It seems only a few years ago that David Stern infamously overruled a three-team trade sending Hornets star point guard, Chris Paul, to Kobe Bryant's Lakers -- and dramatically reshaping today’s NBA. No one could have predicted that in early 2020, the two sports icons would suddenly leave us forever. Stern and Bryant left indelible marks on the NBA, tremendously influencing its global expansion. The deaths of the hard-charging, cocksure legends, within 25 days, offer perspective on the Veto — and on life: How important does it all seem now?
In 2011, despite the perception that Stern long-favored big-market teams, the NBA Commissioner received intense criticism for voiding the trade. Several years later, even after the Lakers landed the NBA’s best player (LeBron James), Kobe fans still cursed the commissioner’s decision. In the NUNYO & COMPANY podcast, David Stern expounded on The Veto while taking us behind the scenes, revealing a twist: Kobe’s Lakers could have acquired Chris Paul in another scenario, but their GM, Mitch Kupchack, decided to go in a different direction — or “panicked” — by trading forward Lamar Odom. Stern conceded that his role as de facto owner of the Hornets was an inherent conflict of interest -- a unique situation that likely won’t ever reoccur. Certainly, the NBA will never again have two greats quite like David Stern and Kobe Bryant. Both will be missed — and never forgotten.
R.I.P. KOBE BRYANT (1978-2020) and DAVID STERN (1942-2020)