In an interview with The Undefeated's Jerry Bembry, Stern had this to say:
“Michael (Jordan) feels deeply about social issues, It's too bad we live in a society that's so polarizing. Everything that's going on is a shock to our system.
“We've always encouraged our players to speak their minds, That's what the NBA does, that's what our teams do.”
After thirty years at the helm, Stern stepped down from his role and handed his duties to now commissioner, Adam Silver. It did not take his successor long before he had to face his own crisis. Three months into the role, Silver had to make a decision on the leaked offensive audio recordings from former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. And just last week, the NBA pulled the 2017 All-Star weekend from Charlotte over a controversial law in North Carolina.
Stern praised his former protege for how he came to a decision on Sterling and also had this to say about the league's decision to move the All-Star Game from the Hornets‘ stadium:
“I'm proud of Adam Silver, that was anti-gay legislation. It cheapens the conversations to say it was about bathrooms.”
It seems that, at least in Stern's eyes, the NBA is in good hands with leaders and figureheads like Silver and Jordan at the helm.
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