NBA Commissioner Job Description

NBA commissioner David Stern needs to be well-schooled in more than just professional basketball. He also needs to understand the law and public relations and to be confident in managing a billion dollar industry and a wide variety of personalities---from team owners to referees to athletes.

  1. Lawyer

    • The commissioner must have a thorough understanding of the legal system, as he is the point man for financial negotiations between the league's owners and the players' union. He also overseas everything involving the NBA's television, radio and website rights, as well as all arms of the league's marketing department, which includes merchandise sales and promotions.

    Ambassador

    • Stern is the fourth commissioner in NBA history and is widely respected as someone who has increased the league's popularity on a global scale. He has done this by not only visiting other nations himself, but by sending the league's most popular players overseas to help promote the NBA.

    Referee

    • While the NBA commissioner doesn't wear a striped shirt and blow a whistle, he does occasionally need to step in and solve disputes. Often, Stern finds himself defending the league (and handing down fines) for people involved in the NBA community who question the league's integrity---or mostly, the state of officiating.

    Communicator

    • When big news surrounds the NBA (both good and bad), the media turn to the commissioner to address the matter. So he needs to be a poised public speaker and have an ability to think quickly and confidently when facing questions.

    Fan

    • The NBA commissioner is paid to know about the league's history, teams and most famous players. He's also at center stage at every major NBA event.