BREAKING: Former NBA Commissioner David Stern Passes Away At Age 77

Unexpected news crippled the sports world on Wednesday when it was announced that former NBA commissioner David Stern had passed away at age 77.

David Stern — the Hall of Fame ex-NBA Commissioner — has died at 77 years old. He oversaw tremendous growth in his 30 years as commissioner, retiring in 2014. Stern had been hospitalized since a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 17.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 1, 2020

This news comes after Stern was hospitalized on December 12 when he suffered a brain hemorrhage, which the NBA revealed in a statement.

NBA announces ex-commissioner David Stern has died. He had been hospitalized since Dec. 17 due to a brain hemorrhage. pic.twitter.com/pAmKXUJwot
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) January 1, 2020

Stern was eating in Manhattan, New York in early December when he went into cardiac arrest.

Stern was NBA commissioner from 1984 to 2014, a powerful and controversial 30-year tenure that grew the NBA into one of the most powerful sports leagues in the world.