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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: NBA Commissioner David Stern and NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media prior to the game of the Brooklyn Nets against the Atlanta Hawks as part of the 2014 Global Games on January 16, 2014 at The O2 Arena in London, England. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Adam Silver Says NBA Considered Naming In-Season Tournament After David Stern

zach bacharDec 9, 2023

NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed that the league was initially considering naming the In-Season Tournament's trophy, the NBA Cup, after the late commissioner David Stern.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, there wasn't a "consensus" among league officials as to whether the name would be enough to appropriately honor Stern's career.

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"There were some who felt that (the IST) wasn't big enough (to honor Stern)," Silver said, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. "Maybe after the reception here (that could change)? We've been struggling a little bit because there's plenty of things we can do to honor him. But I think everyone in the NBA community wants to make sure that they're sufficient to take into account the enormous amount he contributed to the game."

Stern served as the league's commissioner from 1984 to 2014, overseeing the NBA experiencing exponential growth throughout his tenure. He helped the league reach a global audience, with several international players joining the association and becoming stars during his career. He also helped launch the WNBA in 1997.

Stern passed away in Jan. 2020.

The NBA updated the names of several prominent accolades in Dec. 2022, with notable examples being the Most Valuable Player award becoming the Michael Jordan Trophy and the Defensive Player of the Year award becoming the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.